Gary L

Densely packed with emotion. Great story-telling.

Exactly. These evil creatures just look at you and think you are easy game. They are correct, of course. The smaller one is the terrorist-in-chief. Butter wouldn’t melt etc. Good news, though, today. Computer cable repaired after canine destruction. Only 4€ and a competent electrician on hand! And, more importantly, I’m finally COVID negative and can restart my hated immuno suppressant jabs. Although I should not complain: 100% covered by social security here in Spain. Sadly, “biologics” are v expensive but at least price worldwide is dropping from original 2,000$ per 10 ml. You can do the maths…. Now it’s 1,000€ here per month but free on health service. My life has been transformed by them. Hopefully, I can now correct the uploading of a little story about living with a chronic illness for 49 years. I’m a lucky guy.

A funny, and clever, little tale. Well worth having a read. BTW the author’s other stories are v good!

I’m totally confused by this story. Who has the paperweight at the start of the fight? If Tony hit him with it then there would be a mark or two. 🤔

Ace chapter. Thanks, Mark. Now back to the last SA stories, just to check that my answer for your story is based on complete research. Can’t see you doing were-creatures or vampires, though with your characters here who needs them!

I bet Gray has watched all of his films in UEA if not in an art house cinema somewhere!!

I agree on how good Almodóvar is. There are a couple of duds but the rest are fabulous. Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown with Carmen Maura, Rossy de Palma and a v young Antonio Banderas is one of my all time fav films. Also amazing is The room next door, filmed in English and set in New England, I think.

A clever were-creature/vampire story. Not my usual choice but it was a good read. Loved the sardonic humour of our detective. Will you be ordering scalloping in the near future? Read this before you do 😂

Not sure this knowledge is to your credit @Valkyrie! I never read horror stories except in anthologies to broaden my reading. Not sure I will be cooking scalloping a la Marsala for a while….. It’s a v clever read, though.

Exactly. These evil creatures just look at you and think you are easy game. They are correct, of course. The smaller one is the terrorist-in-chief. Butter wouldn’t melt etc.

Ummm, I’m not so sure…..

Greetings from rainy Valencia, yes it’s raining and frankly I don’t want it to rain men, just rainwater, lots and lots and lots, please. No aircon on which is helping my COVID situation 😊 Another two weeks until, supposedly, I will have got rid of the viral load. Meanwhile, today I wrote, and partially had to rewrite [thank you word docs] a prompt story. It will be out asap, before I need to recharge laptop, the cable of which ( please note wiener dog haters) had been partially chewed and I got an electric shock as I tried to connect it.

Enjoy! Say hi to the Prince and Princess of Wales if you see them!

Seasick lad in a rowing boat without oars in the Mediterranean messes things up even more. Can the situation be saved? Is there a future? Set in an atmospheric Sicily with some nice, authentic Italian touches, this is a nice piece of writing to get into. Recommended. Well done @northie this was a great contribution to the SA 2025.

A good story and showing off two “revealing the truth”’s. Wartime Sicily can’t have been a great place to be 18 and gay.

A highly informative chp as slowly dr K opens up a little bit and Todd just chatters along. And then the moment dr K leaves Todd speechless. V enjoyable read with all the promise of classic @lomax61!

The imagery is wonderful, I agree. A fun thousand words. 🤭

Even though, like me, the idea of a class reunion is a nightmare to be avoided at all cost, this story might make you change your mind. The story flows really well with a great main character. I’m glad I read it.

I began by not liking our “hero” for his egoism and arrogance but over the course of the chapter his real character comes out and by the end he is wiser than his years and than most of the other characters. It has an assured hand and flows beautifully. For me, it is easily one of the best of the 2025 SA collection. Strongly recommended.

A very enjoyable read. Well-written. One of my favourites of the SA comp.

I can imagine being at the next table listening in and perhaps snatching a quick flash of underwear 🩲

A fun little piece. V enjoyable!

An enjoyable start and a good twist. I await the next installment with interest.

An atmospheric start. One feels as if one were on the beach with the captain. Looking forward to getting into this story.