Relaxing with a cup of tea … while I work on my Hallowe’en flash fiction story for the Bare Books Podcast special episode later this month. To be in with a chance of having your flash fiction read out on air and possibly published in the next Bare Books anthology, check out the website –Continue reading “Flash Fiction Challenge”
Author Archives: Jacqui Jay
Do you see what I’m saying?
I don’t think we talk enough about how much energy it takes to pretend you can see more than you actually can.Laughing when everyone else laughs because you’re not quite sure what happened.Nodding along when someone points and says, “It’s just over there.”Pretending you’ve spotted the person waving at you.Following everyone else because you haven’tContinue reading “Do you see what I’m saying?”
Brown Hairstreak
I love all the hairstreak butterflies but they can be very elusive. We spent many happy hours in Chambers Farm Woods looking for them but weren’t able to get there this year, for various reasons, so I dug this brown hairstreak out of the archives to remind myself how beautiful they are.
Winter Heat: Amanda Sheridan
Jake Morgan has led a charmed life so far. After a career as a rodeo cowboy where he had his pick of beautiful women, he has now taken over his father’s ranch and is making a success of it. Life can get a bit lonely at times but he has his dog, Luna, to keepContinue reading “Winter Heat: Amanda Sheridan”
In August, I listened to …
Go Tell It on the Mountain, James BaldwinGiovanni’s Room, James BaldwinI was introduced to the work of James Baldwin in the 1970s when studying American Literature as part of my first degree. I was initially unenthused at the prospect. I couldn’t imagine being interested in anything written by a black, male, homosexual American. I canContinue reading “In August, I listened to …”
At a keystroke
One of my brighter ideas! I’ve reached the stage where I can no longer see the keypad on my laptop. A bit of a blow as my main computers are upstairs and I like working on my laptop in the evenings. Then I hit on the idea of balancing my big button keyboard on myContinue reading “At a keystroke”
Golden Age Suspense Stories
Editor: Otto Penzler For readers/listeners of a certain age, this book is a trip down memory lane. Otto Penzler has assembled a sterling selection of short stories from the years between the two world wars. Each story is preceded by a potted biography of the author, many of whom have legendary film credits to theirContinue reading “Golden Age Suspense Stories”
Never Forgive You: Hilly Barmby
Never Forgive You is listed as a suspense thriller and it certainly is, but it’s much more than that. The author has assembled quite a large group of characters in her French setting and also uses two different points of view to tell her story – devices which can be quite challenging when trying to holdContinue reading “Never Forgive You: Hilly Barmby”
Jan’s Garden
July 08, 2026Three years ago, Jan began to build a garden in our small backyard. She was constrained to using plant pots and troughs and her plan was to incorporate as many wild flowers as possible to attract insects to our urban area. In between them, she added a variety of cottage garden flowers andContinue reading “Jan’s Garden”
Circles of Confusion
SHADOWS OF THE PAST HANG HEAVILY ON THREE RUNAWAYS WHO FACE THEIR GREATEST FEARS JUST WHEN THEY THOUGHT THEY’D EARNED A NEW LIFE. Jilly Graham knows what it is to be used and abused. She also knows how to get what she wants. Poised to achieve a First Class Honours degree, it seems the worldContinue reading “Circles of Confusion”
