Minor Discord | fiction-in-a-flash

Discord

~The Ferryman~

Only the ferryman knows what happens at the lake at night

~The Visitors~

Apart from Rodney and friends, who else is visiting The Watermill on Christmas Eve?

~Shades of Black~

Being buried with a bell surely brings peace of mind

~Cold Comfort~

Marcie returns to her childhood home with her mother's urn

~The Kite-Maker~

A craftsman like no other...

~Soul Control~

Lucifer and gabriel have their annual get-together

~Too Much~

A desert trek is thirsty work

~Losers Weepers~

A coastal hermit finds a doll on the beach

~The Stick Man~

A recluse takes his revenge on the bullies

~Cloud-Face~

The perfect murder

~Spectre-cle~

After curtain down, the show continues

~Bluebell Wood~

Something sinister is on the hunt for the weak

~Expectations~

Being a teenager can often result in misunderstanding

~Breaking the Habit~

Sister Marguerite has left the convent, and look how her garden grows

~Attraction~

A ghost rides the carousel

~Curiosity~

A shop called Curiosity. Worth a Look?

~Glazed~

Aged and vacant

~Taking Flight~

Games in the underground after dark

~The Offering~

A typewriter in the cellar tells a story

~A Stitch in Time~

An unfinished Victorian sampler requires attention

~Bare~

Edward has Writer's Block

~Kidnapped~

A teacher is held captive by a former pupil

~The Last Place~

An appointment with death - in the supermarket freezer

~Charming Residents~

A new home and an old resident

~Birds~

Marked by death

~Dead Silence~

Revenge is vacuum-shaped

~All the Fun of the Fair~

A mother searches for her lost son

~Like Blackfly on a Rose~

Brother Barnabus's suffering

~Drop-Dead Gorgeous~

Morris Braithwaite falls in love with an unlikely soul

~He should have worn a scarf~

Don't mess with witches

~From Alpha to Omega~

A story using each consecutive letter of the alphabet

~Cold Heart~

A carer gets a shock

~Paper Dreams~

A misdiagnosis

~Searching~

What is that under the willow?

~Molly~

Molly finds being a step-sister impossible

~White Light~

A soul prepares to leave a body

~Vita Destabilis~

Orchestrating a murder just needs a careful plan

~Two’s Company~

Jealousy between twins and a doll called Marianne

~Dishing it Out~

As they say, revenge is a dish served cold (or hot)

And what did readers think?

Easily digestible in my busy life to read short stories and what a treat does Helen deliver!story after story of plot, surprise and such well developed characters.

There is something for everyone in this book even a Christmas tale which I love but am anxious not to spoil. I am a huge fan and highly recommended this book the author will not disappoint.

Beautifully haunting

'This book was a page turner for me, and kept me reading for longer than intended into the dark hours'

'...there were times when... I had to pause and re-read simply for the enjoyment of the imagery they conjured (e.g. White Light).'

'The overall feel of the writing here is surreal and creepy, borderline horror.'

'... quirky, eerie tales that collude with the darker side of story telling.'

'I have purposefully declined from using the word...twisted, though on the, QT, I think it should be in there somewhere.'

'Helen Laycock's creative talent shines through...; her skills and creativity are to be admired.'

'With settings that curl around you and touch you on the shoulder, characters who look up and stare you in the eye, and plots that take you down roads you never expected to travel... along byways that make you ask "how the hell did I get HERE?", Helen Laycock shows us that length doesn't matter. It's always all about the story... and the talent of the writer.'

'These are stories you read, then reconsider and read again, and again. They range from macabre to romantic to heartbreaking with a few that probably shouldn't be read at all when you're home alone at midnight with the only light staring up at you from your e-reader. Delicious.'

'Laycock's use of vivid imagery makes the stories an immersive read, and she manages to say a lot with very few words--a truly remarkable accomplishment.'

'Laycock provides a wide variety that will satisfy anyone who loves short stories. Most of the stories are dark, bizarre, and deliciously creepy; a few are lighter but just as captivating. '

'This book perfectly illustrates my contention that the short story is an art form, and a much-underappreciated one at that.'

'Another thing I enjoyed about this collection is the author's gift for conveying imagery.'

'I cannot say which was my favourite - there were too many!'

'...reading the many stories that make up Minor Discord was a challenge, and it is one that I have enjoyed.'

'...all well written & so easy to get into.'

'...a gamut of emotion...'

'This didn't disappoint!'

'The characters and scenery are well presented...allowing the characters to take you on their amazing journey...'

'Birds...death as a stalker in his personalised black car, really good story.
Cold Comfort...A spooky love story, enjoyed this & could have read a full book about this.
Soul Control...Lucifer & Gabriel, straight away this was a story for me, it was funny & bizarre right up my street, again, BOOK!
A Stitch in Time...an unfinished sampler causes a couple of problems, intriguing story.
Drop Dead Gorgeous...A really creepy story, skin crawling & freaky!'

'...wonderful twists and turns as in Expectations and Cold Comfort. And then the darker tales, The Last Place and Two's Company, just the thought of that doll, ugh :( and then the brilliant tale, loved this, Taking Flight. These are a few that stuck in my mind.'

'...delighted to have purchased this collection of short stories and flash fiction.'