Bert felt jealous, cheated on, and blue. Then he discovered he could morph into a giant nightmarish slug... Would you like a FREE copy? On Wednesdays and Sundays I’m blogging nibble-sized chunks of new ‘Life in the Clouds’ novellas. You can check in regularly and read them bit for bit, or leave a message in my 'contact' page, and I'll send the entire digital story to you for free when published. Life in the Clouds #6: Take a Slug ® James Field. |
Olive re-locked the bookcase and ambled upstairs. In the small bedroom at the front of the upper hall, she’d left an electric light burning. Smart thinking: a prowler in the night might have judged from this ever-glowing light that someone was home. The bedroom was Spartan: an iron bed, one straight chair, a washstand where she scrubbed her face clean from makeup, and a heavy oak chest of drawers.
She scrambled to unlock the lowest drawer, tugged it open, and gathered a wrinkled, shiny dress of black. Then she found a pair of thick black stockings and black shoes. To cover her head, she chose a modest black bonnet. Finally, she singled out a demure and baggy cardigan, a black lacy shawl, and a cheap and pitiable wig with unkempt hair of a withered brown. She stripped off her fashionable slacks and blouse and changed into those gloomy garments. As she donned the wig, the corners of her mouth drooped. Leaving the light on and her own clothes dumped on the bed, she descended the stairs. She was not the same woman who’d climbed them. Her features were like Olive, but distinctly less healthy, attractive, and agreeable, and she radiated the sorrow and deep thoughts of a God-fearing dreamer. Now she was not Olive, but Olive’s twin sister, Penelope, hermit and religious fanatic. To be continued… The real world: Rather than miss an instalment, it’s easy to follow my blog on bloglovin’. They’ll give you a friendly nudge as I release new parts. Like to know more about Alf, Bert and the rest of the gang? You can read their chaotic history in What on Earth. -
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James Field
Talvik, Norway You can also Find me on subscribe to get a free copy
![]() My rating: 2 of 5 stars There’s a lot to like and a lot to dislike in this story. I like that it’s cosy, funny, and heart-warming. The plot, however, is a tragedy. There are two murders, and every character in the book, of which there are many, has a motif. With so many twists, turns, and red herrings throughout the narrative, it lost me in a virtual maze. But the author commits the gravest crime: he introduces a new, guilty character right at the end of the story. Tut, tut, naughty. View all my reviews Archives
August 2022
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