Onstage Story, Part 2 – The Mask of Ophelia
“Now.” The word signals the start of the rescue operation. Leonardo swoops on the foundation, measuring out the exact amount required for each cheek and for Martha’s high forehead. He dots, blends and expands, taking the reddish hue from her skin, replacing it with a pale sheen: the mask of Ophelia.
Backstage Story, Part 1 – The Mask of Ophelia
The Mask of Ophelia The Mask of Ophelia is a short story set in the theatre, written at a time when I was writing a lot of stories and flash fiction and not so much poetry, believe it or not! Part 1 tells the Backstage Story, where Martha, (who has been cast as Ophelia), awaits…
Japanese Dragon – Flash Fiction
He has a gold smile and a bell at his throat. He guards me as I write. He was a present from Japan – a place I have never been to, never will go to. I am no traveller, yet, I am drawn to delicate portrayals of Japanese life: a bridge, a hut, bright flowers.
Heart Strings Extract: The Move
‘The Move’ is about a bitter rivalry, brewing between two residents in a small Irish Town. Having lived in London for ten years, Tina has returned home to live in a remote cottage, left to her by a great Aunt.
‘Shopping Digression’ or ‘Distraction by Shiny Baubles’ A Writer’s take on Christmas Shopping
I love Christmas shopping. I start it early and I finish it late. Don’t ask me how this happens. It’s probably down to very poor planning. In fact, it’s often effected by a phenomenon I call ‘Shopping Digression’. This means virtuously vowing to ‘get the whole lot’ in one day then spending all your time…