Short Stories to Entertain

Next door to me lived a man as mean as a wounded tiger. The guy had no compassion. His son told the roofer who spent a week fixing broken slates not to bother to send an invoice as his dad never paid anything. All he’d do was snag the work, find spurious defects and challenge them one at a time until trying to collect became impossible. He called himself a professional non-payer. Seventy-two he was with a trail of tears stretching back fifty of them which was the consequence of having super intelligence; plenty of brain power to think up schemes. Tax avoidance schemes, money making schemes, scams to rip the wealth out of bank accounts.  Fifty years of enemies followed the trail of tears. Ruined people stacked up high with resentment enough to commit murder. Some had tried; all had missed. Until one day when a man whose wife had been diagnosed with terminal cancer cheered the life of so many people. Cryogenics, suspended animation, that was his game and he froze his wife to be ...

My latest book in the Dave Simmons series has been published     THE BLAZING STAR   A shotgun blast, a drugged guard dog and through the darkness two intruders enter a Texan ranch house.     The stolen diamond is followed to London where Dave Simmons is looking for a gang of specialist diamond thieves. All the time two mysterious Americans are searching for the thieves but why is a question that takes some explaining.     Dave has history with London villain Freddie Judd and fence Ezra Dimes. As he senses the opportunity for retribution his boss becomes concerned this might impact his investigation which is about to become complicated by the arrival of an American gangster and his two henchmen.     The diamond’s owner wants it back but how can he succeed when so many others have an interest leaving him a series of complicated threads to negotiate.     A twisting tale of larceny, cross and double cross that will have you racing to...

The only fact I was sure of was it was a heck of a long way to travel by train but then that was the price to pay if flying was not an option. The truth: I was scared. A long haul out of London had put paid to any thought of getting on a plane. Almost one hour after take-off and, as we crossed the east coast of Ireland an engine blew shedding debris and spouting flame. A bumpy emergency landing and that was it. It scared the crap out of me which was not surprising as I did have a sensitive disposition.

My latest book, THE BLAZING STAR, is finished and should be available in about two months.

Slow and easy,  that’s  how the water under the bridge flowed. A gentle meandering around rocks. The passing of the occasional sluggish twig or leaf had the same attitude; there was no need for haste. This bridge, this stream, was their favourite place.    There was a breeze. From the north carrying the chill of  faraway  ice that demanded at least a thick pullover even though there was heat from a bright sun. But they could linger, they were zipped up tightly enough to fight off the cold.    Coming up to ten-years-old they were, the two boys swinging in unison on the wooden rail of the wooden footbridge spanning the wide stream. At their  feet  a bulging bag. Both wearing the same bright blue fleece, the same black  jeans  and the same white crossovers. Not speaking, dreaming, mesmerised as they stared through the water wishing  they’d  brought their rods. But no time for fishing they had orders accompanied by the wo...

TEARS A poem written for my niece for a reading on her wedding day I dreamed about a dream I had  In which I stood so close to you  I spoke the words that were meant for you  And meant those words I said to you  I thought the thoughts I felt for you  And felt the love I had for you  The tears I felt, I shed for you  they showed my depth of love for you Yesterday, I dreamed the dream again  Standing, speaking, shedding tears for you  I hoped, I prayed, to be with you  To share my life and love with you  The life I want to have with you  To grow, to build, get old with you  A life to give and care for you  Where days are warm, and full of you Today, the dream I dreamed came true The words I’d say, I’ve said to you  The love I’d feel, I’ve felt for you The tears I’d cry, I’ve shed for you   I’ve danced, I’ve drunk, I’ve laughed with you  Said cheers to a world so filled by you  And dreamed the li...