The Creative Casa is a farmhouse in Andalucia where, for a while, we ran workshops and explored how to find the creative spark in ourselves; to discover where it sits, nudging us all the time, wanting to be let out to add fulfilment to our lives.

This collection of short stories was edited at The Creative Casa and the stories have been selected from a large number written over a period of years. The themes I have chosen here are universal themes of love and loss, secrets and lies; the unintended consequences of past actions on the present; and young women at that threshold in their lives where they discover that they are carrying new life. 

They are sometimes humorous with a light heart, real life with a little magic, and occasionally, real life which doesn’t end so well. I also like to write short stories where the possibilities begin as the story ends.

Some have previously been published in magazines whilst others are openings and jumping off points for longer works of fiction. They vary in length, motivation and inspiration.

In the end, all fiction draws from the well of creativity which needs to be nurtured. It springs from our experiences, observations, snippets overheard, and a life lived.....and we can all draw from that spring if we are nudged towards it.

Coming soon on Amazon and Kindle

It has been an amazing journey. Ups and downs frustrations and disappointments, a moment of relief and then... it is there, online and you just can't believe that you have finally done it. The last few miles have been the most productive. I have been supported by a great team; Charlie Peacock who has designed the cover and Charlotte Peacock who is dealing with the launch event and the social media and marketing stuff. Also the Beta readers who gave me valuable feedback and support. I could not have got to this stage without them....

When we stop running and the dust settles, I will set up some workshops on how to self publish. It has been such a steep learning curve that I want to share - I will post here in early September. Meanwhile if you have any questions or queries I will be happy to answer them if I can. Also happy to support Reader's Groups.

Charlie has made a short video of his design process and the many variations before we arrived at the final cover, just for fun and so that he will never forget! The next one will be easier. 

Last week, I was in Clacton with
The Grand Theatre of Lemmings.
The theme of the street theatre event was Then And Now. It was a commemoration of WW1, with Mandy Rose and Helen Abbey singing Old Time Music Hall, the young Lemmings running circus skills for children and a poppy making workshop. There were letters from the trenches read by Charlie Peacock and my workshop was to collect words, thoughts, ideas, and memories from people passing by and to write them on postcards to be added to a time capsule. I wrote the poem below from those words and memories and it was read back to the people of Clacton at the end of the day.

Then and Now
Written by the people of Clacton
25th July 2014

Never has so much been owed to so few.
I still think of you every day, Walter.
The arguments and fights we had as boys, but we were always friends
in the end.
You hated it when people wasted food.
Do you remember how we collected shrapnel after air raids
which we sold for sweets when we were evacuated to Wales?
I miss the comradeship.
My friends, brothers, real heroes
who gave their lives, and limbs for freedom.
For others.
Unselfish, loving, hopeful.
Brave men and women.
Memories gone by now...
A word, a sound, a bomb whistles by, or perhaps a sigh?
The world has failed.
What have we learned?
Missiles still fly, innocent people still die.
Lest we forget....

It was a great day. Thanks to The Grand Theatre of Lemmings and to all who passed by, aged from 8 -80's, and added their voice to the memories of Then And Now....
www.lemmingstheatre.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/theatreoflemmings