Discover the World of Staurolite Books

Lionel Noble transports readers to the post-World War II narrow-gauge steam era of the South Australian Railways between Peterborough and Cockburn. With little support on the frontier, workers relied on patience, perseverance, initiative and ingenuity to keep trains running. Lionel’s recollections lay bare the harsh, perilous conditions and testing extremes of weather that isolated crews endured. These men forged unbreakable bonds, watched each other’s backs and carved out moments of fun amid hardship. What stands out most is the crew’s fierce pride and passion. It was their unity—and the demands of the Cockburn Line—that brought out their best.

200+ pages | 150+ images | $30 including shipping.
PLEASE NOTE: Purchase link is for Australian sales only. Overseas buyers can purchase on Amazon and other booksellers.

A story that has never been told
This biography reveals the multifaceted identity of Frank Courtis—from classified military intelligence work across international regions, war correspondent during World War 2 and the Korean War, to his expressive inner world revealed through poetry, theatre, and photography. Drawing on newly declassified archives, family collections, and historical context, Heather Thoday reconstructs a vivid, researched portrait of a complex man whose story was nearly lost.

Please contact Staurolite Books to arrange purchase of a copy.

115 pages | 32 images | $30 including shipping.

This meticulously researched family history follows the exploits of Charles and Martha Courtis as they leave 1850s Cornwall to begin a new life in South Australia.

Through accurate verification of dates, names, and places, an authentic portrayal of historical events underlies Courtis Lines. From humble beginnings to enduring legacies, this is a tale of courage and resilience.

Please contact Staurolite Books to arrange purchase of a copy.

On Worlds End Highway is the true story of an immigrant from Prussia who becomes the matriarch of a family that runs a successful business for seventy-five years. And a contemporary immigrant from America who renovates for the future and discovers a remarkable history. Colonial South Australia reveals itself yesterday and today: mining booms and drought, paddleboats and ports amidst plagues, fire and searing heat—and a luscious garden echoing the calls of bushland birds. A story that relives the past and sits in the present: two parallel lives anchored at an extraordinary place.

Click here for Nancy's website.

One of the colourful characters of the South Australian railway town of Petersburg (later renamed Peterborough) in the early 1900s was Black Harry. Some locals thought he may have been one of the last surviving indigenous people of the area. Surprisingly, he turned out to be a Timorese man named Duan Foik. This is his story, from the early 1870s to the 1930s, a story which proves the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. It roams from the Northern Territory to Kapunda, Adelaide, Gladstone and Petersburg and involves such things as theft, assault, imprisonment, prostitution, attempted murder and attempted suicide. It is the very human story of a flawed yet well-regarded man, on whose behalf people were willing to go to great lengths.

Children are disappearing from the city of Seddon without a trace. The city gates are locked and guarded, but still the children disappear. One night, Seeger and his friend Boyd are taken and they at last understand the mystery. The abductors are using dragons! Two days later they arrive at the city of Midrash, where everything serves the military machine – including children who are forced to become soldiers. In a world in which they are daily confronted with violence and the loss of innocence, Seeger and Boyd struggle to maintain their humanity and their friendship. Their only hope of escape lies with a unique gift Seeger has discovered – but one which he must keep secret from his captors. He can speak to dragons.

Print and eBook versions of Dragon Flight are now available.
US readers can purchase here.
Australian readers can purchase here.

Existing first edition print stock can still be purchased here
at a discounted price (Australian sales only).

Preodering now available!
Escaping from Midrash was not easy, even riding on the back of a dragon. Seeger promised his friend Boyd he would return with help to set him and the other child soldiers free from the brutality of the Midrashi. What he does not know is that it will nearly be a year before he finally returns, across the desert, with an army and five dragons. But what will he find after all this time? Can the Midrashi be defeated? And what has become of Boyd and the other children?

Print and eBook versions of this book are now available.
Australian readers can order here
US readers can order here.

Existing print stock can still be purchased here
at a discounted price (Australian sales only).

Seeger and his friends are horribly damaged from their experiences as child soldiers in books 1 & 2. Returning home is also difficult, and their longing for meaning and belonging catapult them into an adventure to rescue a trafficked girl and save the dragons' ancient home from evil. But how can they win a war with so few resources? Dragon Home will not only transport you to Seeger's world but will make you gasp, weep and even laugh out loud through W.A. Noble's masterful imagination and insight into injustice done to children and animals. Dragon Home will leave you wanting much more of Seeger and his dragon friends.
Dr Rosanne Hawke, author of Riding the Wind: Writing for Children and Young Adults. Re-publishing late 2025

This book is currently out of print and is being prepared for re-publishing. Existing stock can still be purchased here (Australian sales only).

Right from the first line, ‘They came riding in on dragons’, the reader is whisked through this adventure fantasy on camels and dragons as Seeger and his friends try to find a cure to save a life. I was enthralled as the group fell into one dangerous situation to the next, trying to stay ahead of slave traders and to discover the cure in time. W.A. Noble’s inimitable style includes humour and wit even in the stickiest of situations. And all characters, even the animals and Joffrey the raven, are large as life and so well drawn I found myself talking to them in my mind. This is a riveting read from W.A. Noble who can write a fourth book in a series as if it were the first!
Dr Rosanne Hawke, Bard of Cornwall, author of Flying Blind, Riding the Wind, Johan and the Quest of the Lost Dog. Re-publishing late 2025

This book is currently out of print and is being prepared for re-publishing. Existing stock can still be purchased here (Australian sales only).

Kerenza misses the green grass of Cornwall, her nanny, sister, and friends. In Australia, the red dust, the heat and the huge cloudless sky are hard to bear. But she needs to be brave to help her mam do the jobs in their canvas house. Can she make friends with Jacob (the meanest boy she’s met), Harry and the mysterious girl she meets in the bush, to make the Mallee her home?

Go to Rosanne's website for further information and purchasing enquiries.