'Shooting of the Cuckoo' Now available.
Janice Maddens new book 'Shooting of the Cuckoo' is now available for purchase from this website.
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$30 (+$5 P&P)
"They say there's an autobiography in everyone, waiting to be written; but few have the skill to put pen to paper - literally, in this case - to produce such a moving and compelling story. Jan's remarkable memory for detail and incident, recounted in this gentle and affectionate narrative, brings to life warm recollections of her family, friends, loves, neighbours, students, and colleagues, and - spoiler alert - reports surprising meetings with two household names. She paints a vivid picture of life and times growing up in Britain in the middle decades of the 20th century, of her later travels through several counties of England and Wales, and of her often eventful global encounters and travels. All this, infused with insightful reflections on writing and teaching, makes for a fascinating read. "
Professor David Crystal, OBE, FBA, FLSW, FCIL
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 | 📚✨ BOOK LAUNCH - SHOOTING OF THE CUCKOO ✨📚 |  |
Professor David Crystal and Professor Roy Chantrell were both highly instrumental in organising this very successful event. It was thought-provoking and deeply engaging. David skilfully turned the afternoon into a sharing of minds, laughter, and lively discussion - participation is the word that comes to mind!
A very big thank you to the staff at the Ucheldre who helped make the occasion such a success. A special thank you to Rita Hughes for a wonderful stay in your home and for so much help with the refreshments. Thank you also to Ailsa Williams, who helped to promote my latest book in many ways. Ailsa was the photographer and also captured the event on film. She designed the front cover of the book and provided invaluable help with its production. Thank you again, Ailsa, for the very noticeable (and delicious!) cakes at refreshment time - note the photograph!
Thank you to the wonderful audience who participated during the question time and showed such genuine interest in the project.
The committee for the Welsh Writing Festival travelled across Anglesey to attend. Several members of the teaching staff (now retired) joined us, and it was a joy to meet once again with my colleagues. I also reconnected with lifelong friends, and Rita's family came along to support the occasion.
The launch was followed by a showing of the first part of a documentary that captures the story of my murdered aunt, Eva Madden, as told in my book The Price. Grant Thompson, producer from Sydney, kindly provided the first part of the intriguing documentary, which we filmed in New Zealand. There was great interest in this, and many questions were asked.
I hope to return next year with the final book of the trilogy, the completed documentary Finding Eva, and news of a feature film. Very best wishes to everyone. I carried away incredible memories of Holyhead, past and present.
Jan Madden
October 29th, 2025
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The Price: Importance for New Zealand
In The Price, Janice Madden's consummate skills as a world class writer become apparent, as she takes the facts of Eva's life, the life of a simple servant girl in Edwardian England longing to break the chains of servitude and experience the world.
Accumulated over years of meticulous research of the facts she weaves them into such a powerful story that it will hold you in its grips from start to finish.
This is a true story of great importance to the history of New Zealand.
Dr. Andrew Melville-Smith. Veterinarian. Whyalla. South Australia.
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The Flower Collection
"Our earth is rapidly reacting to the effects of Climate Change. The human race must take responsibility for the future of our planet. If our wild flowers vanish from the earth then part of us vanishes too. We will be left with merely one generation?s memory of a once vibrant earth. The Natural World feeds our thoughts and nurtures our souls. We need to recognise that.
I hope you enjoy reading 'The Flower Collection' and at the same time give some thought to your personal memories of wild flowers. You may be rewarded."
Janice Madden
Grandad's Letters
These letters are for all of us. If we care to read them and think about them, we will grow from the experience as they offer unique insights from George Madden's perspective on life and the universe.
They are stepping stones of thought, passed down to us, in order to share the knowledge gained and experience felt, and just as the book passes into our hands so do the thoughts to be carried forwards. As George shares his insights, we too will find our own interpretation of life and all that this means.
The Red Carpet
'The Red Carpet' is a collection of short stories, each of which embrace the theme of 'love as a way of being'.
Based on incidents throughout the writer's life including love of people, animals and Nature, the many threads through each story bind themselves together. Unconditional love and recognition of human rights
Enter
Enter through the door on the front cover of this book into a world many choose to ignore. The author worked closely with Bilingual Service Officers within a Second Language Program for adult new arrivals in Australia.
They told their powerful life journeys for over two years, revealing incidents which had never been revealed before simply because no-one had never asked them.
Within their recalls they are revealed as powerful bridge builders for dislocated students and as wisdom makers in our society. Within their words they rise, Phoenix like, from the ashes of their past lives.
Just a girl from Crewe
How does the daughter of a train driver end up spending her days with the 'Lost Boys' of Sudan?
In Australia she finds her classrooms filled with people the world forgets, survivors of war and torture, trauma and deprivation beyond what most would possibly understand. And through it all her words are messages of hope and laughter that transform the grimmest of situations.
Reared in Chester Zoo
Written at the request of June Mottershead who grew up in Cheshire where her father kept a small zoo.
She and her family moved to land near Chester where they bought land and dwellings which would over time become Chester Zoo.
It took just over two years to research and write with many time's spent at June's home and at the zoo. Discover the story of the Mottershead family and the roots of Chester Zoo.
