Subtitled ‘An Irish Garden Memoir of Making a Place Where Life Grows’, this small book has a great message. It tells the story of how a man (the author) managed, with help from many people, to set up gardens that allow cultivation to reside in mutual and positive cooperation with wildlife and wild flowers.Told in …
Continue reading Nature’s Acre, by Ciarán De Buitléar: #BookReview.
Set in India, this is the story of a personal mission by Stephen to discover the reason his family left the country in 1951. Was it fear, betrayal, homesickness, or some other cause that forced a move from what had always been his home? It occurred only a few years after the appallingly handled India/Pakistan …
Continue reading A Persistence of Ghosts, by Mick Canning: #BookReview.
12 short stories, varying in topic, treatment and length. Here you’ll find the surreal, the complex, the bizarre, and the simply unclassifiable. And that, I imagine, is the intention. These stories are definitely not ‘regular’ and refuse to be placed into pre-defined boxes.There is a literary element here, but you’ll also find some playfulness. Some …
Continue reading Irregular Stories, by The Irregular Writers Collective: #BookReview.
Many of those currently promoting the as yet unproven world of Artificial Intelligence are resisting the very idea of regulation, though a few are now questioning that freedom. We’ve all witnessed the results of unregulated commerce and it’s never been pretty.In 2016, yes 10 years ago, I published the first volume of a trilogy ‘Generation …
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I picked up the hardback copy of this book at a book fair where I was hoping to sell some of my own books. There was a very large stall selling pre-read hardbacks for £1.00. Having read other books by this author, I felt the expense was worth the risk! I’d enjoyed the other titles, …
Continue reading The Dark Room, by Minette Walters: #BookReview.
As an author, I’ve been present at conventions where selling books was part of the purpose and I was involved with such sales, which included some of my own books. I signed copies, spoke to readers, and even took part in onstage discussions between authors and audience. They were great occasions. Unfortunately, due to a …
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My novel, Breaking Faith, a Romantic Thriller is set in England and Scotland during the extended drought and heatwave of 1976, 50 years ago. We've just suffered (or enjoyed, depends on your love or hate of heat!) another unusual heatwave here in England. It didn't last as long this time, and many places continued to …
Continue reading 50 Years Since 1976 Drought & Heatwave, Breaking Faith Is Set In That Year.
I’m trying something new today. I’d like more readers for my books and you might be tempted to become one of them. There’ll be one a week, in no particular order. My first published novel, Breaking Faith, is a romantic thriller. With elements of betrayal, excitement, tragedy, sex, despair, hope, longing, fulfilment, and love it’s …
Continue reading Have You Read Breaking Faith?
Picture from Pixabay, modified by author. The story posted today was originally published in the Autumn 2024 issue of Scribble, a print and online literary magazine. Enjoy the read. I'm afraid this will be the last short story posted here for a short, unspecified time due to other commitments. Small Hands, Pale and Fragile. Nathan …
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https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/messy-interior-full-clothing_152559099 This story was first featured on the website of Flash Fiction World Contest in 2013. Unfortunately, I didn’t record the website URL and can’t now find it, which means the site probably no longer exists! Too Much Trouble 'You've let yourself go.' He looked down his length and saw the protruding belly hiding his …
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Photo by author, Stuart Aken. This story was first published in a slightly shorter form in ‘Ouse Valley Poetry’ in 2009, where it won 3rd prize in a contest. Sadly, the journal is no longer in publication. CHANGES IN THE WIND ‘I’m cold. I want to go back home now,’ Kerry told her mother. Dawn …
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Photo is mine, but modified by Julia Kalman for the interview. I have been interviewed by Julia Kalman for the New Literary Society journal. The interview is published on Medium. Dear Readers,We’re honored to introduce you to Stuart Aken — a writer whose creative life is shaped by justice, memory, and the quiet discipline of …
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The picture is from Pixabay. I've modified it to remove identity in the people waiting for their bus. Sorry for the delay this week, we had such a sunny day after some weeks of dull, wet weather, we decided to take a longer walk than usual! This story was first published in the Winter 2021(92) …
Continue reading ‘Bus Pass George’ A Short Story
Wine dark sea, by author, Stuart Aken. A short story for your entertainment. Enjoy. Comment. Wine Dark Sea Eventually, the older couple, introduced only hours before, took the hint. The pair were last to leave the impromptu beach party. Silent but relieved of boredom, Danni silently urged them along the wooden jetty, the dying fire …
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Photo by Josue Velasquez. This short story was first published in a small print magazine 'Delivered', March 2009 edition. Unfortunately, in common with many of the smaller literary journals, this magazine is no longer published. Enjoy, though it's possible you may shed a tear at one point. JACK Jack stands just within the doorway he’s …
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