An Heirless Family

Fatima’s eyes were heavy with memories of her son. She would often open the family book for him, filled with values of asceticism and contentment with fate. These values were ingrained in her soul, nurtured by a cloud of love and contentment that enveloped both place and soul. With every cry of life and amidst the grains of mud, a green branch grew, bringing life anew.

Fatima shares with her son Majed, named after her father, the story of their family and the father who was once absent. Believed dead after years of no return, her father was discovered to be alive, having lost his memory after a fall from his camel. Rescued by a man who took him in, he married the man’s sister, and they had a son named Sa’eed, who became a doctor.

In a twist of fate, this doctor oversees Fatima’s IVF process, leading to the birth of a son who will grapple with the existential question of his identity and parentage.

Waiting for Them to Come Back

Walter, the youngest child, spent years yearning for a glimmer of compassion and love from his mother. He hoped, wished, and prayed against all odds that there was some light inside her. But all he ever saw was a cold, disapproving woman who watched as her children grew further apart. Life was cruel to him, and so was she – the woman who raised him, yet abused him for years, until he could no longer bear the pain and cruelty she inflicted.

Walter’s life was filled with disappointment, emptiness, and hopelessness. But after years of suffering, he was determined to break free. As he looked at Catherine one last time, her skin paler than usual, it felt like looking at a lost puppy. Only it wasn’t a puppy; it was his mother.

Conversations with the Landscape

Harry, a retired geologist with a deep connection to the earth, suddenly finds himself facing three life-altering crises. The first unfolds among the people he encounters in the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Southern Sahara. The second strikes closer to home, involving a beloved family member in the UK. Finally, Harry must confront a personal challenge that threatens his very ability to navigate life. Each crisis is met with a fierce struggle, leading to partial resolution, but not without profound impact. Throughout it all, the landscapes he inhabits and traverses leave an indelible mark on his soul, shaping his journey in unexpected ways.

The Journey of Kyle in the House of Azza

In the heart of Darfur, amidst the tumult of Elfasher, lies the House of Azza, a beacon of resilience and wisdom passed down through generations. This gripping narrative unfolds the story of Kyle, a survivor of the Baghdad bombing, whose journey of self-discovery leads him to the doorstep of Madam Azza’s legendary home. As Kyle navigates the complexities of love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness, the House of Azza stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of those who call it home.

Through the intertwining lives of its inhabitants, The Journey of Kyle in the House of Azza explores themes of love, power, and redemption, set against the backdrop of a community struggling to find peace amidst chaos. Madam Azza, with her iron will and compassionate heart, guides Kyle and others to confront their pasts and embrace their futures with courage and grace. As Kyle’s story intertwines with the house’s legacy, readers are taken on a transformative journey that challenges the very notions of home and identity. More than just a tale of survival, it is a celebration of the human capacity to heal, to connect, and to find beauty in the midst of adversity. This captivating book invites you to explore the depths of human resilience and the power of a place to change lives forever.

Let Me Get There Safely

“So, my dear, what brings you here to me?”

Heather Ann was born in Ipswich but grew up far from England in the rural Highlands of Scotland. With only her mother Katie – the strongest female role model – to keep her on the straight and narrow, Heather faces numerous challenges, some might say far too many.

From heartbreak to heart troubles, Heather endures the hardships of growing up in rural Scotland without mobile phones, computers, or even double glazing. Her life is arduous, but the pursuit of happiness proves a worthwhile struggle.

Often, we find that happiness is like a distant boat we swim towards, only to nearly drown before being rescued by a stranger on the beach. Heather’s journey to find true love is paved with broken hearts, as too many fish in the sea turn out to be mere trout.

Throughout her life, Heather experiences the effects of an unseen force – some may call it luck, others the work of a guardian angel. But will she navigate safely through life’s turbulent waters?

Reinforcing the Meeks Family Bubble, Against People with Sharp Pins

Mr. Meeks is practically giddy: he’s finally won back the woman of his dreams. Together, they embark on a brand-new adventure, continually adding joy to their close-knit family bubble. Mr. Meeks, once doubtful he’d ever know the joys of fatherhood, now finds himself relishing the unexpected bliss of being both a father and a grandfather.

Life for the Meeks Family is brimming with good fortune: from a lucky raffle win to a swiftly expanding business, and from rediscovering a forgotten holiday home to uncovering the spoils of a long-ago bank robbery. Yet, amidst the highs, life throws its challenges their way. Three funerals and a rushed wedding leave the family clinging to each other for support, navigating the waves of emotion together.

