Affirm Press – serie

The feminist Fifty Shades of Grey, Becoming Venus is one woman’s journey of sexual self-discovery through Melbourne’s underground sex clubs. A debut novel from viral sensation Esmé Louise James (Kinky History creator with 3.5m+ followers).Years after PhD student and literature tutor Rose thought she’d left Adrian in the past, an impulsive message pulls her back into his orbit. It reignites a spark long since buried beneath the weight of her carefully constructed life. Five years ago, their fleeting night together left her in a whirlwind of desire that continues to haunt her fantasies. Now, only a few weeks after ending her long-term relationship with financier Sebastian, Rose finds herself reaching out again.Loosely inspired by the erotic classic Fanny Hill and set against the vibrant backdrop of Melbourne, Rose becomes drawn into a seductive underground of erotic clubs and play, leading her into new realms of sexual exploration and empowerment. It’s here she begins to redefine and understand her identity and boundaries. Exhilarated but terrified by this new world opening up to her, Rose begins to understand that what she wants is far more complex than she has ever allowed herself to believe.Forced to confront the scars of her past, Rose redefines her understanding of intimacy, trust and what it means to truly know yourself and your desires.

A cosy crime/mystery novel from the beloved author of Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance and The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-Up.Something is amiss at the Paradise Heights Miniature Railway. And this suits Fleck Parker just fine – she’s on the hunt for a new puzzle to solve. Expensive equipment and supplies have disappeared and nobody knows why. Who could possibly wish harm on a community group delivering Sunday afternoon fun on a fleet of jolly little engines?Fleck is frenetic as ever as she feeds a hungry baby, placates a cranky toddler, executes an (almost) on-time school run and investigates crime – all without losing her Wordle streak. Meanwhile, her best friend, Trixie, is scrambling to manage the Many Hands Society Craft Shop, where volatile volunteers are becoming a real problem.Fleck has never met a puzzle she didn’t want to solve, and this one is just the ticket. Nobody suspects the cheerful mum asking questions at the railway as she tries to untangle the conundrum. But idyllic bushland and miniature villages hide a sinister mystery, darker and more complex than anyone imagined. Will Fleck’s attempts to derail the thief land her on the wrong side of the tracks?

'I met my husband on the same day I committed my very last murder. There's a joke in there somewhere, about ending two men's lives.'Olivia Hodges used to do horrible things - back when she worked for a Spanish crime syndicate - but she fled that life and moved home to Australia, building a family in the hipster community of the Dandenong Ranges.When a small-time criminal gang brings tragedy to her family, superstitious Olivia believes it's the universe demanding payment for her crimes. She wants revenge, but has to get it without adding to her karmic debt. So she creates situations where these bad men get themselves killed through their anger, ego and greed - all while trying to mislead the cops long enough to finish what she started.

A stunning and immersive guide to deeper travel in Australia's top travel destination, by an expert travel writer who is intimately acquainted with the wonders of Japan.In Secret Japan, writer and tour host Jane Lawson draws on over 40 years of immersive Japan travel to open up a world that outsiders rarely access. Through storytelling, photography and practical advice, this book will help to guide you towards your own ideal itinerary:Shape a journey to suit your interests, avoid crowds or make the most of the seasons.Discover the intricate wonders of Japanese dining, arts, crafts and etiquette.Explore the unique attractions and characters of each prefecture. This book doesn’t just tell you what to see and do in Japan (though it will give you many ideas); it teaches you how to travel, offering priceless insights into Japan’s culture and history to help guide you towards a more authentic connection with the land of the rising sun.

A funny and accessible guide to a happier life from a former ABC radio presenter who met more than his fair share of grumpy old men on talkback radio.They are the unhappy husbands, the disengaged grandfathers and the angry ‘letters to the editor’ writers. They sneer at generational change, know exactly where that bloody apostrophe should go and gather in sad groups bemoaning the modern world. They are Grumpy Old Buggers.Geoff Hutchison became determined not to turn into one himself upon retirement from a career in journalism. So he wondered: what is it about ageing that tends to have this effect on Australian men, and what can be done to arrest that development?Consulting a wide range of experts and mining his own experience and that of the other men in his life, Geoff has discovered how we can all live a happier, healthier and less grumpy life.

