The novel opens with the thoughts of our main character, one isolated American man. Sitting here, not so bad, the last white man in Flushing, not so bad. Being here, in this apartment, not so bad. Noise, yes, but can live with that, I think. Not so bad. But, probably, cause I keep saying, not so bad, you really think it is, bad that is. Maybe I should say something like it's tolerable. That's right, tolerable in Flushing, the last white male living, a foreigner in my own neighborhood, isolated from all. Flushing tolerable, historical, established in the seventeenth century by the Dutch Never know it if you looked at Flushing today with its Asian Pagodas and signs in Korean and Chinese - fascinating place, especially for me, a writer. Asians today, Dutch yesterday. Who tomorrow? Reminds me, Asians. Mysterious. Keep to themselves, quiet and shrewd. Can't relate. Why bother? At fifty, it's no big deal anymore. Closer to the grave than to life Just leave me alone. Here we have it

An obscure original manuscript of Marco Polo’s travels . . . A tantalizing clue to the site of Kublai Khan’s fabled burial site . . . A chance to unearth the truth behind a long-lost treasure. It’s an opportunity that would make Indiana Jones drop everything but his whip and race off to China. But he’d be too late. Lieutenant Jonathan Daly is way ahead of him. Two bullet holes and a bad case of malaria may not be enough to stop Daly, but a crew of criminals, a brood of British agents, and the entire Chinese army are all in the game . . . and determined to keep him out of it. The stakes are too high, and the potential rewards too great, though, to let a little treachery, betrayal and human sacrifice stand in Daly’s way. He’s hot on The Trail of the Red Diamonds—a cache of exceedingly rare gems that were meant to light the way to heaven as an offering to the gods. And only God knows if Daly will manage to dig up the diamonds . . . or end up buried with them. It was on Hubbard’s second journey to East Asia that he met British Secret Service agent, Major Ian MacBean, who introduced him to a world of deception and conspiracy in the region. He also learned of the thriving—and dangerous—trade in stolen Chinese treasures. As if to underscore the authenticity of The Trail of the Red Diamonds—Hubbard published the story under the byline Lieutenant Jonathan Daly, the hero of the piece. Also includes the rousing adventure Hurricane’s Roar, the story of an American pilot in Mongolia who whips up a storm of death-defying air battles . . . in the search for peace.

Lieutenant Jonathan Daly sets out on?a fateful expedition into the depths of?China to unearth a fabulous fortune in red?diamonds, leading him down a dark maze?of betrayal, ?espionage and death?with?more on the line than he ever expected.?...

Joey is young, indifferent. He's drifting around Western Sydney unaware that his passivity is leading him astray. And then one day he is involved in a violent crime, one that threatens to upend his life entirely. Elaine, his grandmother, is a proud Lebanese woman with problems of her own. When Joey is arrested, she is desperate to save face and hold herself together. In her family, history repeats itself, vices come and go, and uncovering long-buried secrets isn't always cathartic. This gripping and hard-hitting novel reveals the richness and complexity of contemporary Australian life and tests the idea that facing consequences will make us better people.

Three Australian nine-year olds from different immigrant backgrounds form a Secret Society they call The Threefold Cord, to do good such as helping an old lady. When they rescue a tortured cat, they stumble on a crime gang that traffics costly cats and smuggles rare red diamonds, led by the enigmatic and quite monstrously fearsome Dr Vandersluys, the tall, pale stranger who always wears sunglasses and dresses in black. Through their unity, courage and resourcefulness (and helped by an Aboriginal elder), the three succeed in saving themselves, overcoming evil and helping others. The story is thrilling and funny and full of unexpected twists and turns and mysterious characters.

The author of, "FACETING HISTORY: CUTTING DIAMONDS AND COLORED STONES" has for a long time had a deep interest in learning how the early faceters (cutters) of diamonds and colored gemstones were able to complete their work. What methods did they use? What equipment did they have to make success possible? How soon did they discover how to complete the many phases necessary to accomplish their work? How did the equipment and methods differ between fashioning diamonds and faceting colored stones? These are just a few of the questions that the author wanted to find the answers for. In looking for answers to these and other questions, the author found that there were bits and pieces of information available in many previous books, but there was not a good book available that would answer most of his questions. Upon hearing the author ́s remarks about this fact, one of the librarians at the wonderful library located at the Gemological Institute of America ́s Carlsbad campus said that if such a book was not available, "maybe you should write the book!" Well, the author had been thinking of doing just that, but the remark caused the author to see the light and agree to get started on the project. Little did he know then that the project would require many months of eight hour days over seven day weeks to get the book completed. He decided to write a book that would answer these and other related questions that he had. The thought also occurred to him that such a book would be a valuable volume to be placed in libraries of individual faceters around the world. He realized that such a book would also be of great value to anyone who works behind a Jewelry store counter. A successful sales person is one who is knowledgeable about the products that they are selling. A book of faceting information would be extremely valuable if read and re-read from time to time. A customer in the Jewelry store will no doubt be favorably impressed by a sales presentation that is made with the use of interesting and informative information about diamonds and the various colored gemstones. The customer will be convinced that the sales person knows about what they are talking. The author has spent nearly three years on the project of researching the GIA library and other libraries, along with the extensive personal library of gemstone related books that he personally possesses. Many conflicting reports were noted in his study. He has made the statements in his book reflect the most commonly accepted opinions, of the most respected authors ́ works that he has found in his research. History is only obtainable from the earlier works of other authors. We cannot go back to the long past centuries ourselves, to see first hand what really happened and when it happened. A study of faceting history requires making the best choices of the information that is available. This completed book answers questions as to why the fashioning of diamonds was/is so different from the faceting of colored gemstones. The book compares the needed equipment and the methods that have brought the greatest successes. In addition, a great deal of other information connected to faceting is included. There are seven chapters in the book and there are over 125 photographs of the early equipment and methods that were used. The photographs show the faceters, the workroom conditions, and the tools and equipment that they used to complete beautiful and lasting gemstones. The book chapters are titled: An Introduction to Faceting, Early Man ́s Stone Appreciation, Diamond Fashioning Procedure and Equipment, Colored Stone Faceting Procedure and Equipment, The Evolution of Cut Designs, Famous and Historic Gemstones, Sources of Diamond and Colored Stone Rough, and lastly, Advances in Faceting Over the Past One Hundred Years. By books end, the reader will be well informed as to what is r