Nigella Lawson has written eleven bestselling cookery books including the classics How to Eat and How To Be A Domestic Goddess – the book that inspired a whole new generation of bakers. These books, and her TV series, have made her a household name around the world. 
 
www.nigella.com 
@Nigella_Lawson

Nigella Lawson

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Cathy Bramley

Escape to the seaside with Part Two of a brand-new four-part serial set on the Devon coast, from bestselling author Cathy Bramley. 
 
Just a few weeks in Brightside Cove and Nina has already started to forget the life she’s left behind. But London is calling – lots has happened in Nina’s absence and her exit has left the world of drama completely abuzz. Despite what she thought, it isn’t yet curtains for her character on Victory Road. 
 
But things are far from settled at Brightside Cove. Theo has been acting strangely and even Mittens, the tiny kitten, hasn’t cheered him up as he desperately struggles to deal with the terrible events of the past. With everything that’s happening, can Nina spare the time to save her friend and his business? 
 
She hasn’t got long to consider, her two worlds are about to collide. The serenity and beauty of Brightside cove is about to be shattered by a chattering of hens. 
 
Your favourite authors have loved reading Cathy's novels: 
 
'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley 
‘Full of joy and fun’ Milly Johnson 
‘Delightful!’ Katie Fforde

A Match Made in Devon - Part Two

The Hen Party

Escape to the seaside with Part One of a brand-new four-part serial set on the Devon coast, from bestselling author Cathy Bramley. 
 
Nina has always dreamed of being a star, unfortunately her agent thinks she’s more best friend than leading lady. Unsurprisingly, her career isn’t quite going as planned and the work seems to have temporarily dried up… But the bright lights of showbiz have always called for Nina and she won’t be giving up that easily – even if the reality of it is actually bit-parts and the small bedroom in her friend’s London flat. 
 
But the next drama is never far away and after a series of very public blunders Nina is soon donning dark shades and a different hair colour - fleeing from the suddenly interested paparazzi. Although she was planning to lay low in Devon with her brother, Nina won’t be taking it easy -- fate has very different plans. 
 
An old pal is desperately in need of some assistance setting up his holiday home business. Always one to help a friend, Nina decides to stay at beautiful Brightside Cove – where new characters, inspiration and possibly love are waiting for her… 
 
Your favourite authors have loved reading Cathy's novels: 
 
'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley 
‘Full of joy and fun’ Milly Johnson 
‘Delightful!’ Katie Fforde

A Match Made in Devon - Part One

The First Guests

Joanne Harris

In 'Faith and Hope Go Shopping', Faith has spent twenty years in a wheelchair. Together with her blind friend Hope, she lives in a nursing home. Their favourite carer calls them Butch and Sundance, and like their namesakes, they make a final dash for freedom - in pursuit of a copy of Lolita and a pair of slick red high heels. 
 
In 'Hello, Goodbye', Angela K. is a society columnist for Goodbye! Magazine, and gets to attend all of the season's most sensational Dernières: the most exclusive celebrity funerals. She prides herself on finally having joined the ranks of the Immortals - until a sad, badly-dressed old couple arrives to disrupt her world. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these stories were previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

Faith and Hope Go Shopping/Hello, Goodbye (Storycuts)

Curl up this Christmas with bestselling author Cathy Bramley - COMFORT AND JOY continues the story of The Plumberry School of Comfort Food and **contains recipes!** 
 
It’s been a busy year for Verity Bloom at the Plumberry School of Comfort Food, but Christmas Eve is finally here. With delicious treats all wrapped up and the ingredients packed away, Verity is looking forward to a relaxing few days with her new boyfriend. 
 
Good food, family and friends – it’s a simple recipe for true comfort and joy, and all Verity’s friends in the village are full of excitement about the holidays too. 
 
But the weather has other plans in store . . . Relentless rain leads to a power cut that spells disaster for many of Plumberry’s residents. It’s starting to look like this year’s celebrations could be a total washout. 
 
With dreams of a perfect Christmas dashed, will the last of the festive cheer be swept away in the downpour? Or can Verity cook up a miracle for everyone she holds dear? 
 
