Illiya (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #1)

A.D. 3485

When it comes to First Contact, there are no second chances.

I went along for the ride to help my absentee mother survey a new planet, and the offer of a few extra university course credits for doing field work certainly didn’t hurt.

A planet on the edge of disputed territory, sure, but the war with the Xathen had ended thirty years ago, and the Commonwealth had won. It didn’t matter that the first survey ship failed to return; things like that happened during wartime.

But this was just term break, with two whole months to work alongside my mother and get to know her better while I sharpened my Xenobiology skills in a verdant paradise.

With any luck, I would graduate early.

Then I messed up, big-time.

Now I’m lost, alone and struggling to survive, stranded ten thousand light-years from home.

Print ISBN: 978-0995103405

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Incursion (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #2)

A.D. 3485

Twenty-year-old Taylor Neeran is settling in to her new life on the forest planet called Aeden, but all is not well in paradise. She has sent messages off to the stars to let the crew know she is alive, and hopes that one day her mother and the crew will return. She has also transmitted details about the Illiya and the exotic wonders of the planet to the crew of the Zanzibar and the University, but others have intercepted her messages.

A ship arrives bearing comforts of home, and a terrible secret. When the visitors’ true purpose is revealed, Taylor finds herself fighting to defend her new home alongside unexpected allies.

Trapped on an alien planet ten thousand light years from Earth, Taylor will soon bear witness to the fate of Aeden as the planet is engulfed in a war they have no hope of winning…

Print ISBN: 978-0995103429

Available in paperback and ebook formats

Intercession (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #3)

AD 3486

Aeden was suffering.

The Reapers had finally been destroyed, leaving the planet scarred and countless creatures lost.

The process of recovery had begun, but it will take lifetimes to repair the damage inflicted upon the planet.
Now is a time of recuperation, new growth, and family... and new hope in a future that had almost been lost.

Balance must be restored for the planet to fulfil its purpose, even as Taylor finds new life blossoming within her.

However, recent events have attracted unwanted attention. The Xathen are coming to investigate, and no act of intrusion goes unpunished.

When the Xathen arrive, Taylor finds herself an invader on a world that is not her own, in command of forces she barely comprehends.

With the Orion Spur once again on the brink of destruction, the only thing that stands between the Xathen and the unsuspecting Commonwealth is... Taylor Neeran.

Print ISBN: 978-0995103450

Available in paperback and ebook formats

Icarus (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #4)

AD 3487

Taylor Neeran, Star-Killer.

That’s what she was being called throughout the Xathen dominion. Turn the minor star of the Franath binary system into a black hole, and they gave her that title. She was famous, infamous, whatever. It’s not like it was a handful of stars, one star wasn’t that many, the galaxy has billions of them. But sometimes it was the small actions that got the most attention. One star to save a hundred unsuspecting worlds and a trillion lives, in some ways it was more than a fair trade.

It wasn’t her fault the minor sun had failed to complete its transformation into a black hole. Instead, it had become a neutron star, a pulsar , spraying death across the Franath system.

Franath was now spoken in whispers or not at all, as if the word itself was cursed.

But she was going to fix it.

In order to save eight billion souls, Taylor Neeran, Star-Killer and Spirit-Mother of Aeden was going to tame a star.

Or die trying.

Of course, not actually die, that would help nobody. But she was going to try really, really hard…

Print ISBN: 978-0995103498

Available in paperback and ebook formats

Gazza's Guide to Practical Project Management: Tips and Advice on Surviving the Project Management Journey

Life is complicated. If we can simplify the job of getting things done, the better off we usually are. This is particularly important in managing projects. In this book, Gary (Gazza) tackles the complexity of managing projects by breaking the essential components of Project Management down into practical, simple concepts. Whether you simply have an interest in Project Management or are already managing them, this book has something for you.

