Beyond the ordinary

Stories told in pixels

Ted’s Shorts – and no, before you ask, this has nothing to do with my choice of summer wardrobe, although I am partial to a comfy pair in the summer, nor is it a reference to my modest height of 5’6” when standing proudly in socks. Instead, within these pages you’ll find a collection of twenty-one short stories – my “shorts” of a rather more literary kind. 

 

They wander cheerfully across genres: a dash of heartfelt reflection here, a sprinkle of gentle humour there, with the occasional leap into science fiction or a tale inspired by real places and people I’ve known or at least claim to. My simple hope is that somewhere among them, you’ll find one that tickles your fancy, warms your heart, or at the very least distracts you pleasantly from the washing up. 

 

The two children’s stories were written especially for my grandchildren, whose boundless imagination and laughter have been a constant source of inspiration. The “Under the Clock” series, on the other hand, began with a casual remark from a friend who mentioned meeting someone “under the clock”, a phrase that sparked an entire world of characters and encounters. 

 

Some of the other stories draw on the places I have called home, St Albans and Hamble, while the science fiction pieces have been quietly evolving in the corners of my mind for many years, finally demanding to be written down now that I have retired. 

 

I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.  They are available on https://novelo.com/browse/paid