‍Turns out the Beaches has no shortage of storytellers. These locally authored titles are proof, and they span every shelf in the house. Know a local book that deserves a mention? Send it our way. Unit 1/535 Pittwater Road, Brookvale NSW 2100.

Mr Online by Jamie Mckeen

As part of the Mr. Mandem series, Mr. Online is one of many books written by Balgowlah father Jamie McKeen. Tired of reading his kids bedtime stories that didn’t relate to the real world, Jamie took matters into his own hands. Shaped by the tagline “real talk for little people”, the Mr. Mandem series teaches kids how to tackle issues ranging from screen addiction to fashion obsession. Rather than lecturing and causing conflict, the Mr. Mandem series helps kids reflect on their own behaviour naturally. Each story ends with a “Real Talk” prompt, turning stories into meaningful conversations. The series is now stocked in bookshops and libraries across Australia, and has been named a finalist in the 2025 Wishing Shelf Book Awards, one of the few children’s book prizes judged by children and teachers.

Jamie McKeen | mrmandem.com

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Solo Mum by Choice by Lorena Otes

Solo Mum by Choice is a memoir about one woman’s journey to motherhood without a partner, but with unwavering determination. After a string of failed relationships, Lorena Otes stumbles upon the growing community of women choosing to have children of their own. What follows is a deeply personal ride through IVF, medical mayhem and solo parenting told with warmth,
grit, and sharp self-awareness. Placing as runner-up in the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize 2024, Solo Mum by Choice has attracted accolades before even hitting the shelves. An inspiration to aspiring mothers and a reminder that family is what you make
it, it's a soon-to-be sensation. The memoir is adored for its laugh-out-loud humour, heartache-inducing ups and downs, and real-world comfort.

Lorena Otes | lorenaotes.com.au

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The Immortality Connection by James William Davis

Book 1 of the 5-part Private Investigator series, The Immortality Connection takes the reader on a twisty journey all the way to the islands of Hong Kong. Confined to a wheelchair in the prime of his life, Charlie Pyrmont searches for a cure – not only to his paralysis, but to mortality itself. When his obsession lands him in the clutches of an organisation brimming with false promises, only Detective Cameron Josey, hired by Charlie's worried family, can sniff him out. And what he finds is more than anyone bargained for. Don't stop at The Immortality Connection. Next up, Mind Set keeps the twists coming with its own story and fresh cast of characters in the Private Investigator world. Guaranteed to keep you guessing.

James William Davis | davisible.com.au | davisible@yahoo.com.au | 0427 221 189

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The John Bailey Series by Tim Ayliffe

Bestselling crime thriller author and Avalon Beach local Tim Ayliffe spent 25 years as a journalist in Australia and around the world before channelling that frontline experience into gripping fiction. The result is the John Bailey series: five pulse-pounding crime thrillers featuring a battered war correspondent who can't seem to stay out of trouble. From terrorist plots and white supremacist cells to Russian spies and government traitors, each book rips its premise straight from the headlines. Ayliffe himself says everything in his novels "has happened, will happen, or could happen." Set largely in Sydney, with Bailey's gritty authenticity as its anchor, the series has drawn comparisons to Michael Connelly and Lee Child but with a distinctly Australian edge. Once you start, you can't stop.

Tim Ayliffe | timayliffe.com

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