Conflicting Emotions

Plagued by illness and haunted by the loss of her children, Olivia is driven by a fierce determination to heal. She suspects her ailments are tied to the heartache of her estrangement and sets out on a quest for wellness. As she grapples with her own health and remorse, she takes up residence in a modest apartment near a hospital, where she meets Jolene, a sometimes friend, sometimes burden, battling her own demons with alcohol.

As Olivia confronts her guilt, she also finds herself entangled in Jolene’s turbulent life, compelled to offer aid. Resolute in shedding the weight of her past sorrows and mending broken bridges, Olivia embarks on a poignant journey through the tapestry of her family’s history, her marriage, and the myriad ways she has sought love.

With each memory turned over, Olivia seeks answers and redemption. Can uncovering the roots of her estrangement also lead to her recovery, both bodily and of the bonds with her children?

Britain's First Black Headmaster of a Secondary School in Action

This is the ‘real life’ story of Britain’s first Black Headmaster of a large secondary school. In 1982 when the news first broke, all of Yorkshire where it happened, indeed, all the United Kingdom and beyond came alive with the media frenzy which attended the historical occasion. This was no fluke since that feat was repeated four years later by the same person, this time in the Midlands at one of Birmingham’s largest comprehensive schools.

Once the media frenzy, the seemingly glamour of his achievements, was over, Duncan, the Headmaster in question, had to face the reality of managing and leading the schools which he successively headed. These were not places of friendship but more like hostile gauntlets of racism and sabotage which Duncan must navigate daily whilst equally hostile external eyes watched his every move threateningly and, at times, abusively.

Navigating these obstacles successfully soon became a prominent aspect of the job description of this Headteacher.

Beyond school life, his journey was no less hazardous. It was littered or peppered throughout with difficulties such as police stops and searches, high speed police chase on the motorways, legal battles, romantic and marital discords leading to police lock-up, beatings by in-laws and hospitalization on his wedding day for daring to marrying a Sikh girl. With this Sikh girl, Duncan would make the headlines again in the same year as becoming Britain’s first Headmaster of a secondary school. In the August of 1982, Duncan’s Sikh wife gave birth to the world’s first black test-tube twins which opened the way for a whole new dimension in Duncan’s world.

Altar Boy

In the chilly winter of 1981, Peter Brume, a budding 26-year-old reporter in Paris, finds his career abruptly halted due to budget cuts. This professional setback spirals him into a spiritual quandary, prompting him to delve deeper into the Catholic faith that has always perplexed him. As part of his exploration, he even commits to celibacy while interviewing priests and religious figures.

However, his journey takes an unexpected turn with the entrance of Evelyne, a captivating Parisian. She challenges Peter’s binary perception of women and ignites a passion within him. Seeking answers, Peter travels to Catholic Ireland, a land where divorce and abortion are taboo. From trailing a Jesuit up a mountain to enduring the austere rituals of Lough Derg, Peter’s journey is both enlightening and tumultuous. Along the way, he encounters priests whose intentions blur the lines between the sacred and the profane.

Torn between his spiritual calling and the allure of Evelyne, Peter’s quest culminates in Rome. There, amidst the sanctity of the Holy See and in the company of a priest, he faces a life-altering decision: to answer the divine call or to embrace the love that tugs at his heart.

After Words

Five friends embark on a cross-country train journey in America, unaware they are on the cusp of the COVID pandemic. Their voyage is marked by a captivating word game, where each draws a card corresponding to a letter and shares an experience inspired by an undisclosed word. The game, simple in its premise, becomes a gateway to unexpected memories and stories, evolving in real-time. As each friend takes their turn, readers are invited to guess the hidden word, immersing themselves in the narrative as if seated among the group.

This engaging game sets the stage for a tapestry of associations and reminiscences, pushing the boundaries of what can be spoken. The novel follows each character over three years, capturing their unique circumstances and experiences during the pandemic across various locales and moments. Readers get a new perspective through their lived challenges, joys, and dreams.

As the friends reunite for a second journey on a different route post-pandemic, the profound impacts of both the global event and the word game itself come to light. The narrative, divided into three parts, offers a looping portrayal of time: before, during, and after the pandemic.

Rich with atmospheric and lyrical passages, this novel invites its readers to delve into the intricate world of language, exploring the mysterious and transformative power of words.

A Time to Talk

Imagine being granted the extraordinary gift of one last conversation with a loved one, knowing it would be your final chance to connect. Would you use this precious time to pour out your heart, share stories of love and gratitude, and bid a proper farewell?

For most, such a divine opportunity would be treasured. But for Jolie, a middle-aged woman juggling the demands of her children, job, grieving father, and estranged sister, the conversation might take an unexpected turn. Why, for instance, did her mother choose to ignore the cancer ravaging her body, instead channeling her energy into hosting dance challenges from her hospital bed and teaching her grandchildren the joys of skinny dipping?

Since her mother’s passing, Jolie has been consumed by grief and regret, finding even the simplest tasks overwhelming. Despite knowing that hiding under the covers and napping won’t solve anything, she feels too drained to seek alternatives. As she contemplates the tempting escape of running away – a choice that hardly seems fitting for a woman nearing fifty – Jolie receives an extraordinary gift: one final conversation with her mother. With so much left unsaid, where does one begin when faced with this singular chance?

It isn’t until Jolie faces a heart-wrenching accident involving her own daughter that she finds her answer. You begin by acknowledging the importance of family, and the power of forgiveness and letting go.

Woven with wisdom, humor, and a touch of magic, A Time to Talk is an uplifting story that explores the unbreakable bonds of family, the profound impact of a mother’s love, and the ability to find light even in the darkest of times.