Novels and short stories
The Empress Emerald,
is set between 1900-1944. This was a period of rapid social change
when people’s lives were disrupted not only by war and international
political events, but by technology. Transport, communications and
weaponry were developing so rapidly, daily life in the first half
of the twentieth century changed nearly as fast as our own.
The protagonists’ lives are influenced by two World Wars,
Civil War in Spain and India’s transition to Independence.
Leo Kazan, half-Russian, half-Indian, and descendant of Ludo in
The Chosen Man, is another charming rogue
who can’t be trusted, but he’s also a victim of events
beyond his control. The novel raises the question: do the circumstances
of his birth and abduction excuse his behaviour? It is for the reader
to decide. The heroine, Davina Fulford, who grows up in the old
Cornish mansion Crimphele, lives in a fairy tale world of her own
making - until she finds herself in a much darker story, and in
a very different country.
The Doomsong Sword. To avoid his family chores, lazy Davor runs away to sea. The longship is stranded and Davor, who has been bullied, says he will get help. Instead, he runs away again, into even greater danger. Davor saves himself from a three-headed troll, but then falls in with the Traveller, Master Odo, whom he believes is taking him home. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Master Odo takes Davor to a wedding feast, where the fabled Doomsong sword comes into Davor’s hands but, frightened of its power, he drops it. Angry and disappointed, Master Odo abandons Davor to survive alone with only a white wolf for company – until eventually, Davor is led to the cave of the most terrifying dragon in the Cold North . . .
The Doomsong Voyage. Long ago in the Cold North, Finn, a young tale-maker, encounters the Wanderer, Master Odo in a Baltic island tavern. Master Odo tells Finn there will soon be a terrible climate catastrophe and tasks him with sailing to the Middle Sea to locate the absent Volsung clan leader, Goran Ice-heart. Ice-heart must return to the North to lead his people to a warmer land before an imminent volcanic eruption. Master Odo gives Finn the legendary Doomsong sword, which he must hand to Ice-heart as the rightful clan leader. Finn also receives a grave warning: he will meet obstacles and dangers on his voyage, and a powerful, fire-loving enemy will try to prevent his success. Finn’s voyage is hindered by a sell-sword named Beorn Wolfman, who leads Finn to Heorot of the Grendel legend. Finn’s life is in jeopardy, but he has help from a Katranina, a strange girl with amber-green eyes. Their voyage continues to Hispania, where Finn is captured in the Barbalus emirate.
Dark Night, Black Horse, is a short story based on true events that occurred during the first year of the Spanish Civil War in rural Andalucía. The characters of Diego and his son (also named Diego but called Paco here to avoid confusion) are based on the father and grandfather of a friend who breeds horses in Coín.
Noche Oscura, Caballo Negro, es la traducción al español del relato, que ya está disponible en versión Kindle.
Two time-slip short stories
The Mist Rolling In. Dan and Laura are a young couple escaping the rat-race in a remote part of Scotland. As the mist rolls in, Laura suggests they live there. Dan laughs, but Laura has a secret reason.
Read the story here. Inspired by the song Mull of Kintyre this story was written during a holiday in the Western Isles.
The Cats of Capriale. Edna is on a package tour of Italy with two old school friends. They visit the ancient mountain village of Capriale, a mysterious place full of narrow, winding passage ways - and cats. Capriale has a sinister history of witch trials. It all takes Edna back . . . and back . . . and back
Read the story here. It was written after my own visit to an ancient Italian village full of cats.