• Blog

    Seeking Leprechauns ( Day 12 )

    The Challenge for Day 12 Today’s challenge from Jeff Goins is to “Rewrite history, imagine an alternate reality, or just plain lie.” Okay, here is my alter ego 🙂 …Seeking Leprechauns   Seeking Leprechauns My goodness! An award for one of my books! It’s hard to believe, but this is my new reality and I feel quite overwhelmed. The accolade isn’t even for my first published work,  Speed Dating Secrets, a book about love in the modern age. Amazingly, it’s for my far more obscure literary piece, Seeking Leprechauns. This demonstrates how important it is to follow your gut instincts in these matters. I’m not at all a desperate type, but I did spend…

  • Blog

    Vodka, Sunscreen and Goat Stew ( Day 9 )

      The Challenge for Day 9 Interesting email from Jeff Goins today, where he asks us to ” Teach something.” Well, after my years of teaching primary school children, I’ve learned that sometimes it can be fun to go a bit left of field. So, with that in mind, here’s my advice on getting the best out of a foreign holiday trip… It’s satire, But I’m Irish so I hope I can get away with it 🙂   Vodka, Sunscreen, and Goat Stew   ” An Irishman’s Guide to Travelling Abroad”     Don’t waste time on Research Who wants to waste hours trawling through the internet? Or even worse, stuck…

  • Creative Writing

    Pod 125, Hebrus Valles, Mars

      Pod 125, Hebrus Valles, Mars    Ting bip bip bip. Ting bip bip bip. Ting bip bip bip. The buzzer beeps relentlessly until I point my index finger at the red, flashing square. It takes quite a bit of finesse because it’s located right in the middle of the Pointer Box over the door. Smart move, there’s no way you’d be able to turn it off unless you were fully awake. The switch-off starts the predictable morning routine in motion. I stretch myself up on the bed…A loose term really, it’s more like a flat-packed coffin. The only difference is that it’s made of white recycled plastic and it…

  • Creative Writing

    Adonis

    Adonis “Hi, do you mind if I join you?” Sandy jerked her head up from the book and stared at this modern-day Adonis. In fact, he was way better than that, she thought. Besides having perfectly balanced features, the man had that rugged, unspoiled appearance that only the coolest guys could muster. And, best of all, he was still a living, breathing member of humanity. Wow! This could be my lucky day. Sandy smiled and nodded her head, hoping she looked more nonchalant than she felt. “Yes, no problem.  It’s busy here today, isn’t it?” Adonis put his tray down on the benchtop and squeezed in beside Sandy. She noticed…

  • Creative Writing

    Last Light

    “Imagine living for a whole century, Stella. Your grandmother was made of strong stuff. They don’t make them like that anymore.” “ I know, Mam. I’ll never forget the day she attacked Doctor Carey about the driving license. She was so mad at him!” “ That was typical Gran. She figured she had her license and that was it. There was no talking to her.” I’m helping Mam sort through Gran’s things, looking for a photograph to put on the memorial card. It’s been almost a year since she died and it’s about time we got something sorted. It’s cold outside but the dining room already feels warm from the…

  • Creative Writing

    Coal Shed Ghosts

    Coal Shed Ghosts Everyone envied the Miller’s. Their secluded Victorian home stood like a tranquil oasis in the cluttered neighbourhood of Westbury. At the bottom of the garden, shrouded by overgrown rhododendrons, stood an old, stone outbuilding. It was once used to keep tackle for horses but now served mainly as Jack’s coal shed. Sometimes, Jack stored other items there, like old paint cans or broken kettles. Things that he didn’t want messing up his meticulously organized garage. Other things could end up locked away in the shed too. Once, it was the turn of Katherine’s dog. ” Stupid animal, peeing on the couch. The only bloody decent wedding present we…

  • Creative Writing

    Short Story: The Hunting Ground ( Flash Fiction )

    The Hunting Ground The shop tills clanged to their own rhythm, like the beating heart of an urban jungle. The scent of mingling perfumes hung in the air, enticing passers-by to drop in. Rows of assorted boots and shoes were found at ground level, while racks of desirable fashion formed a canopy on top. In between, at eye level, were shelves of other temptations. Sparkling pieces of jewellery, each neatly boxed and colour coded. Designer handbags, with price tags to match. Luxurious scarves that dangled at just the right height. ” Shopping Nirvana”, Bill used to joke. The top layer of Dolan’s Department Store, the canopy, was Janet’s favourite hunting…