The Fiction Shelf

A brief, intimate poem about a close moment shared. Sentimental and sensual, this poem revels in the tactile nature of relationships.

With similar themes to Latin elegy like Ovid and Catullus, this poem accurately and honestly examines the dichotomy of love.

A short tale that captures the giddiness and excitement of the ‘chase’, the elation of getting that first laugh and the fall towards love – but also cautions against the blurred perceptions offered by alcohol.

A poem that, for all its personal intentions, is intensely physical. It reads like an attempt to describe intangible feelings through vision, touch and sight and is aesthetically very accomplished.

In this short, unconventional family drama, the writer accurately captures the stress of managing an ensemble cast in a crowded relationship. When it gets too much, the hapless Eric must leave. But running away means leaving everything.

Grandparents are living history and well worth exploring. History and humour stand side by side in this gently paced but wonderfully contained story of a cross‐generational road trip told through the pages of a child’s journal.

An American in Paris dives into the shabbily romantic world of art, bridges, love and politics. Engaging, expressive and entirely authentic, this story is a charming holiday to an iconic city in the recent past.

A strong narrative voice leads the reader deep into a tale of broken hearts, broken people, and broken relationships. Pooh Brooch is a short but affecting snip of a story, offering a brief and vivid window into two lives.