Readers have been loving Comfort and Joy! 
'A deliciously romantic winter treat' Rachael Lucas 
'The descriptions of food and drink in this story are just wonderful! I loved it . . . A delicious festive treat with lots of lovely surprises!' One More Page 
'The perfect fireside read to touch the heart . . . Read it!' Linda's Book Bag 
'Imagine everything good about Christmas - friends, family, kindness, love, laughter and generosity . . . A perfect read. I loved this' Crooks on Books 
'An absolute gem' Laura Bambrey Books 
'Full of warmth, romance and Christmas magic!' Christie Barlow 
'Cathy always manages to create likeable characters and really get across that sense of community' Laura's Little Book Blog

Comfort and Joy

A Cosy Christmas Short Story from The Sunday Times Bestseller

In 'Auto-da-fé', a man's car defines him. Until the Rep of the Year, in his smart blue BMW, goes head-to- head in a showdown with V-man in his smug black Volvo saloon. But who is the real loser in this game? 
 
In 'Free Spirit', a wanderer, a party animal, goes wherever the wind blows, going home to bed with one person after another, old or young, healthy or corrupt, male or female. And then moves on, without regrets, without ever looking back... 
 
In 'Fule's Gold', Mr Fisher has taught at St Swithin's for over forty years, but is resigned to the total lack of imagination of the boys in his creative writing class. Until the day he opens one exercise book and discovers the Holy Grail of literature: an essay of total freshness and originality. But is it just too good to have been written by a mere schoolboy? 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these three stories were previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

Auto-da-fé/Free Spirit/Fule’s Gold (Storycuts)

Elvi Rhodes

In 'A Matter of Time', Martin has inherited a house from his late aunt in New York, and his girlfriend Linda has moved over there with him. She finds herself feeling very lost, though, and wondering why she is there. She loves Martin, but will her new surroundings ever feel like home? 
 
In 'A New Beginning', Primrose is becoming bored of the tedium of farm life. She knows she will miss it - the farm and its surrounding hills and river have been her home for the past twenty-four years. But she is convinced that the bright lights and buzz of London is what she needs now for her new start in life. But a new friendship in the Yorkshire Dales forces her to reconsider whether a new beginning really means moving away. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these two short stories were previously published in the collection Summer Promise and Other Stories.

A Matter of Time/A New Beginning (Storycuts)

Escape to the seaside with Part Four of a brand-new four-part serial set on the Devon coast, from bestselling author Cathy Bramley. 
 
The sun is beginning to set on Nina’s wonderful time in Brightside Cove. Indeed, things seem to be wrapping up; Theo is looking much more cheery and Brightside holidays is set to be a massive success. Suddenly, it feels like there’s slightly less space for Nina in this sunny corner of Devon. But there’s still lots to do before she leaves, and an old face is still around to stir up trouble for the locals. The real question is whether she can squeeze in some more time with hunky Jude. 
 
Ever resourceful, Nina has never met a problem she can’t tackle. But Brightside Cove’s beautiful, historic lifeboat house is set to be sold to the highest bidder. And her fledgling romance is soon to be strangled by her new starring role, set in the highlands of Scotland. Meanwhile, family secrets have started to bubble, ready to come to a boil… 
 
With all this and time soon to run out, has Nina finally met her match? 
 
Your favourite authors have loved reading Cathy's novels: 
 
'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley 
‘Full of joy and fun’ Milly Johnson 
‘Delightful!’ Katie Fforde

A Match Made in Devon - Part Four

The Leading Lady

Su Tong

Tan Feng was my one and only friend in Sichuan. He was the same age as me: about eight or nine. Tan Feng's family lived next door to us, and their other kids were all girls, so you can imagine how they spoiled their only boy. They really adored him, but they didn't know what he got up to. Tan Feng stole things. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Madwoman on the Bridge.

Thieves (Storycuts)

Freya Moorcroft has wild red hair, mischievous green eyes, a warm smile and a heart of gold. She’s happy working at the café round the corner from Ivy Lane allotments and her romance with her new boyfriend is going well, she thinks, but a part of her still misses the beautiful rolling hills of her Cumbrian childhood home: Appleby Farm. 
Then a phone call out of the blue changes everything… 
Freya’s beloved Uncle Arthur and Auntie Sue need her help. For the first time in years, Freya is back on the farm feeding the chickens, mucking out the stables, and loving every moment. As her visit comes to an end, she has a difficult decision to make: stay, or go? 
Freya has to follow her heart, but just where does her heart lie? 
Appleby Farm is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Freya Moorcroft in love, friendship and a spot of farming – beginning with A Blessing In Disguise. It features some friendly faces who appeared in Cathy's bestselling series, Ivy Lane, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. 
Each part of Appleby Farm contains 10 chapters. 
 