For most people, we remember things best when they are accompanied by music, or are part of a story. While there is no musical score to this book, there are plenty of project management lessons wrapped in entertaining stories to help the concepts stick. Featuring popular episodes from Gazza's Corner blog and all-new content, this book addresses the four main stages of typical projects: Initiation/Planning, Execution, Closeout and Project Control.

What you will find in this book:

• Learn about the importance of the Project Kickoff - and why you need a Monkey to help you through it.


• Need to create a new Project Plan? Learn to write it as a story based on lessons learned from a famous author.


• Writing requirements? Learn how to develop exceptional ones through lessons learned from Ice Cream - and the Spice Girls.


• Implementing Organizational Change? Learn how to do it successfully by growing a Desert.


• Learn about the essentials of Risk Management from a pocket umbrella in the heart of the Australian Desert.


• You can't get there from here: tips on getting things done, in spite of it all.


• A playful theory on the origin of writing - and why it is so important that we write stuff down.


• Working with Virtual Teams or Volunteers? Read key lessons on working with both types of teams.


• And many other topics.


•  

From managing hundreds of small, concurrent projects to multi-year, multi-million dollar ventures, Gazza shares his 20+ years of experience and lessons learned to help you along the project management journey.

Print ISBN: 978-1478345046

Available in paperback and ebook formats

The Ultimate Tree House Project (Project Kids Adventures Book 1)

10 year old best friends Ben, James, Tim & Tom find the perfect tree in a forest near their school and begin to build the Ultimate Tree House. Things start with a bang, and get even worse when Ben's sister Amanda discovers them working on their secret tree house. Next thing they know, the girls are building their own - in the same tree - and it looks even better than the boy's! How are they doing it? What is their secret weapon? After the accident, everything changes and the boys are forced to team up with the girls - as if that would ever work!

This book introduces basic Project Management concepts to children through an entertaining, funny story and simple lessons taught to one of the children by her father who is (of course) a Project Manager. She applies what she has learned and suddenly the girls are leaping ahead of the boys who had just "started building" - without a plan.

Come join this unlikely band of tree house builders - four girls, four boys - as they end up working together to complete the Ultimate Tree House Project!

Paperback ISBN: 978-1482558135

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Other language editions: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | Edición España | Edición Español Latinoamérica | Mongolian | Simplified Chinese | Catalan | Romanian

Manga Editions also available in: English | Japanese | Portuguese

The Scariest Haunted House Project - Ever! (Project Kids Adventures #2)

With last summer’s adventure in the Ultimate Tree House now a fading memory, Amanda is finding it hard to adjust to Middle School. New faces, new teachers, stuck in a different class than her friends - and if that wasn’t bad enough, now she is a “little kid” again. How much more of this could she take?

Meanwhile, Ben is on top of the world and enjoying school with his friends. His sister is in a different school and finally out of his hair - life was great!
All of this changes when a surprise announcement brings the Project Kids back together in a two-school competition to build the best Halloween display. Armed with Vampires, Goblins, Zombies, Ghosts and the lessons they learned on their previous adventure, it seems like there is no way they can lose!

This book builds on the Project Management concepts learned in The Ultimate Tree House Project, with a few more key lessons to help them handle more complex projects. Forced to handle constant changes, near-disasters and an immovable deadline, it is going to take their very best to get their project completed on time.

Join the Project Kids as they embark on their bravest adventure yet – to build the Scariest Haunted House – Ever. The kids get started on the project and soon learn that it is not just Haunted Houses that can be scary!

Paperback ISBN: 978-1493552979

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Other languages: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | Spanish (Spain) | Catalan | Simplified Chinese

Manga Editions also available in: English | Japanese 

The Amazing Science Fair Project (Project Kids Adventures #3)

Amanda was terrified. Sure, she and her friends had built a huge tree house and an awesome haunted house together - but now she was in way over her head. Those projects had been for fun - but this one was going to be marked! She and her lab partners have to do a class project for the School Science Fair - but they have absolutely no idea where to start or even what to do. Have they finally met their match?

