Dedicated publisher of fiction, poetry and memoir
He picks up the bottle, pours out of it a stream of bitter and slanderous lies. I stand for truth: I am bombarded, yet I stand, embattled, battle-hardened. The tirade of abuse hits like a hurricane, but my limbs are seasoned timber: I have weathered many storms. Where there is hatred, let me bring love…... Continue Reading →
Come midnight hour of Halloween, lightbright candles against the creatures unseen,until the veil between the worlds cracks slight--then ghosts, ghouls, fairies gather to convene. The Fairy Queen rides to collect your soul,or leaves a body in your place, a traceof magic in the air. But ghouls take all--eat heart and face, leave nothing to embrace.... Continue Reading →
Sometimes, we’re not given a chance to come to terms with the imminence of our death. Something unexpected happens, and before we know it, it’s all over. I’d parked the car at the sea shore. The waves were getting wilder, and my son pointed out a particularly high one on the horizon. In a panic,... Continue Reading →
I've the next chapter waiting in the wings, but my son's been quarantined because of a case of Covid in the nursery. Furthermore, the laundry's piling up, and there are groceries to buy, and everyone needs their tea. This is the kind of writer's block I experience. The words are always there, but sometimes I... Continue Reading →
Prime Minister Burris Jackson addresses the people of Brexitannia, after the Corollavirus outbreak has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation... "We face an invisible, unprecedented enemy. We are fighting a foe we cannot see, with the simple tools of soap, water, and our own singing voices. Remember to wash your hands for... Continue Reading →
In a continuation of my series of readings from The Anthropocene Hymnal, today Constance Bourg gives a moving and thought-provoking reading of her poem 'Dunston Checks Out.' https://youtu.be/TUVBXd44QxM Constance Bourg reads 'Dunston Checks Out' Constance BourgConstance Bourg lives in the Flemish part of Belgium, where she volunteers at her local library. Her poems have appeared... Continue Reading →
To mark the publication of The Anthropocene Hymnal, I present my reading of 'Destiny of this earth' by Gabriela Marie Milton, which is included in the anthology. I hope I have done justice to her profound and beautiful words. Over the next few weeks, I will be featuring many of the poets from the anthology,... Continue Reading →
It's getting closer to home now: easy to ignore unliveable wet bulb temperatures in the Indus Valley, perhaps, but when whole towns are decimated just down the road in Germany, even the ears of the deaf start to prick up. Still want your pipeline now, Angela? Meanwhile, across the Channel, the new Health Secretary has... Continue Reading →
All those close to the President would be lined up outside the Palace and told to run, but they wouldn’t get far. I was in the airport. They were coming for us there too, but there were no guns, only razor blades. I escaped down the service lift and hid in the luggage conveyor. I’d... Continue Reading →
I am an old man. I had a busy life once. A wife, a family, a career, but these days, retired, I live alone. I am swiftly advancing in years: too swiftly. I have some friends. I value those friends, and I hope they value me. We meet on a regular basis, in pubs, and... Continue Reading →
Experiments in Fiction 