Praise for Cathy Bramley and Ivy Lane: 
‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley 
‘A perfect blend of the two greatest pleasures in life – love and gardening!’ Fern Britton 
'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' Miranda Dickinson

Appleby Farm - Part One

A Blessing in Disguise

Escape to the seaside with Part Three of a brand-new four-part serial set on the Devon coast, from bestselling author Cathy Bramley. 
 
As the sun begins to shine, love is blooming for Nina in Brightside Cove. Finally, she has the chance at the life (and love) she’s always craved, but there may yet be a choice between old and new. There’s hardly time to contemplate her options though; the hen party might be leaving but things don’t stay calm at Brightside Cove for long. 
 
Once again, world’s collide as a friend and a foe come to stay in Theo’s beautiful holiday cottages. What is the reason behind their ancient animosity? What connection do they have to Nina? 
 
Struggling to ignore what the future holds… can Nina help mend the broken relationships of her friends? Will building her career take her even further away from her new sense of home? 
 
Your favourite authors have loved reading Cathy's novels: 
 
'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley 
‘Full of joy and fun’ Milly Johnson 
‘Delightful!’ Katie Fforde

A Match Made in Devon - Part Three

The Frenemies

Rachel Joyce

It is Christmas Eve. Binny has four hours to make Christmas happen and she couldn’t feel less like wishing glad tidings of good will to all men – least of all to Oliver. It is raining, her house is falling apart, the streets are jammed with people and it is all Oliver’s fault. Darting into a shop to escape a conversation, Binny finds herself in the sort of place she would never normally visit. But in amongst the shelves is a surprising source of peace. 
A beautiful gem of a short story from Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy.

Faraway Smell of Lemon

From the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

In 'Any Girl Can Be A Candykiss Girl!', the fashion house Candykiss listens to its consumer, the little girls, not their parents. Their pleasure is creating clothing for them to express themselves, never mind how contemptuous the adult generation - sexually and emotionally threatened - is of them. 
 
In 'Tea with the Birds', the worst crime of all is to be an outsider - wrong face, wrong clothes, wrong voice. And if you never raise your eyes from the ground, you will be labelled a snob by your neighbours. Yet when an isolated, lonely outcast meets a new tenant in the building of bedsits where she lives, she learns to spread her wings. 
 
In 'The G-SUS Gene', Oz 'Mad Dog' O'Shea is the Chosen One. Twenty years ago, mankind experienced near-total wipeout. Now only he is left to lead the quest for enlightenment. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these three short stories were previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

Any Girl Can Be a CandyKiss Girl!/Tea with the Birds/The G-SUS Gene (Storycuts)

Christopher Fowler

RED GLOVES 1: DEVILRY - THE LONDON HORRORS 
The first collection contains stories set in London, where deceptively ordinary events like an evening in a pub or a night on the town have terrifying consequences. Here you'll find hauntings, revenges, murders, monstrosities, redemptions, and the dark hands of the urban night reaching out to seize the unwary. And to top it off, there's a short story featuring disreputable detectives Bryant &amp; May. 
 
RED GLOVES 2: INFERNAL - THE WORLD HORRORS 
The second collections comprises stories set in exotic locations around the world. Once more, deceptively ordinary events and occasions - a holiday in the Far East or a trip to the French Riviera, for example - cause terrifying fates to unfold. Here, innocent travellers find themselves confronting accidents, tragedies, murders, nightmares and epiphanies as they wander far from home. And again, there's a short story featuring those misfits from the Peculiar Crimes Unit, detectives Bryant &amp; May.

Red Gloves Vols. 1 & 2

Short Stories

In 'Channel Crossing', holidays can provide a huge relief from the daily grind...a fresh experience, new surroundings. Such a relief, in fact, that for many people it can signal the start of a new life, in a foreign country. But is the grass always greener on the other side? 
 