Meanwhile, the boys have big problems of their own, and the outcome of their project could mean life or death! OK, maybe not actual death, but they could end up cold, wet and hungry, and with no electronics…for a whole weekend!

Join the Project Kids in their third big adventure as they come together to unravel the mysteries of Mice, Men…and Marshmallows.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1502518088

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Other languages: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | Simplified Chinese

Manga Editions also available in: English | Japanese 

The Valentine's Day Project Disaster (Project Kids Adventures #4)

The biggest problem with success is that people always expect more from you, thought Amanda. She stared hard at the folded piece of paper sitting on the desk in front of her, hoping it would just go away. Why did I say yes? She wondered. I must have been crazy! We do a couple projects, and now they want me to do this?

She cautiously poked at it again with the end of her pencil, like it was a bomb about to go off. She flicked at the crumpled edge of the paper, those terrible words hidden just out of sight but taunting her nonetheless.

Finally, she could take it no more. She put down the pencil and grasped the paper with shaking hands. Why did I agree to run this thing? What do I know about this stuff, anyway?

With agonizing slowness, Amanda opened up the paper to once again read those terrible words, the words that she had committed to. The thing she had promised to do.

Yes, no problem, Ms Moldiva. Sure! It’ll be fun!

In large, bold letters at the top of the crinkled sheet of paper were the words:

Wanted: Organizer for Valentine’s Day School Dance.

Amanda’s shuddered. It’s going to be a disaster!

---

Join the Project Kids in their fourth big adventure as they come together to organize the Valentine’s Day dance at A. J. Wilkins Intermediate School. Along with the challenges of tackling their biggest project yet, an age-old question will test them to their limits. Will cupid strike the Project Kids - or even worse - pass them by?

Parent/Teacher Note:

The fourth project is their biggest one yet, and the most varied and complex. In addition to planning the dance as a project, they will need to learn how to develop relationships and improve their communication skills as they engage with the whole school. They will learn how to positively influence others, and some tips on how to face up to bullies along the way.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1511697583

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Other languages: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | Simplified Chinese

Manga Editions also available in: Japanese 

The Easter Bully Transformation Project (Project Kids Adventures #5)

The Project Kids really have their work cut out for themselves this time. After Peter Johansen nearly destroyed the Valentine’s Dance, you might expect the Project Kids to be glad to see the last of ‘Pimple Pete’. So why are they reaching out to him - and what do they hope to achieve?

As one small idea takes on a life of its own and one of their own is struck down in their prime, they find themselves struggling to answer one simple question: Can they actually un-bully a bully? …And should they even try?

The answer lies in an unexpected place…and not even the Easter Bunny can help them.

Parent/Teacher Note:
This next book in the Project Kids Adventures series sees the kids tackling several interrelated projects at once.

While carefully investigating the reasons behind Pimple Pete’s bullying behavior, they find themselves engaged in a cause that extends well beyond the school and their community.

Paperback ISBN: 978-1532900785

Available in paperback and ebook formats.

Other languages: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese | Simplified Chinese

Manga adaptation in progress

The Great Creek Resuce Project (Project Kids Adventures #6)

Ben hated RISK.

After the new kid at school had an accident in the creek behind the forest, RISK was all that everyone at school was talking about. RISK that they might get hurt in the playground… so kids stopped playing. RISK of slipping while running, so everybody walked… slowly. RISK of this, RISK of that, everywhere you looked. The neighborhood was gripped in the fear of RISK, and not a smile was to be seen.

It was completely over the top, and Ben couldn’t handle it anymore. Worst of all, the forest was now a forbidden zone, because there was a RISK that someone might trip or fall. Their tree house might as well be on another planet. With the end of school and summer fast approaching, something had to be done, or they risked their summer holidays being ruined forever.

RISK, RISK, RISK!

…And then Alice gets this crazy idea about saving the salmon because they’re at RISK too, but the Project Kids aren’t even allowed to go down into the creek to clean it up!

