The recipe: the rich mixture of stories that comprise The Shortbread Tales brings the reader face to face with a diversity of yarns, covering encounters with the SAS in Borneo, robberies, horse racing, financial escapades and ghostly experiences. The locations are as varied as the subject matter: from South Shields to the South Seas. All the short stories have the cachet of being true, or taken with a pinch of salt; the majority were experienced first-hand by the author. A vital ingredient is comedy. The stories recognize and amplify the funny side of life, they are devoid of social comment. Instead they aim to uplift the spirit through humour. The twenty tales comprise quick, easy and rewarding reads, with which people of all ages, can readily relate. The Shortbread Tales provide ideal bedtime reads, travelling material, or waiting room companions. They are delivered with insight, and are well-crafted to entertain and amuse the reader. Cook’s tip: perfect for reading on a tea break. Serve with a cuppa and a shortbread biscuit. Bon appétit!
From preparatory school to graduation day she always doubted the suitability of her education for a career in offshore engineering. Apparently morning meetings on North Sea platforms are not conducted in Middle English. Never once was her opinion sought on the aftermath of the Peloponnesian wars.
She was, however, frequently asked: “Can you type?”
Eventually, she rose to head up her own department in an international offshore contracting company.
Many years a full-time mother followed, and has concluded.
Creativity, and a new challenge, were sought and found in writing. Thus the twenty short stories comprising The Shortbread Tales came to fruition.
Customer
Reviews
3 reviews
-
"The Shortbread Tales" all pack a powerful punch, by delivering on the key elements that make a compelling thought-provoking story. You are transported to 'other worlds' & meet well-defined characters on the way.
Many of the tales contain a message for the reader.
All the stories take a different angle on humour & strange situations. The use of words, & economy with them, keep the pace moving swiftly.
I just like the fact that anyone in the household can read the tales. Nothing offensive contained. Entertainment value abounds.
-
Does what it says on the tin. Entertains, amuses and it is a well-written text. I loved the note of nostalgia too!
I never guessed a single ending, as the final twist is always a complete surprise.
The 20 tales were like being on holiday, both refreshing &invigorating. The Shortbread Tales deserves to be a success.
The book has also solved my Christmas present problem in one go!
-
As it says on the back cover, here are twenty short tales to accompany a good cup of tea (or coffee!), set in a variety of locations. Varying in length from one page to the slightly more lengthy 10 pages, there should be a tale to suit any time frame.
Slightly old-fashioned with hints of a world gone by, my favourite tale is the perfectly formed one page "Tiger Balm"...
Enjoy over short Winter days, cosied up by the fire with a good cup of tea and some shortbread to hand.
Write a Review