In 'Roundabout', it is Miriam's wedding day, which she thought would be a no-fuss affair. But she has her chief and only bridesmaid, Joan, bustling around, insisting she have flowers, and fussing about the arrangements for the day. However, it is also Joan who is there to reassure Miriam when she has her last-minute doubts - because the bond between these two women runs far deeper than that of bride and bridesmaid. 
 
In 'The Meeting', Meg moved around a lot during her childhood, so meeting up with the rest of her family has always been a big event. But with a ten-year gap between meetings, the numbers dwindle, and the family are faced with the difficult decision of whether they should meet again. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these three short stories were previously published in the collection Summer Promise and Other Stories.

Channel Crossing/Roundabout/The Meeting (Storycuts)

It’s impossible not to feel cheerful at Appleby Farm, so Freya is putting her doubts about her love life to the back of her mind for now. 
But when she discovers the truth about its financial troubles, Freya has to face up to reality: they might lose the farm. There’s only one person she can ask for help, and it’s the last thing she wants to do… Can a trip to Paris change the farm’s fortunes? 
As Appleby Farm’s fate hangs in the balance, Freya is surprised as her own dreams for the future take shape. But who will be at her side as her dreams become reality? 
Appleby Farm is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Freya Moorcroft in love, friendship and a spot of farming. A Family Affair is part two. It features some friendly faces who appeared in Cathy's bestselling series, Ivy Lane, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. 
Each part of Appleby Farm contains 10 chapters. 
 
Praise for Cathy Bramley and Ivy Lane: 
‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley 
‘A perfect blend of the two greatest pleasures in life – love and gardening!’ Fern Britton 
'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' Miranda Dickinson

Appleby Farm - Part Two

A Family Affair

In 'Meet the New Caroline Pritchard', Caroline Pritchard thinks her boyfriend Richard is going off her. And she's addicted to makeover shows on the television - imagine if that could happen to her! That would surely solve everything. And then her dream comes true - she is selected by a magazine for a makeover. As she is having her set of 'Before' photographs taken, she is secretly glad Richard is away. Although she doubts he is where he said he would be, this gives her the chance to have her makeover completed! Hairstyles, facials, and many beauty treatments later, Caroline is a new woman - ready to present herself to Richard. But will he like the new Caroline? And more importantly, will she still like him? 
 
In 'The Centre of Attraction', Mel Salter is peacefully painting in the town square when his landscape is ruined by the arrival of Bertha Conway. She introduces herself and orders sangria. Mel is all the more irritated when Bertha returns the following day with her needlework - at siesta time, when he usually relies on the plaza to be empty as the locals rest for a few hours of the afternoon. But then Mel catches sight of her work, and is astounded by its beauty. And soon finds that the source of his irritation may not be that much of a nuisance after all... 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these two short stories were previously published in the collection Summer Promise and Other Stories.

Meet the New Caroline Pritchard/The Centre of Attraction (Storycuts)

Jilly Cooper

Kate is right in the middle of last-minute marriage preparations. In just two weeks time, she will be wed to Hugh, a high-flying barrister, who is perfect for her - well, at least according to her parents. With the wedding so close, and so many influential friends of Hugh's to consider, it's no wonder Kate's nerves are a little strung out. And when Hugh suggests a weekend away, Kate's idea of getting a bit of peace and quiet is swiftly shattered when she realises they are heading to the boat belonging to Jonty and Muriel - two of Hugh's most braying and exuberant friends. But things get ever worse when there is a terrible surprise waiting for Kate on the boat, in the shape of an unexpected guest: an artist called Tod, who is a devastatingly painful blast from Kate's past. He has a stunning new girlfriend in tow, and Kate is forced to confront the reality of the life she has built for herself - and the memory of the girl she used to be. Is it too late for her to discover what she truly wants? 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Lisa &amp; Co.

Kate’s Wedding (Storycuts)

M C Scott

With the Dumnonii defeat of the Second Legion the Celtic victory is complete. But Hywell, Cunomar and Valerius must still find the lost Eagle of the Second and prevent Rome from attempting another attack. To prevent further conflict the Emperor Nero must be overthrown and replaced by someone of their choosing. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series.