Through it all, the Meeks Family exemplifies love, honour, and remembrance for those no longer with them while eagerly supporting those yet to come. This heartwarming tale is a celebration of life, love, and family – a poignant reminder to cherish what we have and to hold tight to those we love, never letting go.

Unexpected Endings

There are said to be two types of writers: those who meticulously plot their stories before ever setting pen to paper, and those who dive headfirst into a blank page, trusting that meaning will emerge through the process. I firmly belong to the latter group.

When I began writing proper short stories – rather than scribbles on the backs of bus tickets – I never imagined they would one day form a collection. But as the stories accumulated, I realized there might be enough to satisfy the growing number of readers who had enjoyed them and were eager for more.

My imagination is a restless and untamed force, often pulling me in unexpected directions, making each story a new adventure in creativity. I delight in experimenting with words, stretching and reshaping them into fresh contexts. Unexpected Endings is driven by this love of storytelling, blending my interests in science and folklore – two endless sources of inspiration.

In this collection, you’ll find stories like Azrael, where a goldfinch holds far more meaning than meets the eye, and Light and Dark, where nothing is quite what it seems.

A Coastal Shelf

Eddie Hart, a devoted officer at Langdon Fire Station, grapples with the lingering grief over his mother’s demise and the burdensome secret he harbors concerning her death, a truth he finds impossible to share with his seemingly detached father. At the firehouse, he faces the challenge of appeasing senior managers hell-bent on either reining in his Watch or disbanding it altogether, all while guiding the new recruit through the demanding facets of the profession. Amidst the workplace turmoil, the ghost of a past romance resurfaces: Jane, his high school sweetheart, now wed to the imposing Nev, but the lingering connection between them persists.

As the disparate threads of Eddie’s life converge towards a pinnacle, the pressure mounts. Will he navigate the tempest of professional challenges, mend the rift with his father, and reconcile the embers of a bygone love? Or will the surmounting adversities cause his life to unravel into chaos?

A Million Times through the War Zone

Wafa Aisha’s parents emigrated to Australia from the war torn West Bank to start a better life. Wafa is an aspiring actor whose goals after leaving school are to escape the clutches of her strict Muslim parents and to secure a lead role in a film.David Miller is a Sydney filmmaker whose production company is floundering. One day, out of the blue, he is approached by a white knight who offers him a large sum of money to make a film depicting Middle Eastern culture. When Wafa gets an opportunity to star in this production, she truly believes that fame and stardom have come knocking at her door. Coaxed into travelling to the West Bank by Rayad, the white knight who is bankrolling the film, she is tricked into marrying him. Feeling trapped and with no one to turn to, her instinct is to run. But Rayad has her passport as well as her mobile phone. Without these things, escaping this war-torn land seems almost impossible. In desperation, she assumes a new identity and joins the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, caring for wounded soldiers, all the while trying to figure out a way to somehow get back to Australia.Never in her wildest dreams could Wafa have imagined the obstacles she would have to face and the desperate measures she would need to take in order to achieve what she so desperately wants. Along the way, she becomes a member of Hamas and briefly works as a drug mule in order to get money. To complicate matters, she falls in love with a young soldier and has to decide whether to stay with the man of her dreams or continue her quest to return home. Juggling her confusing feelings becomes an overpowering emotion, which might just end up breaking her.‘A Million Times through the War Zone’ is a story of survival and never giving up on what you desperately want, no matter what life throws at you.

Restless

“If only I grew up in a world where I could choose my name, family, creed, and place of birth! How much better that world would be.”Dissatisfied with his life, Mujeer is on a quest to break away from his background. That quest becomes a purpose in itself and pursuing it an obsession. It is his way of reclaiming what he believes were wasted years.On his way, he questions his societal values and beliefs, and formulates a picture of how he wants to spend the remainder of his days.

Zuca

Saving lives in the centre of London is a difficult job, but paramedics Zeb and Sirena share the burden together. When working in different areas of the service, they find each other, bringing the promise of a fulfilling life together. However, this line of work can be unpredictable. Will their new love survive the test of a tragic event? Will heartache lead to heartbreak? This is a story of two people that find new love, and a hope for a bright future tested to levels that they could not have imagined. Do either of them have the strength to survive?

The Last Ever Christmas

It’s Christmas in the countryside. The most wonderful time of the year for the Brown Family. But as the snow begins to fall, a sense of something untoward intrudes on the festive season. The gift of a terrifying Christmas miracle, as an ancient monster returns, to set the world to ruin.Told through the eyes of twelve-year-old Jimmy Brown, two neighbouring families unite to survive, as the world seeks a solution, while verging on collapse. The unfolding horrors force them to confront their fears, question their faith, their sense of place, and what it means to be human.This is the last ever Christmas, and it will be unlike any other.