Welcome!
Here resides a collection of my short stories, bravely exposed to the criticisms of the world. Given that I’m an aspiring author, I had to start sharing them at some point.
Get comfortable and, please, peruse at your leisure the stories originally and ironically called ‘tales of woe’ – far from it, they’re actually pretty thrilling (I’m completely unbiased).
Harmless Escapism:
Meet Vance Howler, freelance detective extraordinaire, as he battles the challenges of the ‘Harmless Escapism‘ series. Each part embroils our hero in a new, explosive adventure, against the backdrop of his mysterious arch-nemesis deviously plotting some unknown catastrophe…
‘Harmless Escapism‘ is just that – variably light-hearted and pulse-raising, witty and gritty. Escape your woes with these scintillating stories:
Part III:
Part IV:
Part V:
Curated Favourites:
Short on time? Want a quick and striking 5 minute read? Try selecting one of these top picks:
The March of the Midges
An impossibly vast carpet of blue melted into the distant horizon, the cloudless sky bleeding almost imperceptibly into the water. From here, the sea appeared everything that was. Coated by a shimmering sheen, the waves had journeyed thousands of unbroken miles…
Sleeping the deep, deep sleep of England
Whilst enjoying a quiet evening in their new home, a couple are suddenly struck by a horrifying realisation…
The Face in the Mirror
Ever felt that creeping sensation of being watched? Appearances are not what they seem. When a man’s reflection becomes possessed by its own life force, he is compelled to embark upon a journey of discovery, testing the limits of his bravery.
‘Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended’
Feeling my vision blur, I quickly lifted a glass to my face. A desperate attempt to conceal the awkward moisture now pooling in my eyes, to hide the innocent tears that might scar my blemished cheeks. It was already empty. Instinctively,…
Don’t miss!
‘The Pier‘ – Alone, questioning his existence, one man is forced to endure the haunting trials of murder and betrayal. Throughout his attempts to escape, having inadvertently witnessed horrific scenes, the compulsion of the pier inevitably draws him back for a fateful conclusion…
More stories are always coming soon. Vance Howler might be lying low, but he won’t be gone for long… Other quick reads will be available in the coming weeks. As always, these gems are still marinating in my brain…
Hopefully they captivate and inspire, or at least entertain.
Enjoy reading! I regularly post short stories, travel blogs and contemporary commentaries, so stay tuned!
Why not check out the latest blog posts?
The ultimate victor is ‘sportswashing’
The 2022 men’s Football World Cup has finally drawn to a close, after several weeks of inane and underwhelming sport, where the greatest moments of excitement and controversy came off the pitch. Yes, Argentina won the tournament, but it would be difficult to crown any true champion other than the phenomenon of ‘sportswashing’. Spoken…
Me Time – a spectacularly weak entry into the buddy comedy genre
That pretty much summarises it all. Were it not for Kevin Hart repeatedly shouting the film’s title, you might forget which mediocre Netflix original was filling the space on your screen. Me Time unites Kevin Hart and Mark Wahlberg as the two leads, though neither develop their characters beyond their existing personas. The plot, if…
Our relationship with the environment must fundamentally change
I’ve been outside of the UK, but that hasn’t left me ignorant to the oppressive heatwave searing the country just weeks ago. Or perhaps a month ago. I actually have been distracted and have lost touch with domestic events. Anyway, historically, the heatwave was incredibly unusual. It should have been perceived as an alarming, panic-inducing,…
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Much as I want to be heard, I also want to listen. If you have any thoughts, I’m contactable either through the comment box below, or on Twitter and Instagram – I try to be active on all fronts.
Tom's Tales of Woe 
Leave a comment