The Last Roman in Britain (Storycuts)

Running her own business is every bit as thrilling as Freya hoped it would be, but hectic too – she barely has time for a cup of tea! 
And her latest venture is looking promising too. Nestled in rolling hills, surrounded by glittering lakes, and with a gorgeous old house at its heart, Appleby Farm is the perfect spot for a rustic wedding. As Freya throws herself into organizing a beautiful celebration, she begins to see a prosperous future for Appleby Farm. But who is the lucky bride? 
Finally, things are looking up for the little piece of Cumbria that Freya has fallen in love with all over again . . . So will she at last get her own happy ending? 
Appleby Farm is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Freya Moorcroft in love, friendship and a spot of farming. Love Is In The Air is part four. It features some friendly faces who appeared in Cathy's bestselling series, Ivy Lane, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. 
Each part of Appleby Farm contains 10 chapters. 
 
Praise for Cathy Bramley and Ivy Lane: 
‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley 
‘A perfect blend of the two greatest pleasures in life – love and gardening!’ Fern Britton 
'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' Miranda Dickinson

Appleby Farm - Part Four

Love Is In The Air

Frederick Forsyth

When an anonymous man is brutally murdered on a London council estate the police race to gather evidence against his killers. They have two men in custody and they know that they are guilty. But when a brilliant QC intervenes in their defence a startling and unsettling justice is delivered. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection The Veteran.

The Veteran (Storycuts)

A teacher loses one of her pupils somewhere in the London Underground. 
A catwalk model reveals the grisly secret of looking good. 
Slacker friends are forced into action over an accidental murder. 
A bomb's aftershock is felt fifty years later. 
Sex toys become instruments of fate. 
The suburbs are besieged, star scandals are revealed, epic tragedy turns to triumph and a cry for help flares briefly in the night... 
 
Black comedy, high farce, dark revelations...they all go to make up Christopher Fowler's mind-blowing collection of immoral tales.

The Devil in Me

In 'A Place in the Sun', Platinum is the beach everyone aspires to be on - the exclusive Beach of Beaches. Only the most beautiful bodies are permitted to enter. The old, the plain and the overweight have to accept that they will never be allowed in, in spite of all the facelifts, boob jobs and lipos that money can buy. 
 
In 'Al and Christine's World of Leather', Christine and Candy meet at Weightwatchers, and are soon firm friends. The knitting coven they start turns into a thriving hand knitting business, with Candy the designer, and Christine the workforce. But when Candy's designs turn to leather, and Christine starts wondering what the big flap in the trousers is for, their friendship starts to unravel... 
 
In 'The Spectator', elderly Mr Meadows, a retired teacher - before his profession was abolished - likes to take his morning walk past the school, ignoring the signs saying SCHOOL: NO UNACCOMPANIED ADULTS, because he innocently likes to watch the children playing. Surely there can't be any harm in that? 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these short stories were previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

A Place in the Sun/Al and Christine’s World of Leather/The Spectator (Storycuts)

Strange things don't only happen when you are asleep. They happen in daylight, in crowded cities, even in the countryside. Things that seem innocent one minute are demonized the next, and here are seventeen stories to prove it. 
 
A journalist spends a nerve-wracking weekend in the company of Hitler and his Nazi supremos. A tropical holiday takes a nasty turn thanks to a troupe of monkeys; and a waitress challenges a sinister customer in an all-night diner. A tailor plots to escape his execution; London is overrun with rats; serial killers fall in love; and revenge backfires on the unfaithful. As our lives and deaths grow ever stranger, housewives, students and executives all find themselves in situations that become increasingly disturbing. Fowler's powerful narratives are subtly affecting and make you think twice about the way you look at the world around you.

Demonized

To celebrate the launch of Quick Reads in 2006, The Sun ran a short story competition called 'Get Britain Reading' in order to find the hidden talent among its ten million readers.It was judged by Sun columnist and bestselling author Jane Moore.The Sun Book of Short Stories contains a selection of the winning entries.They may make you smile, laugh or cry - but all of them are sure to entertain you.

The Sun Book Of Short Stories

Two fabulous Christmas short stories by the inimitable Jilly Cooper! 
 
In 'Christmas Stocking', unlucky-in-love Caroline is facing possibly the most miserable Christmas of her life. She can't quite see how she'll cope with the season of goodwill to all men - particularly holed up on the edge of the Yorkshire Moors with her boisterous family. And things get a whole lot more complicated when her brother arrives with a deliciously dishevelled friend in tow, Jamie . . . 
 
