All sorts of unexpected, unsettling things happen in these 30 short stories. In Phoenix, Arizona, jobless Victor heads south with his nation's worst-ever storyteller to reclaim parental remains.

Jenna Miscavige Hill was a third-generation Church of Scientologist. She escaped the secretive society and told her story to Nicky Park.

Ex-Scientologist Jenna Miscavige Hill has revealed the harsh reality of growing up in the Church. Read her story here.

Modern day tales of wizards and vampires are proving more popular with British children than classic stories like Roald Dahl's Matilda, research suggests.

This fishing fleet has nothing to do with cod or snapper. It’s a witty, whimsical account of the boatloads of British belles, who, from the mid-18th century to the mid-20th century, were shipped out to India to marry English males.

Compare these two statements. "If the foreign forces are ready to leave our country ... then we can help them. But if they insist on continuing the war, we don't have any other way than fighting." An Afghan warlord, speaking in 2009.

Whitney Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown has slammed her grandma's tell-all book about her late mother and vowed never to read the tome.

American author David Roberts is seeking to resurrect the achievements of a much lesser known explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson.

The premise of New Finnish Grammar is inspired: a wounded soldier is found by a German crew on the quay at Trieste in September, 1943. He has no identification on him, no memory whatsoever and, crucially, no language.

An investiture ceremony for author, chef and television presenter Peta Mathias will be held at Government House in Auckland today.

They installed a new self-checkout machine at my local library. It happened in October but I noticed it only a few weeks ago.

Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is facing a class-action lawsuit from readers of his autobiography who want their money back after his doping confession.

Kiwi tennis fans will be able to meet one of the sport's greatest players - Andre Agassi - in Auckland tomorrow.

Jessica Alba can add writer to her resume after penning a book offering parenting, life and style advice to help promote "honest living'' among her fans.

Steve Braunias' collection of travel essays on 'places no one went to' is pure gold.