You have been given an old fashioned advent calendar. It contains no chocolate, just twenty-five doors. Every day in December you open a door and find a picture representing Christmas-time. What if each of those pictures had a story to tell?

This is a collection of stories about Christmas. Family Christmases, mysterious Christmases, lonely Christmases. The Christmases as they should be, as they sometimes are and how they might be. Funny, fantastical, thought-provoking. A story for every day for advent.

Just when you thought it was safe to celebrate…

December AD 192 The oldest bonds are the hardest severed.

When Fabio’s aunt Lucretia flexes her match-making muscles, he seeks escape from a marriage to shy, bored Adriane. Luckily, his friend Petros needs help investigating a possible rebellion in Vademlutra. All Fabio has to do is pretend to be poor and keep his wits about him. Certain there’s nothing to investigate, Fabio settles down for a week in the tavern until a lost young woman in the woods captivates him. Where is she from and why is she so keen to die? 

Unaware of Fabio’s whereabouts, Lucretia has her own reasons for being in Vademlutra. Hoping to enjoy a little flirting and a lot of money-making, she’s about to meet her match on both fronts and must scheme more than ever if she has any chance of keeping what’s rightfully hers. 

As the town is cut off by snow, Dun the erstwhile grave-robber becomes convinced that diversifying was a bad idea. But it takes an unexpected death to reveal a decades-old web of deceit and manipulation which threatens to engulf the whole town and make Adriane find enough courage to become involved. 

Who is behind the rebellion? And if they have blood on their hands, who is the next victim? 

As Roman Saturnalia passes and the darker traditions of winter solstice approach, Fabio, Petros, Adriane and Dun must put aside their differences and work together to save not only another life but the whole town from Roman retribution.

Ritual sacrifice, or planned murder?

Jade’s new-age shop is thriving. But when she decides to photograph the winter solstice sunrise at the local stone circle she finds something much less attractive: a dead body, badly beaten, on a stone altar.

The body is identified as that of Richard Baines, a local with his own IT business. But who killed him, and why?

Suspicion immediately falls on the local pagan community, but something about the body bothers Jade, who confides in her friend Fi. Is everything what it seems?

The pair have their own ideas, but the police are less than interested – and as the case remains unsolved, Jade’s involvement puts her under suspicion and her business at risk.

Can Jade and Fi uncover the truth – and convince the town they’re right?

Opposites attract – or do they?

Merwoman Shirena has no intention of letting any man get the better of her – though that doesn’t stop her having fun. But when she saves a young girl from drowning, she has no idea what’s in store.

Widower Ben’s just moved to the magical seaside town of Lulmouth Bay. His daughter’s magical skills are blossoming, to the point of danger. Ben hopes the training at Lulmouth will help Gracie control her magic, because he can’t. But fitting it around his IT job is proving difficult.

Shirena’s looking for a side hustle, since her family’s boat tour business earns just enough to keep them. Soon, she’s acting as Gracie’s childminder and swimming coach to get herself some fun money.

Shirena’s skills and confidence unnerve Ben. Ben’s job and seriousness bore Shirena. Yet as they get to know each other, they become friends.

Then a crisis leaves Shirena in charge of the family business, which is failing fast, and Ben offers to help. Their closeness sparks new feelings – but will they survive the pressure?

Can a merwoman and a computer whiz find their sweet spot?

A Tale of Sea and Sirens is the second – but standalone – book in the Lulmouth Bay fantasy romcom series.

1890s London

Now you see it, now you don’t!

When Katherine and Connie, proprietors of the Caster & Fleet Detective Agency, hear from an old music-hall acquaintance just before Christmas, they expect nothing more than a good night out. However, the eerie noises and mysterious figures at the Merrymakers Music Hall are causing consternation among audience and actors alike. 

Meanwhile, Katherine and Connie have their own domestic mysteries to solve. Why is Katherine’s father leaving his belongings all over London? And why has Connie’s daughter gone silent? Add the difficulties of present-buying, and the detective duo are distinctly ruffled. 

Can Katherine and Connie solve the mystery and calm all the restless spirits – including their own – before the curtain falls and Christmas is ruined?

In a parallel universe, dragons are used for fuel and the people who understand them are feared as spies and traitors. Dorissa and Menilly, estranged sisters descended from the dragon-people, are desperate to find their runaway brother before he falls victim to the urban underworld. But the mysterious Mr Beringer believes they are the only key to saving the country from revolution. Who can be trusted in a fog-bound city, which simmers with unrest and deceit?

Seven short Christmas stories. A little nostalgia, a little mystery, a little magic, a little romance. For the characters, Christmas is about to change everything.