A masterclass in upcycling, restoration and creative transformation by one of the world's leading DIY experts.Geneva Vanderzeil – author of Home Is Where You Make It and founder of Collective Gen – has been a trend-maker in the DIY space for 15 years, inspiring millions with her unique approach to seeing the potential in everything. In New Again, she shares over 100 innovative projects and ideas along with tips and expert techniques to transform furniture and decor.For beginner and expert DIYers alike, this extensive guide covers everything from painting and timber restoration to tiling and upholstery. Whether you're rescuing a roadside find, revamping a second-hand piece or breathing new life into something you already own, you will find the skills and inspiration in this book to create with confidence.With step-by-step tutorials, impressive before and afters and Geneva's signature creative approach, New Again is the ultimate DIY handbook that will change the way you see furniture, decor and your own potential.

Em has lived a quiet life with her complicated mother and is now looking for love and a potential escape from her small hometown. When a masked man kidnaps her in the dark of night, though, she is drawn into a terrifying world. Jodie has been trying to forget a troubling time in her life, pouring her trauma into her work and out of her mind. Until one night her daughter is kidnapped and Jodie is dragged back into the violence. As Em and Jodie race into the darkness, the agony of the past rushes up to meet them. It will take all their devotion and courage to escape this night alive. Bold, vivid and heart-racingly intense, The Long Night is the darkest and most exhilarating novel yet from bestselling author Christian White.

A witty, practical and relatable personal development guide for anyone with social anxiety - including those with ADHD and autism - from the journalist and the Walkley Award-nominated author of Woman of Substances, Jenny Valentish.At last: a practical and relatable book for introverts, stand-offishs, sociophobes and awkwards. The Introvert's Guide to Leaving the House is stuffed full of game plans for every excruciating social scenario.Journalist and reformed sociophobe Jenny Valentish will help you extend your social battery life, tackle fear of judgement, form more meaningful connections, create an online presence that feels comfortable, express more of your body's own bonding chemicals, hit a party like a SWAT team, nail phone conversations, handle conflict, become a more confident manager and team player, hack public speaking, turn small talk into profound connections, reframe limiting self-beliefs, and navigate the overlap between social anxiety and neurodiversity.Do we Wary Marys need curing? Of course not. But sometimes we can do with a few aces up our sleeves to navigate social interactions.

Humans just want to be happy, yes? After all, that’s what life’s all about.Well ... no.It turns out that, for a huge chunk of history, feeling good was the furthest thing from our minds. Expecting life to be fun and fulfilling (or, if all else fails, fine) is actually a very recent phenomenon. And there’s every reason to think that it’s making us sad.A playful tour of Western ‘progress’, from ancient philosophers to modern day pop stars via pills, priests, Proust and the plague, The Importance of Being Miserable explores how, why and when we all started to pursue happiness.And why feeling bad may not actually be all that bad.

In a world of well-stocked supermarkets and florists, why do we garden, even though we don’t have to?This was the question that fascinated Hannah Moloney. So she went out and asked. She spoke to politicians, artists, community leaders, activists and thousands of ordinary gardeners. This book explores their answers – sometimes surprising, often philosophical, always insightful. Much more than a gardening book, Why We Garden is a joyful, life-affirming exploration of nature, humanity and community. Featuring interviews with Tim Winton, Bruce Pascoe, Laura Tingle, Clare Bowditch, Bob Brown, Costa Georgiadis and many more.

This no-fuss guide is the only indoor plant book you'll ever need. Medical doctor and passionate plant lover Nora Mutalima offers a simple, science-driven guide to creating your own indoor jungle and keeping it thriving with minimal effort.

From Steve Waugh’s one-legged hundred to Stuart Broad picking a fight with a boundary robot, this celebration of the funniest, weirdest and most absurd moments from Ashes cricket is a new, richly amusing exploration of this timeless rivalry.The Ashes is one of the oldest and most revered contests in the history of sport. But it is also a contest that contains profound nonsense.The ridiculousness of cricket comes in many shapes and forms, and this book celebrates them all – the ridiculously good and the ridiculously terrible, as well as the plain old ridiculously ridiculous.​From Steve Waugh’s one-legged hundred to Stuart Broad picking a fight with a boundary robot, this celebration of the funniest, weirdest and most absurd moments from Ashes cricket is a new, richly amusing exploration of this timeless rivalry.

