This anthology has been compiled by a handful of writers who have two things in common. They all attend the Writers' Summer School in Swanwick each August. And they all count themselves lucky to have known Katy Clarke.This mixture of stories for grown-ups and children is published in Katy's memory. All proceeds will go towards the work of Rowcroft Hospice in Torbay, where she spent the last weeks of her life.Katy Clarke was a brave, funny and inspiring lady who loved family...

Multiple award winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things—which includes a never-before published American Gods story, “Black Dog,” written exclusively for this volume.In this new anthology, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. ...

All families have secrets.But some have more secrets than others.Jim is a brilliant raconteur whose stories get taller with each glass of whisky. His daughter Sam thinks it's time she found out the truth about her dad.On holiday in Orkney, Sam spies on Jim as he travels across the island. What has he hidden in the abandoned watchtower? Who is he meeting in the stone circle at dusk? And why is he suddenly obsessed with Norse myths?As Sam is drawn into Jim's s...

Thick with owls and badgers, oak trees and wood piles, scarecrows and ghosts, and Tom Cox's loud and excitable dad, this book is full of the folklore of several counties the ancient kind and the everyday variety as well as wild places, mystical spots and curious objects. Emerging from this focus on the detail are themes that are broader and bigger and more important than ever.Tom's writing treads a new path, one that has a lot in common with a rambling country walk; it's bewitched ...

“Prepare to be delighted” (Time) with the fourth novel in the New York Times bestselling Thursday Next series, a totally original, action-packed romp through the alternate reality of literature-obsessed England.“Infused with humor and extraordinary inventiveness . . . [Something Rotten] is worth reading for anyone with an insatiable appetite for cleverness.”—Los Angeles TimesIt’s back to reality for Detec...

The nation's favourite annual guide to the short story, now in its seventh year.Best British Short Stories invites you to judge a book by its cover – or more accurately, by its title. This critically acclaimed series aims to reprint the best short stories published in the previous calendar year by British writers, whether based in the UK or elsewhere. The editor's brief is wide ranging, covering anthologies, collections, magazines, newspapers and web sites, looking...

A generous selection from New Zealand's foremost writer of short stories. Peter Simpson in reviewing Owen Marshall's stories in the New Zealand Listener wrote: 'Marshall is held in uncommon affection by New Zealand readers - generally we admire and respect rather than love our writers.' This love is perhaps evoked not just by the superb quality of Marshall's writing but because his stories so precisely capture his fellow New Zealanders and their country. From the ...

Poems from the heart by a man who has lived – and loved – life to the full.In the 70s he was a huge pop star, with Number 1 hits like 'Rock On' and 'Hold Me Close'. In the 80s and 90s he became a star of the stage with lead roles in GODSPELL and MUTINY! Most recently he became a Number 1 hardcover bestseller with his autobiography, OVER THE MOON.Now comes a wonderful collection of his poetry and lyrics. Here are nostalgic poems recalling his family's traveller roots, such a...

Oliver Postgate's death in December 2008 was greeted with great sadness. For over forty years his name was synonymous with the best in children's television - Bagpuss, The Clangers, Ivor the Engine, The Pogles, Noggin the Nog, Pingwings. Oliver wrote and narrated the stories, while Peter Firmin illustrated the characters and made the puppets. Their classic films are still loved by viewers of all ages.In this delicious autobiography Oliver Postgate describes how he came to create his...

The thrilling tale of a poor miller, his beautiful daughter and the terrible consequences that come from spinning lies...This story is a magic bean. It may not look much like a bean, but I can promise you that it is. For if you plant it in a young mind, it will grow into a love of story and reading. These beans are favourite fairytales and legends that will delight, thrill and thoroughly entertain. Each story has been brilliantly crafted by one of the best-loved writers fo...

An amusing short story about three hapless and hopeless odd-job men trying to impress their boss. Short listed for the 2015 Gwaun Writers' Festival.

Peter Lee’s account of growing up in Nuneaton in the years after the Second World War is one of adventure and discovery. This memoir offers a glimpse into a way of life that may now seem very distant. The memories brought back to life will resonate with so many of the people who were growing up and living through this fascinating period. Nuneaton was a place of great change and offered a wealth of experiences to any child who knew where to look. From ‘muck-raids’ to fence-hopping, this boo...