Some Anarchic Occasions

Moving between different time points, Some Anarchic Occasions is a coming-of-age story following the life of Johnny as he navigates the difficulty of negative parental relationships and their effects on his choices and relationships. He meets Charlie and they make a bargain to help with the other’s suffering. Realising that both won’t be able to get away from suffering, Johnny makes a bargain with another entity to end Charlie’s suffering. After Johnny’s success, Charlie’s life improves but Johnny’s worsens and Johnny’s newest bargain compromises the bargain with Charlie, and his life as he knows it comes to an end. Is it possible for Johnny to overcome his suffering?

Der Wache Mann / The Awake Man

Daniel, a globe-trotting sweets and chocolate taster, embarks on a flavorful journey that takes an unexpected turn when he meets Naomi, an aspiring singer in Japan. As Daniel immerses himself in his passion, purchasing candy to bring back to Munich, his wife Diane harbors suspicions of infidelity. Unbeknownst to Daniel, Diane is entangled in her own affair with Mr. Schalter, one of Daniel’s business associates. As relationships unravel and new connections form, Daniel finds solace in his correspondence with Naomi and his close bond with his daughter, Lisel. Through the twists and turns of love, betrayal, and self-discovery, this story emphasizes the paramount importance of cherishing the relationships that truly matter.

Adeodata

Set against the backdrop of a graceful New England estate in the 1990s, Adeodata weaves a captivating tale of six distinct individuals, each navigating complex interrelationships and personal crises of faith. The narrative features an archbishop on the cusp of becoming a cardinal who shockingly discovers he has a grandchild, a wealthy but morally compromised bachelor business tycoon known for his generosity, a stressed housekeeper mourning the loss of societal civility, the tycoon’s widowed sister-in-law who has been the object of his lifelong affection, a young rock singer in search of meaningful direction, and a beautiful Italian orphan who, while seeking her sole surviving relative in New England, tragically contracts a fatal disease.

Each character faces unique challenges, raising profound philosophical questions. How does one cope with unexpected tragedy? What does it mean to confront loneliness and a lack of purpose? What obligations arise when one’s life is saved by another? And what role does beauty play in our lives?

Guru Pi

Set during the first pivotal year of the Covid-19 pandemic, Guru Pi, a teacher, finds himself staying with a family in the UK. He embraces three challenges: reading a stack of books equal to his own height within a year, contemplating the vastness of a Googol (10¹⁰⁰), and participating in a unique cultural interview.

As Pi shares his eccentric ideas, some are welcomed while others are met with skepticism. This unexpected situation provides Pi with an opportunity to explore his life in ways he never thought possible. His world expands as he discovers the beauty of wildflowers, the wonder of birds, and other captivating aspects of nature.

At its core, this novel celebrates the camaraderie among the characters at the Beck household and the diverse friends Pi makes at the local café, bars, and allotment. Through his eclectic reading and encounters with literary characters, Pi embarks on a transformative journey, ultimately embracing a profound shift in his personal philosophy.

Love Deuce Metamorphoses

In this riveting and imaginative tale, Quixote Syzygy spins a modern myth that takes the reader from the heat of Wimbledon’s tennis courts to the fate of humanity itself.

When an epic mixed doubles match between two British pairs – Daphne Laurel and ‘Fool’ Hardy, and Iphis Tangle and Tiresias Tingle – stretches on interminably, the players and spectators alike start to wilt under the relentless summer sun. But Daphne, who possesses the ancient ability to transform into a laurel tree, realizes that human self-importance is the root cause of the deadly heat. She tries to save the crowd by teaching them to become trees themselves.

As people around the world take up the call to ‘Be a Tree’, society splits between the Money-Lovers, who scorn the idea and continue to destroy the earth, and the Earth-Lovers, who sacrifice themselves to try to cool the planet. With appearances by the earwig philosopher Cyril, and interventions from the gods Apollo and Zeus, the tale builds to a shattering conclusion.

Syzygy skillfully weaves classical mythology with a pointed critique of modern values, crafting a fable that is both whimsical and devastating. Love Deuce Metamorphoses is a story of magic, sport, love, and the perils of disregarding our impact on the natural world. This haunting work will make readers see trees, and perhaps themselves, in a whole new light.

All That Glisters

Once again Alistair Devenish is involved in a cross-Channel chase following the heist of valuable bronzes from a church outside Milan. Sold at auction, these have vanished before the new owner could pick them up. A whisper tells him that they have been taken abroad perhaps via a yacht berthed in Monaco, Alistair picks up the chase. He must interview people in Milan but the chief suspect has vanished. The old curate at the church is feeble and frail; does he know more than he is letting on?

Alistair’s exotic French fiancée, Isabelle, arrives in Monaco for the weekend. Out for a walk in the harbour, she mistakenly goes on board the huge yacht which Al has spoken so much about. The yacht leaves, she panics and hides on board; in the same space, is an Italian secret police man who has stumbled on a few of the bronzes; both their phones die after a few scrambled words; what to do?

Alistair learns in Milan that the old curate, together with a young man, have left for Genoa to rendezvous with the yacht, taking sacks of apparently heavy goods. He races to the Port at Genoa and with the Italian maritime police they pursue the yacht to sea.

Finally, caught out at sea and held to account, the bronzes on board are recovered but are they the bronzes? Not what they seem; one of them leaks a substance; what is it?

The Woman in the Wings

How far would you go to win over the woman you love?