In 'Sister to the Bride' Helen finds herself in the wedding from hell. The groom's family are constantly sneering at her, her bridesmaid's dress is frightful, and she just can't shake off the unwanted attentions of ginger chinless wonder Tubby Langley. But then Helen meets the devastating David. Dare she risk her fragile heart once again?

Christmas Stocking/Sister To The Bride (Storycuts)

In 'A Summer Remembered', as Laura is busy with the Christmas preparations, while looking after her children Richard and Millie, she can't help but wish she were back on their summer holiday in Normandy. When her husband presents her with her Christmas gift - a holiday to a destination of her choice, money no object - it is still Normandy she yearns for...but what secret is she hiding from her husband? 
 
In 'Be Your Age, Dear', Chloe Patterson is lucky enough to not only have a daughter and a granddaughter around her, but also her own mother. But she battles with the dilemma of how she is perceived as a grandmother - and how she should be behaving as such - and how she really feels about herself deep down. Sometimes it seems that the older women in the family are the most free-willed and keen to have fun, and the younger seem the most responsible. As a local newspaper asks to write a feature on the four generations of women, tensions come to a head as these women finally realize who they really are... 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these two short stories were previously published in the collection Summer Promises and Other Stories.

A Summer Remembered/Be Your Age, Dear (Storycuts)

Life is a whirlwind of hard work and fun at Appleby Farm, just the way Freya likes it. As her plans for the vintage tea rooms come together, the old timber barn is filled with a merry jumble of teacups and the smell of Auntie Sue’s freshly baked scones. 
After a visit from Tilly Parker, Freya is beginning to feel like she’s finally found her home. And a surprise birthday treat makes Freya wonder – has love has been under her nose this whole time? 
As the grand opening of the tea rooms arrives, the pressure is on – especially with greedy property developers sniffing around. Then a secret request poses a new challenge, but it might just be the answer to Freya’s prayers… 
Appleby Farm is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Freya Moorcroft in love, friendship and a spot of farming. Where The Heart Is is part three. It features some friendly faces who appeared in Cathy's bestselling series, Ivy Lane, but it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. 
Each part of Appleby Farm contains 10 chapters. 
 
Praise for Cathy Bramley and Ivy Lane: 
‘Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Trisha Ashley 
‘A perfect blend of the two greatest pleasures in life – love and gardening!’ Fern Britton 
'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' Miranda Dickinson

Appleby Farm - Part Three

Where The Heart Is

In 'Gastronomicon', Ernest's wife is a wonderful cook, aided by recipes from the ancient leather book - a family treasure - passed down to her by her mother-in-law. To celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, she undertakes to cook a very special meal - but what are the sounds of deep pounding and tolling bells that come from beyond the kitchen wall? 
 
In 'The Ugly Wife' some important questions are posed: What does it feel like to be the Ugly Sister? Will she spend her life looking for love in vain? Or will she finally find her happily-ever-after: a man who sees past appearances and who will love her for who she really is? 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, these short stories were previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

Gastronomicon/The Ugly Sister (Storycuts)

A collection of twelve darkly disturbing, twisted stories from the author of Roofworld, Spanky and the acclaimed Bryant and May novels. But don't expect to read about vampires, werewolves, or ghouls or ghosts, or dolls coming to life or brain-eating zombies. And as for lake-dwelling demons, malevolent spirits, misogynistic slashers or children locked in attics, you can forget them... 
Instead, here you have twelve stories of desperate people in seemingly ordinary situations - workers in offices, friends in pubs, husbands and wives in apartments and houses. All of them the most unlikely - and therefore the most likely - to find themselves trapped within their own personal, private, unimaginable, nerve-fracturing, bizarre and yes, deadly visions of Hell...

The Bureau of Lost Souls

Miss Golighty is no young Holly, and the supermarket café where she regularly has breakfast is no Tiffany's. When she befriends Cheryl, the tarty young waitress and teaches her to love old films, she finds a way to help her young friend find the courage to seek a better new life. 
 
Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection Jigs &amp; Reels.

Breakfast at Tesco’s (Storycuts)

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