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 …
Continue reading My First Book Fair.
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 …
Continue reading Small Hands, Pale and Fragile: a Short Story
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 …
Continue reading Too Much Trouble: a Short Story
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 …
Continue reading CHANGES IN THE WIND, a Short Story
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 …
Continue reading Author Interview
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 …
Continue reading Wine Dark Sea
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 …
Continue reading JACK: A Short Story
A short story for your entertainment. A Beautiful View. Jim and Grace had held their wedding in Sandsea and had then spent most special occasions together in the same town, so it seemed their natural choice for retirement. With no family, and friends scattered, they had no reason to stay in the city once both …
Continue reading A Beautiful View
Subtitled ‘A neuroscientist’s guide to a healthier, happier life’, this book is just that. An extraordinary piece of work that, read well and applied to everyday life could be a life-changer for you. It already is for me. In just 8 chapters, this book demystifies both the workings of our most complex organ and our …
Continue reading How To Make Your Brain Your Best Friend, by Rachel Barr: #BookReview.
F.R.I.G.H.T. - A short Story for your entertainment: F.R.I.G.H.T. Foster sneered at the novel in front of him. ‘Writers! Shoot the bloody lot if I had my way.’ He leered at the scientist perched on the corner of his desk. ‘Who told him?’ The scientist inclined her head. ‘Not you, was it?’ She bridled, crossed …
Continue reading F.R.I.G.H.T. – A Short Story
A Land Despoiled, a short story for you. This one would be labelled 'Sci-Fi' or possibly 'Dystopian fiction', but I see it as the fruit of my imagination on passing through an area entirely dominated by the acid yellow flowers of oil seed rape. A Land Despoiled No one had been this far south for …
Continue reading A Land Despoiled; a Short Story
A pool in a Greek Hotel. Here's the next short story in my intention to give you one each week for the whole of 2026. I have a couple of anthologies of short stories, too, for those who love such collections. The one that would be most relevant for those who enjoy the one below …
Continue reading A Perfect Solution: A Short Story
Stuart Aken 