My characters often chat with me, usually in that sleepless hour between three and four in the morning, when they worm their way into my consciousness and strike up a conversation. Some of the principal players from my second novel, You’ll Never Walk Alone, are the most insistent. This recent conversation went the way they usually do, starting with a few flattering comments and then… well, you’ll see.
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I’m sitting with Connor and Cynthia in the patch of garden behind Cynthia’s flat. It’s late summer and bees are buzzing lazily around the neglected rosebushes, echoing the hum of the traffic circling Sefton Park.
Connor fills our glasses and places the almost empty bottle on the peeling wrought iron table. He sits back, takes a large mouthful of wine and beams at me. ‘I believe congratulations are in order, once again, Ms Hall.’
Image credit: Eric Muhr @ Unsplash The image shows a forest scene with a path going deep into the forest. The trees in the distance are shrouded in mist.
Although there is an ebook version, I’d strongly recommend you choose the paperback. See how beautiful it is, shown off in this video by fellow contributor, Cassa Bassa.
Rewinding past skirmishes Regret like a tidal wave Rocks on resentful oceans Roils in seas of broken dreams Restitution overlooked Renders her bereft of hope Redemption lost forever.
Image credit: Jayson Hinrichsen @ Unsplash The image shows a young woman in a pensive mood standing outside a storefront. The glass behind her is reflecting a neon sign.
golden sun’s fluid glow flows over your curves, filling your crannies opulence wrapped in creamy pearlescence your soft skin shines in the pale pink dawn
now dazzling white in high noon light towers thrust skywards to pierce softly yielding cornflower skies your marble-clad radiance blisters bright
now descending, the great bronze orb drapes his saffron cloak over your opal shoulders while beneath the aquamarine firmament your gleaming countenance smoulders
silver stars prick the velvet twilight sapphire serenity pervades everlasting yet ever changing your beauty pleads devotion
humankind turned upside-down keeping safe’s what matters all around the world economies in tatters scientists in overdrive to keep one step ahead corruption, disruption stop now, keep your head mixed message, fake news sops to the masses governments in disarray staying put’s what matters
Image credit; Lance Anderson @ Unsplash The image shows tall skyscrapers lit in the evening light. In the front there is a small pale-coloured house resting at an angle on the ground, one side of it raised from the ground.
In the new bloom of passion and the early flush of spring we first walked the boulevards of the city of lovers entwining ourselves in darkening alleyways indulging in delights behind closed doors.
In long, lazy, late summer’s days we roamed gardens and parks and wandered through galleries spent evenings in Montmartre listening to a solitary pianist playing our tune.
In the midst of winter now we travel no more but like Bergman and Bogart we’ll always have Paris.
Image credit: Lucas Albuquerque The title image shows a view of the Eiffel Tower at night when it is illuminated in golden light. In the foreground you can see the Seine river reflecting the lights.
