Contemporary Literary - Stories

Charlie and Michael Baxter lost their father at a young age. They have been brought up by a hard-working mother who loved and treasured her boys. Unfortunately, she passed away before they finished college and through no fault of their own, they found themselves homeless. This is their story.

This fictional story is set in Manchester, England. The locations are real and existed in the recent past where this story is set, many of the locations still exist and can be visited. All characters are fictional and do not exist, any similarity to any person living or deceased is purely coincidental.

14-year-old Bryan Padilla is caught between worlds he doesn't feel connected to. Having been abandoned by their birth parents at a young age, Bryan and his younger brother, Caleb, were adopted by a family friend, Diego Padilla, and raised in a culture not of their own. Though it is the only life Caleb has ever known, Bryan inwardly struggles with his feelings about life, death, race and sexuality. Things escalate shortly after the death of his birth mother. Can Bryan come to terms with his situation as a figure from his past tries to upend his entire life?

Danny and Brandon's family continues to grow as they deal with new situations.

Danny and Brandon are running the 'Hotel', with Josh's help. Dion and Trey also have their own family, and with the members of their extended family they collectively experience many moments of joy, along with a few tribulations.

Owain returns to live in his home town, 20 years after leaving when he was disowned his parents for being gay. He needs to rebuild his life following illness and come to terms with his messy family history. There is much to learn and discover, along the way he meets Colin, a builder who has his own family issues. The two explore how to make a life the way that they want, irrespective of the weight of their family experiences.

The story takes place in Cheshire, UK. The main setting, Netherwich, is my invention based on elements of Crewe and Nantwich. The language uses some regional idiom.

About to return home after five years working in the Middle East, former soldier Brian has an unreliable ex-girlfriend, a teenage son and a dead-end job to look forward to. Can he take courage, leap into the unknown and accept that his mate Gordon is far more than a friend with benefits.

The Boot three years on. There have been some changes and improvements to The Boot, partly thanks to fund raising and charitable donations, and in part thanks to Christian Edwards benefactor to The Boot. Some 'guests' have moved on, some remaining homeless, but others having been helped are now in independent accommodation either working or looking for work. This is the continued story of The Boot, it's staff and 'guests.'

It is not necessary to read The Boot beforehand but it may help to understand some of what is happening now and in its future.

The story of the Castaway Hotel continues, but this time with Danny relaying the story and taking charge. How will things go as the Hotel continues to add new residents?

Part of the Lost Soul Series and The Boot World this is Ian and Kevin's story. In the summer of 2011, they move from a rented flat in The Northern Quarter of Manchester to their own house in Prestwich. As couples do they reflect on the past and look forward to the future. Unexpected news changes their lives and gives a glimpse into the past of their friend Manny.

This re-write of the original story posted in 2022, is more than an edit, added dialogue and description tells the story better and has been achieved with the help of raven1.

It may help, but it is not essential, to read the other stories in the series.

Sometimes love comes from the unlikeliest of places.

Devastated by the loss of his mother, Cal enters his final year of high school in Cape Town facing an uncertain future, plagued by bullies and struggling to keep his grieving family together. When a handsome troublemaker with a mysterious past arrives at the school, an unlikely friendship develops. And as Cal grapples with feelings he never expected, he is plunged headlong into an adventure that will turn his entire existence upside-down.

This 10th anniversary edition differs from the Kindle version, and contains new and old material cut from the Kindle version.