Sparks from the Fire

"There are many ways to tell a story... It is a question of choosing the right one." – Sparks from the Fire

The stories in Sparks from the Fire explore a wide variety of familiar characters and settings, yet there is always something else — a shadow world that haunts, disturbs, and threatens. Sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, recluses and lovers — all find themselves shifting between realities: the prosaic and the mystical, even between life and death. The horrors and wonders of these parallel existences are often glimpsed, sometimes revealed, and occasionally overwhelm. These nineteen tales inhabit a terrain in which the uncanny may at any time intrude into everyday life.

Contents:

"The Bronze Statuette"
"The Fell Race"
"View from a Window"
"Holiday Reading"
"Sparks from the Fire"
"The Birdcage"
"Tour Guide"
"Wing Man"
"Jetsam"
"Writers' Retreat"
"House Party"
"Job Start"
"Productivity"
"Voluntary Work"
"Messages"
"Entitlement"
"War Games"
"The Attempt"
"Breath of Life"
"Acknowledgements"