Chris Kelly – författare

A parody of the beloved worldwide television phenomenon Downton Abbey—with cats.Welcome to Downton Tabby Here, the aristocrats of the animal kingdom dwell in stately splendor, sleeping, grooming, sleeping some more, and being fed by their downstairs cats, unaware that their way of life—providing work for others—is about to be swept away by the tides of history...and runaway cars. The fur will fly. This humorous parody provides essential information for preserving their Golden Age, including How to Keep a Secret at Downton Tabby, How to Argue with Lord Grimalkin About His Most Deeply Held Beliefs, and some Uninvited but Necessary Words from the Dowager.

The kid called Chatter has an affliction. Perhaps it is a gift. He attracts dying jackrabbits. Orphaned by parents whose names he never knew, he was worshiped and savaged in the institutions that raised him. Pushed out by his peers, trailed by the dying, the kid called Chatter fled.In an isolated river valley on the western frontier, as the Great Depression drags on, the jackrabbits are undeterred and the kid called Chatter is trapped inside the choice to survive. Moonshiner Ruddy Lou offers him a future as a messianic faith healer, as long as he never asks questions and never exposes the con. Fierce Azalea, leader of children with no home, calls for him to be a hero in her failing orphan's war. Bound by loyalty and lies, stalked by a vicious shadow, the kid called Chatter must trace a path forward as death trails relentlessly behind.A stunning work of Prairie magical realism, A Kid Called Chatter is a kaleidoscopic mingling of history, truth, folk tale, and fiction. A fable of belonging, it explores how humans use stories to confront what can't be explained, and the way communities come together to protect—or to destroy—the things that make them unique.

Orchards are one of the oldest and most beautiful types of garden. Forget large commercial orchards and, instead, think of sitting in the gentle shade of a graceful tree and eating a perfect piece of fruit.You do not need a lot of space to achieve this; you don't even need much skill. Just a desire for really good fruit and a love of beautiful gardens and trees.Whether you fantasise about having a whole orchard, just a cherry tree in a pot, or even the perfect apple pie, Orchard provides all the information, inspiration and encouragement you need. From versatile apples, popular pears, beautiful cherries and cultivated plums to rare quinces, ancient medlars and wise mulberries, Orchard caters for the fruit farmer, amateur cook and natural historian. As well as sharing essential cultivation advice and delicious recipes, this comprehensive guide also explores the rich traditions of fruit growing alongside the charming histories of your favourite fruits.Whether you have a tiny balcony or a huge field, it’s never been easier to grow and cook orchard fruits.

Over the course of ten years Chris chronicles the creation of her cool-climate garden on the edge of the Blue Mountains in Hartley NSW, from bare paddock to established garden. Through flooding rains and hailstorms, droughts, impending bushfires and heat waves she takes us through the challenges and the successes, peppering the story with detailed growing advice. She describes how with an artist’s eye, hard work, passion and perseverance she designed and cultivated a flourishing environment with a perennial border, orchard, vegie patch, woodland, wisteria arbour, lavender garden, cutting garden, native heath, ponds, deciduous and flowering trees, a fairy garden, rose arbour and a rose garden with over 450 roses. Following the story of the transformation of the garden, the reader witnesses the creation of a beautiful, peaceful garden sanctuary abounding with birds, frogs and other local wildlife.