Gentle, hopeful short stories about girls and women finding their way to who they have always been, and the kind people who help them. Every story is non-explicit, and every one starts free to read here.
New book
In Her Own Time
Ten gentle stories of quiet courage
A bell above a shop door, a borrowed cardigan, a ring in a pawn-shop window, an autumn walk. Ten stories of finding the nerve, one small step at a time, and the kind people who make it easier.
Kindle eBook & paperback
Also available
Something of Her Own
Nine gentle stories of first steps
A bridesmaid’s dress, a netball bib, a borrowed skirt, a name said quietly for the first time. Nine first steps, and the kind people who make room for them.
Kindle eBook & paperback
Also available
Finding Herself
Five sweet and sentimental stories of gender, discovery and acceptance
Five people. Five quiet turning points. And the kind, unexpected souls who help each of them step into the light.
Kindle eBook & paperback
Latest story
Fresh from the writing desk
Stories
28 stories- The Pampered Granddaughter Robin answers a notice for garden help, misses the last train, and is welcomed into Edmund and Margaret’s home.
- Callum Discovers Callie – Spirit In Motion When a cheer squad flyer is hurt, Callum, who has quietly learned every routine, is offered a chance to try out.
- Daniel Discovers Danielle – A Lost Luggage Story Daniel reaches Aunt Sarah’s with the wrong holdall, full of a girl’s things, and she gently offers him Kirsty’s.
- A Shopping Expedition Brian drives thirty miles to Beatrice’s Ladies Fashions, determined this time to walk in rather than past.
- Ben Becomes Beth: The New Ball Girl Ben longs to be part of Easthaven’s tennis tournament, but it’s ball girls only, until his friend Katy has an idea.
- Aunt Claire’s – The Pink Teacup Secret At Aunt Claire’s, Steven always reaches for the pink rosebud teacup, and her knowing smile says she understands.
- The Autumn Walk A charcoal skirt, a burgundy jumper, ankle boots: in the mirror at last, she is whole and real, ready to step out.
- Schoolgirl Daydreaming Lying on his bed at dusk, a boy daydreams of one ordinary school day with friends, lived as the girl he truly is.
- The Dress Shop on Albany Street After twenty-eight years of hiding, Scott walks into a boutique on Albany Street and admits the dress is for him.
- My Charity Shop Trips – The Blue Dress Too shy for the high street, a nineteen-year-old visits charity shops week after week, edging nearer the dresses.
- A Quiet Courage – The Black Dress Late at night, when courage comes easier behind a screen, a long, soft dress from the sales goes in the basket.
- The Right Kind of Normal Roped in to make up numbers on the sports day netball court, quiet Jamie scores a goal and, for once, feels right.
- The Ring in the Window Elliot hides his small silver treasures in a tin, until a shy, simple ring in a pawn-shop window draws him inside.
- The Wardrobe at Wisteria Cottage Spending the summer at his late gran’s cottage, Eli finds an old wardrobe full of pretty things waiting for him.
- The Sleepover Secret At a midnight sleepover Mia does Kit’s eyeliner for a laugh, yet in the mirror he looks more like himself.
- The Wardrobe That Knows Jacob inherits Great-Aunt Hester’s tall wardrobe, and one night it holds clothes in his size, and a blue blouse.
- The Wedding Emergency When a bridesmaid falls ill, Aunt Carol has a plan for Luke: he’s tall, he’s slim, and the dress is a twelve.
- The Skirt Mandate Tom agrees to wear a skirt to support the girls shivering in class, but his mum’s navy skirt stirs something more.
- Schoolgirl Daydreaming: Cheer Version In a quiet evening daydream, a boy wakes as Emma, with cheer practice after school and a feeling of coming home.
- The Pink Sweater Nathan crosses the invisible line into the women’s section of a high street shop, where a soft pink sweater waits.
- Rosemary’s Dress Shop Every Saturday Allan takes the bus to Ashton to gaze at the dresses in Rosemary’s window, longing to step inside.
- The Pretty Things Gran Violet hands Alfie a soft blue sweatshirt covered in bonneted rabbits, and something warm begins to flutter.
- The Girl in the French Book In French, Daniel reads the part of Sophie and can’t stop gazing at the drawing of the girl in the red jumper.
- The Clothes Swap Challenge An online challenge has Edward swapping clothes with Amelia, and to his surprise, the navy skirt feels just right.
- The School Swap Day When St Aidan’s holds a charity swap day, Alison signs up her best mate Sam, who feels a stir he can’t yet name.
- A Night at the Shopping Centre Locked in the shopping centre overnight, Owen has the moonlit shops to himself, and the lavender jumper he’s eyed.
- Something of His Own Andrew tags along to Sophie’s sewing club purely as moral support, then discovers a real gift for the needle.
- School's Out for Gabriella When a computer mix-up enrols Gabriel at a seaside school as Gabriella, cousin Zoe’s idea could change everything.