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Backstories – Simon Van Der Velde
Fascinating. Intriguing. Compelling. I loved loved ‘Backstories’, to figure out who it was we were allowed to see a bit of the background of people we have all come to know throughout the times. Imaginative and sometimes shocking, but oh such a great read! Book Blurb These are people you know, but not as you know them. Peel back the mask and see. CAN YOU FIND THE FAMOUS PERSON HIDDEN IN EVERY STORY? Dreamers, singers, heroes and killers, they can dazzle with their beauty or their talent or their unmitigated evil, yet inside themselves, they are as frail and desperate as the rest of us. But can you see them? Can you…
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Your Life, Your Universe, Your Everything – Morgen Bailey
Introduction November 4th is a special day for me. I will tell you why after you’ve read the story because I would not want to spoil your pleasure of reading Morgen Bailey’s lovely #shortstory. I am delighted to share with you ‘Your Life, Your Universe, Your Everything’ by author, speaker, and mentor, Morgen Bailey. Enjoy! Your Life, Your Universe, Your Everything – Morgen Bailey You couldn’t help but make a mess. He’d given you permission to use the kitchen but you knew how OCD he was about the slightest speck. He’d warned you when you’d moved in when you’d met, seen the evidence for yourself the first time you’d visited…
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Blood Bath – Conrad Jones
I love LOVE short stories and am thrilled to have this dark and devious Jack Nightingale short story for you, written by Conrad Jones. His ‘Blood Bath’ features in the short story bundle with the same name, edited by Stephen Leather, who created the character of Jack Nightingale. The bundle contains seven short stories, each written by a different author, each centred around Jack Nightingale – what an exciting premise! This is Conrad Jones‘s version of… BLOOD BATH. Enjoy! Blood Bath A Jack Nightingale Short Story It was a cold grey dawn, no longer dark but not yet light either. The headlights were still necessary for her to drive safely.…
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Monsieur Zola’s Funny Valentine – Brendan Gisby
On Valentine’s Day 2019 I feel privileged to share with you this poignant, romantic, and yet heartbreakingly sad story of love – for every sentence in it shows us the special love Brendan Gisby felt and feels for his departed wife, Alison – a story written in her honour. Introduction This poignant little gem of a short story is part of Brendan Gisby’s new – seventh! – collection of short stories. They are, as the author describes them, “down-to-earth, punchy and poignant.” These stories are, according to the author, almost all based on true events – apart from the two last two ones. Now, without further ado, I give you your…
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Fredrick Snellgrove – Rob Ashman
Who was Fredrick Snellgrove and why is he – his life – so important to Rob Ashman? An emotive short story that moves me every time I read it. Introduction The tenth of November 2018, saw the WWI Centennial Commemoration at Harrogate Library, organised by Malcolm Hollingdrake (see here). A poignant afternoon filled with remarkable stories by those who, voluntarily and freely, came together to make a memory to be cherished – a heartfelt tribute to those, who gave their lives for our freedom. One of the authors participating was Rob Ashman – before a captivated audience he shared his story about Fredrick Snellgrove, Private 23208. A story that moved everyone to tears…
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A Lawful Killing – Ross Greenwood
From the author of masterly crafted psychological thrillers, I bring you this intriguing short story, A Lawful Killing, which made me feel cold shivers down my spine… Introduction: Dark Minds Dark Minds is a collection of 40 crime and thriller short stories from renowned authors including Louise Jensen, L.J. Ross, Steven Dunne, Betsy Reavley, M.A. Comley, Anita Waller, plus many more, published by Bloodhound Books. Two years ago, the Dark Minds Celebration of Crime Fiction for Charity was published. All the proceeds of this wonderful collection of 41 exciting, thrilling and at times touching crime stories go to Sophie’s Appeal and Hospice UK. If you want to know more about this fabulous collection, do check…
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Final Sleep – Malcolm Hollingdrake
It is anti-bullying week 2018 and I am proud to be sharing with you Malcolm Hollingdrake’s #shortstory FINAL SLEEP about the devastating and shocking consequences of bullying. Introduction “We all lose when bullying and personal attacks become a substitute for genuine conversation and principled disagreement.” – Alicia Garza, civil rights activist Words, once spoken, have the power to haunt and fill minds with poisonous thoughts. Having witnessed bullying happening at my children’s schools, I found that speaking with children who bully often revealed shocking insights into their lives and minds. Bullying is behaviour we must condemn. We also need to make bullies understand the consequences and impact of their behaviour.…
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Eat Your Heart Out – Shervin Jamali
It’s that time of the year again.. Halloween! Spooky, sinister, and spine-chilling tales are being told and you better watch out.. To celebrate Halloween, author Shervin Jamali has written this dark, disturbing, and yet funny and imaginative short story, Eat Your Heart Out.. Pizza will never be the same..! Introduction Charlie is a pizza baker who not only suffers from customers not showing up but also has to deal with his wife, Alice. She keeps nagging him and makes him look and feel a failure. The life he promised Alice and the lie she got.. not at all comparable, in her eyes. If you’d hear her, you’d think it was…
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Not Talking Italics – Russell Day
Not Talking Italics is a sarcastic short story in which Mister Slidesmith – pardon me, Doctor Slidesmith – is interrogated about a crime committed.. a game of Texas Hold Em’ going terribly wrong but there is more to this story… Introduction To celebrate the #PublicationDay of Russel Day’s book NEEDLE SONG on 30th April 2018 by Fahrenheit Press, I am very pleased to share with you the author’s short story NOT TALKING ITALICS. To whet your appetite for NEEDLE SONG, here’s what the book is all about: Spending the night with a beautiful woman would be a good alibi if the body in the next room wasn’t her husband. Doc Slidesmith…
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Bennett’s Christmas Gift – Malcolm Hollingdrake
*Short Story* Now the end of the year is nigh, it is time to look back and be thankful – that is what Malcolm Hollingdrake does in this special Christmas story I am privileged to share with all of you who love and support the DCI Bennett Series Introduction Malcolm Hollingdrake is the author of the DCI Bennett series, featuring DCI Cyril Bennett and his team, of whom I just have to mention DS David Owen, better known as Owen. I love the DCI Bennett series, the author’s erudite writing style combining police procedurals with insights into the personal lives of the police officers. The author’s love for Harrogate and…
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