Play On Words

WARNING to British readers – This book has NOT been written by a celebrity and so may seem like total gaga.

Join Rowley in his light hearted and self-deprecating antics as he works his way around SE Asia, building communication towers on and off the beaten track. In Borneo he heads up river to remote jungle long-houses to provide the natives with internet access and something called porn. He avoids death on the towers from a variety of beasts, keeps the locals on their toes by blocking their roads with overturned cranes, and, with the help of Angus, his trusty Scottish sidekick, they manage to undo much of the respect the British have earned there over the last three hundred years. Thailand allows Rowley time to ponder Thai culture; from the exciting go-go bars of Bangkok to the loneliness of the north east, where he spends a year living in a two star hotel. Eventually he begins to enjoy life there until one of his beloved towers starts falling over and he resumes his “You are a worry man” mode. Sampling the highs and lows of Vietnamese life from internet dating and male toilet massage, to the misery of pouring concrete by night and wondering where his life went so wrong. In Cambodia he tours every province and is worshipped by his intimate team of young civil engineers, though it’s not they who finally bring him to a grinding halt with a variety of embarrassing ailments.

It’s not all humour and frolics. Rowley also gives a brief but interesting insight into the history of each location and the influence of the western world.

‘Hilarious’ 
The Borneo Echo

‘Probably the best book I have ever skimmed through’
Roderick – Author’s best friend

‘He has a way with words that even a five year old can relate to’
Duncan – Author’s second best friend

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you're not around?

Furry fun for ages 9-99. In book 3 of the Kiwi Series, Amy, James and Kiwi embark on their spookiest adventure yet - on Halloween. What begins with an eerie dream about a three-legged cat will take the budding detectives on a quest to find an old house in the middle of the woods, meeting some familiar characters and some perky squirrels along the way. Little do they know that there awaits an angry, restless ghost that will do anything to stop them leaving. Meanwhile, Inspector Furrball and Siam discover the human world, and that Ames and Jimster are not what they seem.

Illustrations inside by Nikki McBroom.

"Kiwi and the kids have a dream of another cat crying out for help and discover that the haunted house where the stranded cat is at can only be entered on All Hallow’s Eve. 'Living Nightmare' has just the right amount of scary bits along with humour to make it a very enjoyable read for kids of all ages." - Lady Wings

"Johnstone has a way with the interaction of children and animals that provides a healthy partnership. She writes lyrically and keeps her stories moving along at a rapid pace... we can only hope for more." - Grady Harp

"Anthropomorphism is a time honored literary device in literature. And I think a vital one to employ in fiction written for children. It teaches children at a young age a certain type of empathy for all life. But beyond the value of passing on these traditions, Vickie Johnstone has created an adventurous and entertaining story for Halloween which will contribute to another important thing to pass on to our children: the simple, wonderful joy of being read to. To hear a story told aloud and receive it as a listener. I think this little volume would be a perfect excuse to engage in such an activity as the writing style is perfect for practicing narration. It's a fun activity for adults and children to practice, the lessons of which will enrich both generations greatly." - AE Drury

"I really loved the scene where the catizens get to ride on the bus. These scenes had me laughing out loud. This may be a somewhat scary story, but the adventure and the fun does not diminish one bit. And fear not, as with all good stories, the 'good' side wins in the end (this is after all children's book and not high fantasy where authors relish in killing off one of their main characters). I may be an adult, but I still read each of Vickie's stories with bated breath and expectation of new twists and newer characters in every book." - Ritesh Kala

Book 4 in the Kiwi Series.

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you're not around?

In book four of the Kiwi Series, the wedding of Inspector Furrball and Madame Purrfect approaches. But, catastrophe, the ring is stolen from the Gem Shop! A pawprint identifies Fyre Cracker as the thief, but he lives in the dark world of the UnderPaw beneath Cat City, which is inhabited by crimicats. It’s up to the Kiwi Klub to find the ring. In the human world, the hamsters decide to stand up for their rights to better plastic wheels and an abundance of sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, the dastardly Dev shocks Kiwi with the news that he knows a big secret about her family – that her father, Delphinius, may still be alive! The key is The Sculptor, who will lead Kiwi and friends on their biggest adventure yet – to the strange Isle of the Serpent where they will come face to face with their most dangerous adversary so far.

"Lots of action, mystery, and magic in this book. I sense a shift in the direction of this series. A shift from cute little stand alone books to a fully coherent young adult epic. A saga with coherent underlying themes and meaningful character development complete with deeper back stories for the principal characters. I applaud the new direction. With this book, Kiwi takes a giant pounce forward as a literary treasure." - Ed Drury.

Makita must use her second life to return to earth and take care of her pal, Bennie the Boxer. But finding Bennie is only the beginning. After they're reunited, Makita and Bennie stumble upon a dog fighting ring. Now the fearless feline must use her considerable cunning to breakout the hapless creatures that have been stolen to use as bait for the fighting dogs

Have you ever wished your cat could talk or wondered where he/she goes when you're not around?

Furry fun for ages 9-99! The Kiwi Series follows the adventures of black cat Kiwi and her two humans, Amy and James. With a flick of her tail, Kiwi is able to magically change her friends into kittens. Cue an adventure...

In the second book of the Kiwi series, James and Amy embark on another adventure with their little black cat, which will take them to the Land of Giant Mice. The children return to Cat City to help their friends from the first book and meet some new characters along the way, including the Worry Bee, Whiskers and Moggie. The catizens' home is at risk of invasion and some of the Magic has gone missing. Can James and Amy help Kiwi save the day? More importantly, will James' pet hamster find his true calling in life?

Illustrations inside by Nikki McBroom. 

"Kiwi is [as] fun to read as ever! If you are following Kiwi Series closely, you can certainly find the same funny and witty story here, with a bonus, of course. Vickie has included other animals and they account for the clever plot of this sequel. It's not complicated though, but sure you are going to be served with a few surprises. Eeek Fu! My mouth is sealed." - Helmy Kusuma

"Vickie Johnstone is a born storyteller and has the talent to keep her series fresh with new adventures while maintaining the usual cast of characters - and adding new ones to bring on the magic. In her second book she introduces some well designed wisdom about traits all children should learn and this is a major plus to the further growth of the series." - Grady Harp

"Cat City seems even more fun the second time they visit. Vickie Johnstone really has a great imagination, and creates a cozy world for cats and a underground kingdom of giant mice who plan on invading Cat City. Is there enough time to prevent the attack and what is Kiwi going to do about it? This book has lots of surprises, a unique plot and captivating characters." - Rebecca Johnson

"The second book in Vickie Johnstone’s 'Kiwi' series is just as engaging as the first. I truly enjoyed the way the author makes an imaginary tale come to life. Kiwi, the cat, the two children, James and Amy, along with a pet hamster and a mouse, [have to] prevent Cat City from being destroyed. The Kiwi series is intended for kids, but grown-ups such as myself will love the book as well. I highly recommend the whole series." - Lady Wings

"Kiwi's gang is back in full force! Vickie has again created a huge fun filled adventure for us to follow, and I loved every bit of it. I hope that the series continues to produce such magical tales for a long, long time." - Ritesh Kala