Rachel Saunders

The genus Gladiolus has fascinated plant collectors, taxonomists and the general public for centuries. Known for their spectacular flowers, these highly adapted and specialised plants occur throughout Africa, Madagascar, Europe and the Middle East. South Africa is home to more than half of the world’s Gladiolus species and the Western Cape is the heart of species diversity. Saunders’ Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa is the first of its kind to offer a complete photographic record of the 166 species that occur in the region. Posthumously completed, this book is the culmination of the Saunders’ long search to find and photograph every known species of Gladiolus in South Africa. It includes: An introduction comprising a brief history of gladioli, information about the morphology and taxonomy of the genus, and guidelines for use in the field. Detailed descriptions of the main floral parts of each species, along with information about ecology, pollinators, similar species and conservation status; field notes were written by Rachel Saunders. Over 1,000 exquisite photographs taken in situ detailing morphology and habitat. Up-to-date distribution maps indicating where species have been recorded. A glossary of terms with illustrations unpacking difficult terminology. A coveted record of the life’s work of a couple who contributed to botany and horticulture in South Africa; it will be treasured by anyone with an interest in these magnificent flowers. Sales points: Accessible coverage of all known gladioli in South Africa; identification at a glance; full-colour photographs of all species described; expert authors.

If you love to cook, are crazy for fruit, or have even a passing interest in jam or marmalade, this James Beard Award-nominated cookbook is the book for you. Rachel’s legendary Bay Area jam company, Blue Chair Fruit, earned instant fame for its intensely flavored preserves when it launched in 2008. Rachel’s passion for fruit shines through every part of this lavishly photographed 384-page book, which is the culmination of nearly ten years of research. Nearly 120 original recipes organized around the seasons including offerings ranging from plain Lemon Marmalade and Plum Jam to Strawberry–Blood Orange Marmalade with Rosemary and Black Fig and Candied Citrus Jam, she vividly captures the joyful essence of fruit and of the preserving process. The Blue Chair Jam Cookbook is not only an exciting and vibrant exploration of fruit and of the seasons, but also one of the few books to clearly explain and illustrate preserving techniques. Each recipe includes clear and detailed directions to help ensure success, and Rachel explores a wide range of technical questions as they relate to individual fruits and types of preserves.

So I think it's safe to say that it's been a crazy few days. Waking up with no memory, meeting an eccentric robot-human hybrid intent on helping me find answers, discovering that I was part of a secret organization that wants to bring the whole planet under heel through controlled terrorism... It's a bit to take in.But now I get to fight back, and if I'm going to have any chance of bringing my old bosses down, I'll need a few more hands-preferably ones as skilled as mine. Now might be a good time to see what my old teammates are up to.

In the fight to save a dying land, can there still be a victor?Their champion lost, those who still stand against the Supremacy fight on in the wake of their latest defeat. Cornered at last, and with no hope of escape, the family Nadon left behind must unite the land against a common foe. It's become a war of survival, but, when things are at their darkest, hope returns to rally Atala's defenders for one final, desperate gambit. With the noose ever-tightening, Nadon's family is pushed to their limit, but, as the earth beneath them crumbles and the conflict of the millennium comes crashing down, a fatal truth is revealed; only those already lost may escape the impending destruction.

A new threat emerges, and the darkness can no longer be contained...Under the command of its bloodthirsty general, the Supremacy joins forces with a deadly new ally, unleashing carnage with fanatical precision. With war spreading to all corners of Atala, Nadon undergoes a dark metamorphosis; one that threatens to fracture the already-cracking continent and to undermine Nadon's very humanity. As he alienates those around him and more earth-shattering secrets are revealed, Nadon fights to overcome the darkness inside and to stem the tide of annihilation. In the end, however, there is only one choice to be made, and Nadon must decide what matters to him most-survival or victory.

In the heart of a forgotten continent, a spark ignites in the strangest of places...Nadon-Kesh grows up like any other child abandoned to the Saget riverbank, but his life takes a dangerous turn when the Supremacy, the tyrannical force enslaving the realm, drives him from his home. Thrust into the dangerous world beyond the riverbank alongside his closest friends, Nadon learns of his place in an age-old conflict that may change the face of the land forever. Ensnared in the battle to reclaim a kingdom, Nadon struggles to harness a rising power within in the hope of saving his family from destruction. But, as his dark legacy threatens to destroy the land itself, Nadon discovers that it may not always be possible to escape one's fate.