It looked like an impossible project. But then, they had done the impossible before…

Parent/Teacher Note:

This next book in the Project Kids Adventures series sees the kids leading an environmental recovery project and learning to manage Risk.

Other languages: Japanese | Portuguese | Brazilian Portuguese 

Manga adaptation in progress

Infestation (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #5)

A.D. 3596

While Xathen are of many body-forms, they are all Xathen, one and united.

However, a billion years ago the Xathen fought each other in the bloodiest civil war the galaxy has ever seen. Trillions died and hundreds of star systems were extinguished as battles raged all across the Milky Way.

They fought not over race or body-form, but over a single ideal:

Thou Shalt Not Interfere.

The losers fled the galaxy entirely, cast out into the great dark between the stars.

The winners were left to play as gods with the Orion Spur, fostering one cluster of new intelligences after another, wiping them out, then starting again.

We are the result of their toils.

Now those who had fled have returned. They call themselves the True Xathen.

Incubation (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #6)

A.D. 3596

Descendants of those who fled our galaxy during the great Xathen Civil War have returned, bearing the Message of the Grand Designer.

All who receive His Message will believe, and all will become One.

Or, more likely, dead.

Strathow, a colony world inhabited by Xathen religious Ascetics, has been decimated.

A rescue ship disappears after the crew are slaughtered by the survivors they had come to save.

The galaxy as we know it is in grave peril, but few believe that the Returning Xathen represent a serious threat towards the Xathen of this galaxy.

Instead, the Xathen Galactic Committee is preparing to welcome the Returning Xathen with open arms, despite Taylor's warning.

Because Xathen are Xathen under the eyes of the Grand Designer, after all.

Invasion (Taylor Neeran Chronicles #7)

Searchers (The Recycled Earth #1)

Year 998 P.E. (Post Earth)

What’s the worst part about the end of the world?

You might think it’s having to live in one of thirteen Arks orbiting a dead planet.

Or that the last vestiges of humanity are only one point three million people, one hundred thousand per Ark. No more, no less, closed loop, until the Searchers find us a new home.

But no, the absolute worst part is turning eighteen.

Because that’s when you’re forced to marry a random stranger.

It’s called Selection – when Oversight assigns you a life-partner, a new job, and you’re required to produce a child in your first year of marriage.

That’s pretty bad, right? I mean, what if he hates me? What if my job stinks?

Yeah. I used to worry about that, too.

But now, fearing for my life is my new worst thing of all.

Because things are not as they seem, and people are disappearing…

Droppers (The Recycled Earth #2)

Year 998 P.E. (Post Earth)

The Earth is dead.

Or is it?

Searchers have spent centuries looking in vain for signs of recovery on the Earth below, and for hospitable planets out amongst the stars.

Day in, day out, analysing the endless streams of images that Oversight brings them, looking for the tell-tale green of life.

Until one day, eighteen-year-old Miya sees something else. Something that shouldn’t exist on the dead planet below. Something she isn't supposed to see.

Running for her life, Miya flees the Ark to the inhospitable planet below. But inhospitable doesn’t necessarily mean dead. There's life. She had seen the signs. Unless the picture was a fake, then she’ll be dead soon enough.

Survivors (The Recycled Earth #3)

Year 998 P.E. (Post Earth)

They say that each of us are tested, every day. On the recovering Earth, that can be as simple as basic survival, one day at a time.

Eighteen-year-old Miya and her companions have rescued Thomas – only to be rescued themselves by the mysterious fire-spitting drones sent by Oversight.

Where are they being taken, and why?

Their questions remain stubbornly unanswered as Oversight asserts its influence once more.

Miya had been hunted by wild beasts and lived to tell the tale. But when they arrive at their destination, Miya soon realizes that survival in the wilds was nothing compared to what she faces next.

For she will be tested to her limits, and someone else’s life – or death – hangs in the balance.

Harvest (The Myrioi Sequence #1)

An evil Empire. A boy that nobody remembers.