The picturesque village of East Upbury still looks much as it did a century ago, but middle-class professionals have long since replaced the agricultural workers who once lived there. When the villagers decide to stage an open-air summer production to commemorate the centenary of the tragic events that occurred there during the Great War, rivalries quickly emerge. The director intends her production to be authentic, but her vision conflicts with the nostalgic view of the past held by influential village factions.

Toby has never harboured any desire to appear on stage but has always been fascinated by the history of the Great War. He supports all the director’s plans and is delighted to be appointed as stage manager. However, he finds it difficult to focus on his responsibilities because of his fascination with Sarah, a visitor to the village who is helping him backstage. Sarah appears to like him, but the demands of the production mean that whenever they secure any time together events conspire to interrupt them.

As the last night of the production approaches, disaster strikes when one of the actors disappears. This forces Toby to confront his fears and decide exactly how far he is willing to go to win over Sarah before she returns to London.

By turns tragic, comic, historic, and pastoral, The Woman in the Wings shows that a tragic history can sometimes repeat itself as romantic comedy.

Inner Strength

Our paths through life are determined, in part, by the people we meet. Some have no effect on us at all, while others pivot us directly towards our destiny.

Happily married Charlie and Zoe Stone have everything except the one thing that will make them feel complete: a child. Longing to become parents, their marriage becomes doomed through devastating circumstances beyond their control.

His marriage over, Charlie moves across town and meets a whole new set of friends, one of whom invites him to try something new; to experience, at least once, the intimacy that a man can bring to another man.

Charlie agrees, thus bringing a seismic shift to his life, a new journey that he totally embraces.

A journey through which he meets Liam.

But is it all over for Charlie and Zoe, or does Charlie have the inner strength to stay true to his natural self?

My captivating third novel follows Charlie Stone as he enters the LGBT world, gets comfortable, and then finds love.

This soul-searching book will make you cry a lot and laugh even more as you join Charlie in his life-changing journey.

The Wonderbra Manoeuvre

Saoirse Fitzgerald, a glamorous Dublin-based executive in the high-fashion world, globe-trots her way through life. At 39, she’s acutely aware of her ticking biological clock, and a looming legal deadline threatens to derail her long-delayed ambition of starting a family.

Julian Bracken, a flamboyant and well-respected doctor, privately grieves the loss of his wife and unborn child.

When Saoirse and Julian find themselves staying at the same Mayfair hotel, Saoirse, emboldened by her PA Aoife, resolves to seduce Julian. What begins as a contrived encounter blossoms into a genuine love affair as they confide in each other, realizing they share the same hopes and dreams.

However, their plans for a happy future are brutally interrupted when Julian is accused of sexual assault, voyeurism involving a teenage model, and a further sexual assault on a theatre nurse.

Referred to the General Medical Council, Julian learns from his legal team that the GMC case is being prosecuted by Connie Cornwall QC, a fierce and tenacious barrister known as the ‘ice-maiden’ who rarely loses. To make matters worse, if his case goes poorly, he will face criminal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. His reputation, career, and liberty hang in the balance as his lawyers battle against a determined and clever opponent.

The Wonderbra Manoeuvre is a modern love story with an utterly unpredictable ending. It explores themes of self-belief, loyalty, commitment, and the consequences of keeping secrets that would have been better shared.

The Artist

Emilia, an aspiring actress, works as a waitress at a Parisian restaurant called The Ship. There, she meets Heinrich, an architect who falls deeply in love with her. As Emilia’s acting career flourishes, she decides to return to Germany to work on her father’s farm. Undeterred by the distance, Heinrich follows her back to Germany and continues his work as an architect there. This heartwarming story emphasizes the significance of family bonds and romance in a contemporary context.

During her time in Germany, Emilia reminisces about her Aunt Sophia, who supported her family during the difficult period following her mother’s untimely death in Emilia’s childhood. She seizes the opportunity to reconnect with Sophia, her cousin David, and his wife Gina at a dinner party. Emilia’s father is overjoyed when she returns to Germany to assist with his farming endeavours.

While Emilia may eventually return to Paris, for now, she chooses to focus on nurturing her blossoming romance with Heinrich and cherishing the time spent with her loved ones in Germany.

Daisy Chain

As her ninety-fifth year draws to a close, Margaret’s light begins to fade. With her last wish and legacy in mind, she pins all her hopes on a much younger generation, seeking to bridge the gap between two vastly different stages of life.

Joshua and Abigail, at the opposite end of life’s spectrum, find themselves unexpectedly intertwined with Margaret’s final journey. As they strive to fulfil her dying wish, they are forced to confront their own demons and embark on a path of self-discovery. Will their efforts to help Margaret ultimately lead them to find themselves, or will their struggles be lost in the dwindling sands of time?

Amidst the turmoil, the question of forgiveness looms large. Can long-standing nemeses be forgiven, and can the weight of the past be lifted? As Margaret, Joshua, and Abigail navigate this emotional landscape, they each seek the serenity that has eluded them for so long.

Die Zeit der Frau / The Time of the Woman

Rita, a modern woman, forges an acting career, while her partner Karl writes scripts. She meets many people – her Uncle Fred, Bertha, Peter, Edwina – and moves with Karl from Boston to Switzerland for his work.

Her childhood imagination springs to life when the circus comes to town. As Uncle Fred falls for Yuki, Rita connects with her, making a pen-pal. Relationships interweave between the cast, underscoring the busy modern world where paths constantly cross.

Traveling from Boston to Munich stirs Rita’s longing for the mother she never met, and motivates her search. Karl eventually wins an Academy Award, but accepts it without attending, in his signature style. Through it all, Rita and Karl’s bond endures, a rarity in these turbulent times.