One Morning in Provence
Out now: ten compelling stories set in inspiring French locations
My second collection of short stories is out now! Ebook available, paperback to come.
Ten tales of French journeys and unexpected destinations
‘Her paintings sang of sun, of cicadas, of light on hot stone, of the silvery undersides of olive leaves and the dazzling zing of lemons.’
The sensory richness of France unlocks unexpected truths for those who travel there. A stressed-out publicist learns what getting away really means. A divorcee’s new happiness bewilders her friends. A woman’s dream holiday rental turns to nightmare. Unhappy couples fantasise about new passion. A young girl is transformed by wonder on her first trip abroad. Pain strikes an older woman, in a landscape of impossible perfection. A widower finally understands the consolation of art, unlike the artist who has spent his life denying it.
In these evocative stories flawed people are ambushed by hopes, regrets and longings. Inspired by the breathtaking beauty around them, can they change their lives?
“The olive trees are dancing. I can picture them out there like enchanted princesses, holding their branches over their heads, sashaying.
Above my head, something scratches. She’ll say it’s a squirrel.”
— Squirrels
“She’s there every morning, with her child.”
Didi on the Balcony
“He is lean as a wolf and has the same unnervingly steady stare. For two pins she would launch herself across the table at him.”
The House on the Road to Lourmarin
“She was at the open door of a new reality, gazing at the white limestone ridge of the Luberon, listening to the rustle and patter of laurel leaves, inhaling the scent of cedar.”
One Morning in Provence
“I don’t know if it’s nerves. It’s curiosity, certainly. It’s a kind of anger.”
When You See Him, Tell Him
“At last he enters the final room. He halts on the threshold, in shock.”
Every Picture Tells a Story
“He groaned quietly. Why had they messed with what they had?”
The Sand Whale
What people are saying about One Morning in Provence
-
"Read them for a journey of your own to France, read them for the ache of flawed humanity, for the humour or for the aha moment when we are show the missing piece of the puzzle and understand the story better. They linger in the mind, like the best moments travelling."
Jean Gill
-
"A meticulously crafted selection of stories, set in France, sharing the impact of place on English visitors and the power of its stunning natural beauty and architecture to awaken greater self-awareness, purpose and determination. Read slowly to savour the gorgeous language, as well as to enjoy the vivid descriptions of place."
Debbie Young
-
"A wonderful sense of place, a sensory feast, gorgeous writing and insightful vignettes affording revelatory glimpses into the lives of British visitors there. Nothing twee about this - the stories pack a punch. A must read if you can't travel to France - it will take you there; and a must read if you are travelling - the perfect companion."
Clare Flynn
“The cliffs are rose red. They are strawberry pink. They are amber and honey and peach. Colours are vibrant enough to be psychedelic or they are muted in the violet shadows. Sally thinks that if those cliffs had sentience they would bask in the worship like gods, knowing they deserve the homage of beige little people merely passing through.”
— The Ochre Path