And a girl who must remember him, or die.

Growing up, the farm is all that seventeen-year-old Trysk has ever known. Crops, livestock and the ever-present Kleps have been her entire world in one small, unchanging corner of an Empire that spans a thousand worlds and has lasted ten thousand years.

Every year like clockwork, the Harvest ship comes to collect the Emperor’s share of grains, livestock, and your eldest child.

What happens to those who are taken?

Nobody knows, because none of them come back. Not a single person. Not ever.

Her farm is supposed to be fallow this year, where Trysk is to raise a family.

However, the Universe seems to have other plans when a strange boy arrives on her farm just before Harvest. He’s the oddest person she’s ever met.

Then why is it so hard for her to remember him?

But remember him she must, as her life—and the fate of the galaxy—depends on it.

~~~

Reader guidance: There are horror aspects and gore in limited scenes. Suggested reading age 17+.

Fallow (The Myrioi Sequence #2)

Blood spilled. A Promise broken.

And an Emperor who must die.

The Empire spans a thousand planets and has lasted ten thousand years.

With every Harvest, the Emperor takes his share of crops and livestock … and your eldest child, to join the Emperor’s Service.

However, the lives of the Harvested are far from secure. Assessed, sorted and counted on the Harvest ship, the unwanted are adjusted by the Counters without mercy.

Trysk had escaped the Harvest ship, only to be re-captured by the Emperor's Counters on Zamir.

With death on all sides, things are looking pretty bleak for Trysk ... except for the prophecy from a Seer on the Harvest ship.

Well, it was more of a command:

The Emperor must die.

And somehow, impossibly, she and Tristan were supposed to make it happen.

Reaper (The Myrioi Sequence #3)

A task unfinished. An eternal Emperor.

Ten thousand years of suffering must end.

Killing a man was the hardest thing Trysk and Tristan ever had to do. That fact the target was the Emperor himself, murderer of billions, hadn’t made the job any easier.

But they had succeeded, and the Emperor is dead.

Or at least, that’s what they thought. Tristan has since learned the Emperor’s darkest secret, and why the Empire has lasted as long as it has.

In fact, it’s only a matter of time until the Emperor is back in action as if nothing had happened, with the endless cycle of suffering and cruelty likely to continue for another ten thousand years.

… But not if Trysk and her team have anything to say about it.

So, for now, the task remains unfinished, and they must kill the Emperor.

Again, and again, and again…

Artificial Sweetener: Tales of AI: 100% Written by Humans (anthology)

Is that sugar in your tea, or something else?
And really, how would you know?

Just how "life imitates art" is a perception we often take for granted, the ongoing fusion of technology into our daily routines may soon twist into wondering what is real, and what is not.

Is AI really for our betterment … or the first steps towards subjugation?

Artificial Sweetener is a collection of 17 speculative fiction short stories and poems from SpecFicNZ members exploring the wide world of AI. Rogue drones, unexpected upgrades, smart homes, haunting memories and integrated consciousness – this collection will both charm and unsettle you as it travels the expanse of AI.

Too sweet, just sweet enough or downright sickly? SpecFicNZ leaves you to decide with this fascinating collection of short stories and poems from worlds that may not be as far into the future as we’d like to think.

---

Lead Editors: Gary M. Nelson and Cerid Jones

Contributors: Octavia Cade, Charlotte Kieft, Ink Witch, Fin Patiliu, Nicky Taylor, Dani Morrison, Ashley Taylor, Deryn Lorraine Pittar, Jackie A. E. Ritchie, I. K. Paterson, Cerid Jones, S. J. Pratt, Gary M. Nelson, Anne Wilkins, B.T. Keaton, S. R. Manssen, Melissa Gunn

* WINNER * Sir Julius Vogel Award 2025 (SFFANZ) for Best Collected Work
* WINNER * Sir Julius Vogel Award 2025 (SFFANZ) for Best Artwork (cover)