Joan Zawatzky

The Wind's Song looks at the hidden spaces between who we are, and who we think we are, what we believe and what we know.When twenty-five-year-old architect Josef's beloved grandfather dies and his girlfriend threatens to leave him, he becomes depressed and reluctantly agrees to visit psychologist, Clara. This is the start of a relationship that will change both therapist and client. As Josef struggles to recover from depression, his view of his family's origins is given a jolt when he discovers that his beloved grandfather lied to him. Josef's family was not Danish as he believed, but originally from the forests of Bavaria. Neither as he maintained, was his grandfather a member of the Danish Resistance, who saved the majority of their Jewish population during World War Two by ferrying them across the straights to neutral Sweden. After much research, he is horrified to discover that his grandfather was a Nazi, who secretly volunteered to join Hitler's SS Waffen.Carla is a caring therapist in a state of flux, coasting in a burnt-out marriage and tired from years of counselling, yet her Jewish beliefs, rituals and memories sustain her. Her sessions with Josef initiate thoughts of her past - her father and his family who once lived in Bavaria, only a short distance from Josef's, in the medieval city of Regensburg. Due to work pressure, she sees little of her children and grandchildren. To revive their empty marriage, her husband, Steve, suggests a trip to Europe. After a brief stay in Paris, Munich and a harrowing visit to the concentration camp at Dachau, they visit Regensburg where with the help of a genealogist, she fills in many gaps about her family history. When they move on to holiday in Crete, the passion of earlier years returns. Discoveries about her roots have made her feel more complete. She makes the important changes of working fewer hours and spends more time with her grandchildren.Though Josef is repulsed by details of his grandfather's unsavoury wartime activities, with Carla's support he faces the truth and moves on.

"Humans are easy to control. Soon we cats may domesticate them." Another funny, heart-warming and insightful novel written in both cats' point of view following their journey in the Catland series. Bella, a ginger, therapy cat and Oliver, a handsome, Siamese show cat are unique. Not only are they delightfully charming, and at times hilarious, they share their intimate feelings and shrewd observations of their human family, vets, catteries and all that they encounter. Dawn in Catland is more than an engaging book about cats, and reveals that cats do more than eat, sleep and purr. Bella describes her visits with her counsellor owner to calm and encourage sick and sad people in hospital, while Oliver shares his experiences at cat shows. Bella and Oliver seeks answers to questions important to cats as well as people: what is the purpose of life; why animals and people are cruel and bully each other; the meaning of the word "love", used so often; how to accept others who are different and how to adapt to a climate that seems to continually change. They are strongly tested, and their cosy lives disrupted, when a new baby arrives followed by a dog. It is through their battles to adapt to both that they understand what love really means. About the Author: Joan has spent most of her working life as a counsellor, but now devotes her time to writing. She lives in Melbourne with her husband and their new cat, Lily. Though she has written non-fiction books and novels she is now writing about cats, her life- long interest and passion. "Dawn in Catland" follows her first novel about cats, "Bella-an ordinary cat with an extraordinary gift."

An insightful, humorous, and uplifting story told from a cat's point of view.Bella is a Tabby cat rescued from a garbage dump by Karen, a counsellor. Karen recognises Bella's calm, affectionate and easy-going temperament, and she becomes Karen's therapy cat. With her deep purr and caring touch, Bella forms powerful, healing connections with Karen's distressed clients and with seriously ill patients in hospital.But, Bella does not work all the time. When not playing or sleeping, she delights in describing her world and the people in it. We discover her thoughts about her owners, sad children and teenagers, family relationships, vets, catteries, dogs, her friend the duck, her dreams and much more. Her comfortable life is threatened when Oliver, a tiny, Siamese kitten joins the family. Bella faces the loss of some of her valuable territory in the house and struggles to understand Oliver, a different cat in many ways. When Karen has her first child, Bella encounters her greatest challenge, and discovers her true inner strength.Joan Zawatzky is a counsellor who was inspired to write Bella - An ordinary cat with an extraordinary gift, by her own cat. About the Author: Joan Zawatzky is a psychologist who brings her experience of over 25 years in counselling individuals, couples and families. Stories of Love Hope and Healing follows Joan Zawatzky's non-fiction books, Stop Family Anxiety, and Depression: Light at the End of the Tunnel, and her novels, The Scent of Oranges, The Elephant's Footprint and The Third Generation.