Skip to main content
Alumni

Bookshelf

As the saying goes 'everyone has a book in them' and these Teesside University Graduates took this saying literally.

All of the books on this bookshelf have been written by Teesside University Graduates from all disciplines.

If you are an Author and would like us to showcase your book(s) then please email alumni@tees.ac.uk with the following information and we would be delighted to feature you: authors name, title of book, brief overview, genre, web link to where the book can be purchased, course studied and the year you graduated - and finally an image of the book cover.

A Familiar Stranger

A Familiar Stranger

Author: Matthew Williams

Genre: Poetry

View the book

This collection of contemporary poetry explores the challenges of modern living, from the social to the spiritual, from the political to the deeply personal.

Exploring love, loss, loneliness, mental health, and the search for meaning in suffering, along with more prosaic, day-to-day concerns like being stuck on the phone on hold, business doublespeak, and a heated encounter in a local bar, A Familiar Stranger contains something for everyone.

Praise for Matthew Williams:
"A talented writer with an important message"
"Funny, honest, brave"
"A true shining light of hope and guidance for us all"
A Storytelling of Ravens

A Storytelling of Ravens

Author: R. H. Dixon

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

View the book

Kidnapped actress, Callie Crossley, wakes in an isolated cabin in the woods with two other guests. When a man from her past joins them, she begins to hear things the others cannot — terrible whispers that are filled with death and madness. Who can she trust?
Black Shirt and Smoking Beagles

Black Shirt and Smoking Beagles

Author: J L Risdon

Genre: Biography

View the book

This is the true story of a man who refused to be bound by convention, if that meant accepting the status quo of the lower orders knowing their place, financial slavery, freedom of speech only for those in 'authority', and the unquestioning acceptance of unspeakable cruelty to animals. He was a valued and trusted lieutenant for Oswald Mosley, and later rose to become Secretary of the most prestigious animal welfare organisation in Britain: the National Anti-Vivisection Society. Yet he is not a household name: this book sets out to redress that omission.
Can You Keep A Secret?

Can You Keep A Secret?

Author: Juanita Maud Headley

Genre: Non fiction, human trafficking and child abuse prevention

View the book

Is it about time for you to have the dreaded “Good secrets, Bad secrets” conversation with your children? Whether you’ve already had the “talk” or are intending on having the “talk,” then this book, Can You Keep A Secret? is just for you. Prepare to have the whole concept of secrets turned on its head as Juanita Headley shares the true story of the harrowing ordeal she endured at the hands of her stepfather who subjected her to attempted rape between the ages of 4 – 10. Speaking from her very own lived experience, Headley simplistically converses with the reader to explain why “Yes,” is the only appropriate response to the question, “Can you keep a secret?” Through the use of victim and survivor testimony, she not only educates and empowers the reader, but also truly inspires them to join in the fight against the biggest slave trade movement in the history of the world. In doing so, Headley discusses the relentless sacrifices she has made over the last decade, including the highs and lows of frequently giving up paid employment to sacrificially serve an overseas community through volunteerism, free trainings and presentations. Although justice was never served in the case of her stepfather, Headley has demonstrated unwavering commitment and determination to protect and safeguard children from sexual abuse and commercial exploitation; consequently 60% of profits raised through the sale of this book will be used to build safe houses in the Philippines.
View the trailer
Chichester Ghost Tour, a self-guided walk around the city centre.

Chichester Ghost Tour, a self-guided walk around the city centre.

Author: Julia Macfarlane

Genre: Ghost fiction, travel & tourism, humour

View the book

No long weekend break to a British city is complete with a visit to the pub and a wander around the city’s centre. Here it is – follow the book with friends, or even book Julia to take you on a tour of the quirkier bits of town. A mixture of real and fake new stories, there is enough to entertain you for a few hours while you stroll around gawping and pointing.
Cribbins

Cribbins

Author: R. H. Dixon

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

View the book

Sophie Harrington’s sinister childhood neighbour, Ronnie Cribbins, has been dead for 15 years — so why can’t she shake the terrifying feeling that he’s lurking around every corner, preying on her and her daughter?
Emergence

Emergence

Author: R. H. Dixon

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

View the book

A young widower takes his daughter to visit his childhood home. When she tells stories of a ghostly visitor in her room each night, he soon finds the line between reality and his nightmares blurring in this twisted tale of psychological horror. Genre: Supernatural Suspense
Fallen star

