Tag: Dorset

Flash Review of Gail Aldwin’s Anthology

Gail Aldwin’s Paisley Shirt

I had no idea what to expect from an anthology entitled ‘Paisley Shirt’. I drifted along with the words and became hooked.  Enigma, shock and a wry smile accompanied me as I read these stories.  Each evening, I sipped another story and savoured the unanswered questions.  I searched beyond the words and entered the territory of the unsaid.  As I travelled in the gaps between the words, I admired the meaning squeezed into the story. Even the child’s perspective temps the reader with the innocent gaps in the narration.

‘Stepping back as the glass shatters, his blood speckles the paintwork.’

Some stories are presented as vivid a flash of emotion whispered in black and white tones while other stories are sounded in blast of colour.  Aldwin explores: love, domestic violence, families, political asylum, memories, loneliness, divorce, other cultures and more.  She is not afraid to challenge her reader and is skilled at presenting economical use of dialogue.  This compressed narrative form showcases Aldwin’s poetic style. To unravel each story would spoil the surprise for future readers.

‘The gift is an entry into his world.’

Tension spins in the narratives like a storm waiting for the finale, but the reader often must imagine the conclusion.  Aldwin writes,

‘And there was something tuneful about Australia.  Sitting on the veranda at night, listening to the rhythm of the cicadas or hearing the wind ripple through the gumtree that build to a crescendo when the storm came.’

Here in ‘Blue Skies’, Aldwin captures the way I felt when reading the flash fiction.  Even the titles of the story add to the compressed meaning of the narrative form. Indeed, one must have blue sky thinking to appreciate flash fiction and look into the characters’ world.

Indeed, one must have blue sky thinking to appreciate flash fiction and look into the characters’ world.

As a tribute to Gail’s writing, I have presented words that left images on my mind.  Images presented throughout the post are a snapshot of emotions that flashed in my mind long after reading. The poetic quality of this writing conjures powerful images, and I hope they will tempt you to read on.

The stories have also inspired me to experiment with this genre and have enjoyed reading the language into shape.  Indeed, Gail explained:

‘I write every day and love to see my stories change direction and become more textured through redrafting and editing.’

“‘If she lives it will be thanks to God’, said the doctor, ‘If she dies, she will not be alone.’”

About the Anthology

‘Paisley Shirt‘ is a fascinating collection of 27 stories that reveal the extraordinary nature of people and places. Through a variety of characters and voices, these stories lay bare the human experience and what it is like to live in our world.

 

 

 

Gail Aldwin

About the Author:

Gail Aldwin is a prize-winning writer of flash fiction, short stories, and poetry. Her work can be found online at Ink, Sweat & Tears and Slamchop and in print anthologies including What I Remember (EVB Press, 2015) Dorset Voices (Roving Press, 2012) and The Last Word (Unbound Press, 2012). Gail works collaboratively with other women writers to develop comedy for the screen and stage. With the Dorset Writers’ Network, Gail supports isolated writers in rural communities. She is an experienced teacher who delivers workshops to young people and adults in community settings.

You can find Gail @gailaldwin and http://gailaldwin.wordpress.com

Please see all my book reviews at Books In Handbag and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

 

Gail Aldwin’s Debut Novel: The String Games

I was honoured when Gail Aldwin sent me a postcard about ‘The String Games’.

Presenting an author’s debut novel is one of the great privileges of blogging, and I was honoured when Gail Aldwin sent me a postcard about The String Games. This debut novel is to be published later this month by Victorina Press. Gail’s poetic style of writing is charged with emotion and appeals to me.  I look forward to reading her debut novel to discover how she has painted the complex emotions involved in the challenging narrative.

Without further ado, I will hand over to my lovely guest, Dr Gail Aldwin.

I have long been a fan of Jessie’s writing (You Can’t Go It Alone is a super novel with memorable characters) and Jessie’s blog (always love being introduced to new writers) so I am delighted to be offered a post to celebrate the launch of my debut novel The String Games which will be published by Victorina Press later in May 2019.

About The String Games

The String Games is Gail Aldwin’s debut novel

When four-year-old Josh is abducted and murdered during a family holiday in France, Nim, aged ten, becomes an only child. To cope with the tragedy, Nim reinvents herself but continues to carry a burden of unresolved grief. As an adult she returns to France determined to find out more about the circumstances of Josh’s death. How will she deal with this new information and what are the implications for her future?