A fiercely funny, feminist debut about mental health, motherhood and female rage, for fans of Caitlin Moran, Celeste Barber and Tanya Hennessy.Bron Lewis is one of Australia’s most beloved comedians, regularly appearing on Have You Been Paying Attention? and Thank God You’re Here. No stranger to madness – from watching her mother smash a casserole dish through the family dining table while going through ‘the change’, to finding herself singing Tina Arena’s ‘Chains’ at the top of her lungs in public to drown out the sound of her babies’ cries – Bron has experienced her fair share of dark nights of the soul.Bron was taught as a child, like most other young girls, that it’s expected for women to go mad. When we see a woman lose her footing and, for example, yell ‘MOTHERHOOD IS WAY HARDER THAN THEY BLOODY SAY IT IS’ at a pregnant stranger through four lanes of traffic, we usually look away, laugh into our collars, and thank Christ-on-a-bike that we aren’t as mad as she is. If you’ve ever cringed as you watched your mum stumble dramatically through hot flushes, or soiled your pants in Kmart, or found yourself struggling through the seemingly unending chapter of becoming a new mum, then this is the book for you. Watch Bron spiral into rage and out of it so you can avoid the same fate.I’m Not Mad (Anymore) sheds light on the mental struggles women go through silently, from post-natal depression and anxiety to menopause and all the muck in between.You will laugh, cry and look at your mum in a whole new light.

A wonderfully atmospheric and compelling historic novel set in Scotland in 1695, from the author of All The Bees In The Hollows. Based on the selkie myths of the time, this is the story of Malie, a young woman struggling with grief, oppression, her relationship with nature and her own inherent wildness within during Europe's 'little ice age'.Malie grew up hearing tales of selkies: shape-shifting women who shed their seal skins to seduce fishermen on the Orkney shores. That's the story of how her parents met, and it must be true because one day her mother slipped into the sea and was never seen again. Raised by her father, Malie has always done what she's been told, and now she's married and expecting her first baby. Life on land is predictable and safe, and her future is all mapped out for her. But, just like the seals in the sea, there's a wildness in Malie's soul – one that cannot be tamed and deeply yearns for the sea. Dealing with themes of motherhood, grief, violence and female oppression, The Woman in the Seal Skin is a wonderfully haunting and atmospheric tale of a woman living in a cloistered community on a wild Scottish island, who one day meets her wildness within.

The Breath Reset Plan uses science-based methods to repattern your nervous system. Shift more fluidly to whatever state your day is asking for – whether it’s focus, calm, energy or recovery – and manage stress like you never have before.Your breath has been training your body and mind all along, but not always in your favour. Through changes in chemistry, rhythm and the ongoing conversation between body and mind, your breathing shapes the state you’re in when your brain stores and recalls experience. Because learning is tied to those states, old patterns keep resurfacing – until you retrain them.The Breath Reset Plan gives you the tools to do exactly that. You’ll learn how to update those patterns and reshape the way life lands inside you. Challenges will always be part of being human, but by harnessing breath, you’ll be able to meet stress at its root, working with the very signals your body uses to shape perception and response.Grounded in behavioural repatterning and explored through five key pillars – Awareness, Connection, Sleep, Gut and Movement – this plan will teach you how to make your breath the lever for presence, resilience and navigating the full spectrum of life with steadiness and joy.

A hugely inspirational and practical guide for those dealing with trauma or wondering how to make a difference.Harrison James knows pain – but he also knows purpose. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Harrison transformed his darkest experiences into a powerful force for change, taking on Australia’s political system to fight for justice. In this compelling blend of memoir and guide, Harrison takes readers behind the scenes of his campaign to end outdated protections for convicted sex offenders.From navigating the media spotlight and the halls of Parliament to reckoning with the scars he’s been left with, Harrison’s journey is a deeply personal invitation to join him in using your pain to challenge the status quo and create change, whether it be in your personal life or on the national stage.Transform Your Pain into Purpose isn’t just a story; it’s a call to action for anyone ready to stand up, find their voice and make a difference.

THE bible for anyone looking to build a brand from scratch, from the co-founders of global success frank body.The only thing scarier than a new idea is an old one.Jessica Hatzis and Bree Johnson, co-founders of cult branding agency Willow & Blake and the $100m global skincare brand frank body, share their expert advice on building a brand from scratch – the ethos, process, opportunities and pitfalls to avoid – from both their own journey and that of other notable Australian entrepreneurs.With a strong focus on how women and minorities are creating some of the best brand activity out there, including case studies from a portfolio of brands worth over $1 billion, From the Ground Up is an honest and proven approach to brand building for entrepreneurs, marketers and dreamers who want to build not just a business but a legacy.Curious? Time to risk it for the biscuit.