Fallen star

Author: Ian Barker

Genre: Contemporary fiction

View the book

Fame is the only life Karl has known but he’s about to learn the hard way that some things are more important.
Game Changers: Apple's Breakthrough Moments

Game Changers: Apple's Breakthrough Moments

Author: Ian Barker

Genre: Non-fiction

View the book

From the Apple I which emerged from the back of Steve Jobs parents’ garage in 1976 to the iPad 4, the book takes us through each of Apple’s breakthrough moments, demonstrating how Apple really were the ‘Game Changers’.
Meet The Winners

Meet The Winners

Author: Julia Macfarlane

Genre: Short stories

View the book

Julia runs the Bognor Regis Write Club and in 2019 we held a short story competition. Professional and gifted amateurs entered and here are the judge’s choices: 24 stories from spine-tingling thrillers to laugh-out-loud humour, every one a mini-masterpiece.
News of Leon & Other Tales

News of Leon & Other Tales

Author: Julia Macfarlane

Genre: Short stories

View the book

Julia has collected together her previously published short stories into one collection. Her humour and talent for characterisation shines through as she deals with business life, personal lives and impossible situations. From the amoral friends in News of Leon and A Real Adventure to a modern twist on fairy tales, she casts a sideways glance at life.
One Hot Summer

One Hot Summer

Author: Ian Barker

Genre: Contemporary fiction/coming of age

View the book

In a tale encompassing love, friendship, rivalry, guilt, death and with a little help from a cartoon devil; for a boy to discover the pleasures and pains of adult life, all it takes is One Hot Summer...
Something Changed - Stumbling Through Divorce, Dating & Depression

Something Changed - Stumbling Through Divorce, Dating & Depression

Author: Matthew Williams

Genre: Memoir / Self-Help

View the book

When we think we are losing everything, sometimes we find more than we could have hoped for...
In the aftermath of marriage breakdown, how do we pick ourselves up and start again?

In August 2014 Matthew was forced to do just that. In his memoir, Something Changed, he navigates us through his journey with wit and wisdom, taking in divorce, dating, and becoming a single parent, while facing the dark spectre of mental illness in the form of depression.

Hopes and fears, laughter and tears - all are encountered along the way to learning some important lessons about love, loss, loneliness and life.

Something Changed is a brutally honest, insightful, funny, and uplifting memoir of overcoming some of life's greatest challenges and being better for the experience.
The Cundy

The Cundy

Author: R. H. Dixon

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

View the book

When 13-year-old Sullivan Carter hides in a tunnel in the woods to escape schoolyard bullies, he encounters a frightening creature that harks back to the time when Vikings ruled the area.
The Instant Guide to Android

The Instant Guide to Android

Author: Ian Barker

Genre: Non-fiction

View the book

If you’re new to Android devices and want to know basics like how to get online and how to download apps from the Play store, or if you’ve been using it for a while and need to access more advanced features and troubleshooting tips, 'The Instant Guide to Android' is the essential guide.
The Instant Guide To Creating An App

The Instant Guide To Creating An App

Author: Ian Barker

Genre: Non-fiction

View the book

A simple, accessible guide that tells you everything you need to know about both how to create the best app and how to market it successfully.
The Selfie Boy and Other Short Stories

The Selfie Boy and Other Short Stories

Author: Sriramgokul Chinnasamy

Genre: Short Stories

View the book

An Indian boy meets a Brit-Pakistani girl in England, during the Christmas month. A girl from York, gets lost and stuck in London. In a library, she teleports herself to an animal-run city, transforming into a zebra. Capturing a minor road accident in an English town as realistically as possible, from the eye of a foreigner. An uncanny tale where a couple believes a curse is responsible for their stillborn child. The wife endures weeks of agony from her husband’s hands to get herself prepared for a burial ritual. A fading relationship between two people ends via chat, and both find other fish to fry.
The Shadow of a Shadow

The Shadow of a Shadow

Author: R. H. Dixon

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

View the book

After her mother’s death, Dracula-obsessed Catherine Hall goes to stay at her aunt’s B&B in Whitby. But the unsolved mystery of what happened to her cousin sixteen years ago — and a disturbing presence within the shadows of the guesthouse — threaten to undo her.
Go to top menu