I love the variety of posts on Jessie’s blog and thought I’d take the opportunity to share an extract from the novel that brings food and unforeseen consequences together. Nim narrates the story of the holiday she shares with her brother and her mother, Jenny. Joining them at the caravan is Jenny’s lover Dee and her six-year-old daughter, Ella. In charge of the little kids, Nim takes them to the campsite shop to buy ice-creams:

When it was their turn to be served, Josh bashed his finger at the glass cabinet, pointing to the vanilla. It might be easy to read words in French but it wasn’t so easy to talk. Nim nodded at the lady and stuck three fingers in the air. It was easiest to order the same flavour but that didn’t stop Ella from moaning. She was lucky to have an ice cream at all, seeing as Dad’s money was meant for Nim and Josh. When the first cone was topped with a white wig, Nim passed it to Josh and the next went to Ella. When the last one arrived, Nim gave the lady the money.

‘Non, non, non!’ The assistant shook her head and wagged a finger.

Nim stood there. The little children licked their cones while ice cream ran onto Nim’s hand. What was the matter?

‘Zis English.’ The assistant spat the words.

‘Yes.’

‘Non, non, non!’

‘Is something wrong?’ It was a relief to hear an English voice. The man had a tanned forehead and lines showed on his cheeks when he smiled.

‘I don’t know,’ said Nim. ‘My dad gave me the money as a going away present.’

‘He should’ve given you francs. Never mind. Let me get these.’ He passed the assistant a brown note and returned the five pounds to Nim. ‘Save that for a treat when your holiday’s over – you can spend it back in the UK.’

‘I’m not sure.’

‘It’s not a problem. Let me do you a favour. Your dad would do the same in this situation, I’m sure.’

‘Hmm.’ Nim didn’t know what to say. She’d been told not to talk to strangers, but it was too late. Josh crunched the last of his cone.

‘What’s your name?’ asked Josh.

‘Shush,’ said Nim. Josh had been warned as well, but the man didn’t look like a stranger. He wore a shiny top, and Nim hoped Josh wasn’t going to say anything about football shirts.

‘I’m Geoff,’ he said.

‘What’s your job?’ said Josh. ‘And where did you get that shirt?’

‘Too many questions,’ said Nim.

‘Don’t worry. I know what boys are like. I’ve got nephews. They’re toddlers at the moment but I bet they’ll be the same as Josh one day.’

‘When I was little, I wanted to be a tractor,’ said Josh. ‘But now I want to be a policeman.’

‘Interesting career choice,’ said Geoff.

‘We live at Sank-on-Seas,’ said Josh.

‘Sank-on-Seas?’ Geoff repeated.

‘He means fifty-six in English,’ Nim corrected, but realising she’d probably said too much, she elbowed Josh. ‘We need to go.’

‘Goodbye.’ Josh scampered to the steps, where he turned.

‘You can come to my place any time you want ice cream. My freezer is full of it,’ said Geoff. ‘Just look for the caravan with the yellow door along the road from here.’

‘Okay.’ Josh skipped down the steps.

This is the postcard Gail sent me from Dorset. I’ll certainly take care if I ever need to walk on the bridge.

When Josh goes missing later in the novel, suspicions about Geoff are raised and Nim shoulders feelings of responsibility for bringing the two of them together.

Praise for The String Games

The String Games takes hold of the reader and the juncture of the head and the heart and simply does not let go. With courage and tenderness, and an unblinking eye, Gail Aldwin explores the ways in which the loss of a child explodes a family. Treat yourself and read this one.

JACQUELYN MITCHARD, bestselling author of THE DEEP END OF THE OCEAN

About Gail Aldwin

Gail co-writes short plays and comedy sketches that have been staged in Bridport, Brighton and Salisbury. She also performs her work at fringe festivals in the South-West.

Gail Aldwin’s published work includes Adversaries/Comrades, a poetry pamphlet (Wordsmith_HQ, 2019) and a collection of short fiction Paisley Shirt (Chapeltown Books, 2018) which was longlisted in the Saboteur Awards 2018. Gail co-writes short plays and comedy sketches that have been staged in Bridport, Brighton and Salisbury. She also performs her work at fringe festivals in the South-West. The String Games is her debut novel.

Twitter:              @gailaldwin
Facebook:          https://www.facebook.com/gailaldwinwriter/
Blog:                  The Writer is a Lonely Hunter

Gail’s anthology of flash fiction entitled Paisley Shirt captivated and moved me.  In the future, I will blog the flash fiction Gail’s work anthology inspired me to write.  I am excited to discover how Gail will stretch my imagination with The String Games.

 

Please see all my guests’ posts at Mail from the Creative Community and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.

A copy of my novel can be found here.