Charlotte and the Monster by Wendy Beasley, illustrated by Hugh Gatenby

 

Marty is a monster who's scared when he should be the scary one 

Charlotte is a little girl who cares about others. Will she and her friends, the fairies, be able to help Marty? And what about the boy who is spoiling Mr Clarke's Garden? Why is he doing that? There's a lot for Charlotte to sort. 

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This is a captivating read for young children, with plenty of pace and current themes that are relevant to today's youngsters. It's a tale of knowing right from wrong, fairness and the joy of doing the right thing. Those fairies are definitely 'sorted' and not all monsters are bad!

Youngsters will be believers in magic with this modern fairy tale featuring the Wonderful Wide Web, real magic bubbles, Beaming Eyes and holograms. Set in ordinary lives and families, Wendy Beasley makes sure her readers can identify with her characters and their very real experiences of both love and care, but also the challenges of self-image, loneliness and bullying. These are written from within the safety of the imaginative fairy story, where all is redeemed and good prevails. There is wildlife and the friendship of a devoted dog, and a wealth of magic for all! Highly recommended!

Yes, it's official – Marty is my new favourite monster! This is a thoughtful and endearing read, sprinkled with magic and full of wisdom. Charlotte and her adventures show us the importance of tolerance, kindness and friendship whilst exploring the trials and difficulties we face in life – loneliness, bullying and fragile self-esteem in an image-obsessed world.  

  

Where the Heart is by Jim Bates

 

The uneventful lives of everyday people?

Look again. Captivating characters entertain and delight us as we read their stories that are deep, rich and interesting. The reader is introduced to everyday people whose lives are seemingly uneventful on the outside but are captivating and colourful nevertheless.

You will certainly find the heart in Jim Bates’ uplifting collection, Where the Heart Is.

Many of the stories in this collection have appeared before in CafeLit, the Pure Slush Lifetime Anthologies, Periodic Stories volumes Two and IV, and various Bridge House Anthologies.

RRP Paperback  £9.50

Kindle £2.25

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• It's always a pleasure to read Jim’s books, and his new collection, 'Where the Heart Is and Other Stories', is no exception.
  
  As usual, Jim gives us very strong characters. They're all unique, with true souls, regardless of their gender, age, or background. This ability to bring each character to life shows what a versatile writer he is.
  
  The stories themselves are a great mix, just like his previous work. Some are humorous and full of energy, while others are more thoughtful and nostalgic, making for a truly exciting read.
  
  My favorite story here is probably "The Painting." Its uniqueness truly blew my mind. It offered the main character a wonderful escape from reality, and I felt like I was right there with him.
  
  All the stories are top-notch. Highly recommended!
  

  
  

  other collection of gems from the prolific Jim Bates. An eclectic mix, I enjoyed each and every story. Highly recommended.

  
  

 

Shhh! by Matthew Roy Davey

 

Welcome to the flash fiction library where the shelves are groaning with bitesize fiction.

Libraries are quiet places, ordered places, places of intellect, culture and civilisation. But hiding inside are words that can explode like bombs, words to anger and appal, to titillate and tease, words to amuse and entertain. Which will you choose to read first?

Matthew Roy Davey offers us a wealth of bijou tales in his perfectly formed Shhh!

RRP Paperback £9.00

RRP Kindle £2.25

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A well crafted and conceptualised experience. Troubling and traumatic though it often is.

 

I was eagerly awaiting Davey’s next book, and this brilliant compilation of short stories did not disappoint. A wild array of beautifully realised tales, told in Davey’s own distinctive style. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Davey has transformed the tranquil setting of a library into a playground for explosive storytelling. Each tale, though small in word count, contains wit, surprise, and emotional punch.

The Best of CafeLit 14

 

This year, one of our experienced editors, Amanda Jones, selected the stories. We aimed to find between 3000 and 4000 words for each month. Sometimes we had one long story, other times several shorter ones. As with the e-zine for these, we look for a combination of shorter and longer stories, darker and more humorous ones, a few uplifting tales, and others that make you think, and we also like to showcase a variety of authors, including old friends and newcomers.

Each story in this little volume is the right length and quality for enjoying as you sip the assigned drink in your favourite Creative Café. You need never feel alone again in a café. So what’s the mood today? Espresso? Earl Grey tea? Hot chocolate with marshmallows? You'll find most drinks in our drinks index.

 

RRP paperback £11.00 

Kindle £2.25 

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Great reading .   

 

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Contributors: 

Katherine Abbott, Justin Aylward, Michael Barrington, Stephen Bridger, Lynn Clement, Niall  Crowley, Kate Durant, Steve Gerson, Elsie Glassman, Monica Goertzen Hertlein, Sandra Horn, Claire Jaggard, Gill James, Maria Kinnersley, Olaf Laaman, Mike Lee, Henry Lewi, Peter Lingard, Clare Martin, Madelein McDonald, Mia McNamara, Rob Molan, Jane Mooney, Linda Morse, Dana G Nadeau, Hannah Retallick, Judith Skilleter,Sally Storr, Laura Sukonik, Rick Vick,Frank Zahn,