Funny how things come together to create a story. Behind this short tale was a walk in France where I stumbled across a pack of dogs gathered in a pen in a remote farmyard, a sprinkle of Harry Potter style…
One of my favourite things is travelling the world with my awesome and adventurous husband. This is a piece of life writing that covers just a small snippet of a fabulous tour we took through Vietnam and Cambodia in 2013….
I’m pleased to share the news that my poem ‘Lost in Words’ was published in May in the first of a new series of anthologies called Poetry and Visuals. Published by Sputnik, it features 19 artists and creative writers who…
I often find myself fascinated with the stories of every day things. This poem is part of a growing series of pieces on that theme. Why do we choose the clothes we wear? What do hope they say about us?…
I visited Vilnius in Lithuania over the Easter weekend. The old town is crammed with churches of many different styles and affiliations. The main tourist drag is also home to a number of small market traders. This short story was…
This short piece of humorous fiction was written in response to a challenge to write 1000 words using the prompt ‘Desperate measures’ I suspect Glenda and Teddy may feature in other stories now they have burst into life. A…
Some time ago I spend an afternoon sitting with a friend in a local charity shop. I was surprised by the number of people who came through the door with no intention to buy, but simply seeking human contact. This…
I love the internet. It can be a treasure chest of wonderful inspiration. Today I came across an absolute gem: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrow. Oh my, what a thought-provoking project this is. As someone who has started to write…
Sometimes free writing to a prompt takes an unusual turn. On this occasion the prompt was ‘An everyday item’. I don’t know why I picked a teaspoon, perhaps because I was with a group of writers where tea features heavily…
In 2017, my home city of Milton Keynes celebrated its 50th birthday. A short story competition was part of the celebratory events, with 50 stories being chosen to feature in an anthology called ‘Voices from the Grid‘. I was thrilled…