A collection of darkly humorous short stories. From supernatural intrigue to hauntings, to humour and weird romance, this anthology has something for everyone to enjoy.
Glimmer is a collection of compelling and darkly humorous stories from the author of Echoes from the Lost Ones. Seven tales of obsession, loss, redemption and hope are brought together in this unsettling and original anthology.
Nicola McDonagh's tales of mysterious liaisons, supernatural intrigue, deathly hauntings and disturbing fixations will enthral and unnerve the reader. Hidden secrets, forbidden urges, necromancy and a rebellious housewife dwell between the pages of this fascinating anthology.
Excerpt
I woke before dawn stretched out beside him. I saw his ribcage move up and down as he breathed, and watched the exhaled air from his nose and mouth leave trails of vapour that hung for a moment like frosty cobwebs before vanishing. He wriggled and pushed the bedclothes down.
It was the first time I had seen him in the flesh. His skin was white, and smooth as the skin on warm milk. Never knew a man could feel so soft. More used to rough hands grabbing, not knowing what they touched. He knew. At least I hoped so. Hard to tell. Been a while since I was in the company of a male.
Father doesn’t count. Besides, he wanted me gone. Married to anyone just so long as I was finally out of the house. Urged on by my unsympathetic parent, I allowed a host of degenerates to use me. I remember one that insisted I wear a mask to hide my somewhat muddy complexion. Outraged by the suggestion, I vowed that I would remain pure, much to my father’s annoyance.
I let suitor after suitor slip by. Hung around too long though. Lines and wrinkles deepened with each missed opportunity and I began to panic. Saw no choice but to take the next male that showed an interest in me. I put up with his clammy hands and cigar breath. Turned away when he picked his nose and rubbed it on the arm of the chair, and never once enquired what he was doing in the basement. I even agreed to the blindfold. Should have peeked. Would have saved myself a lot of bother.
All images of that grim time faded away when I looked at the room I was in. I propped myself against the bedpost to better view my surroundings. What a bed! Cast iron silver, with spiral bed posts that wound right up to the ceiling. I traced their twists and turns with my eyes and thought I was a Princess.
Slatted blinds fed strips of sunshine around the chamber, casting dark bars upon the parquet flooring. Imprisoning the world outside. I was glad to be so high up, away from the noise and hectic footsteps of the common crowd. Although quiet, I heard the wind moan around the rafters, sighing through the room like the whistling of a ghost. Goosebumps crept up my back and neck. Felt like death bone fingers.
The half-light crept around the apartment and exposed different nooks and crannies to my view. It was dark when he brought me here, dark when we lay down. I was curious about my new environment. I let my eyes explore and unearthed clues that solved themselves the more I spied. An attic once, I assume by the size of it. Wooden beams stained with age lined the ceiling and walls. On the polished oak floor, lay Persian rugs the colour of blood. I shivered. No wonder it was cold, all open the way it was. Bedroom, living room, kitchen in one big space. With a red lacquered wooden divider strategically placed to conceal the bathroom.
Professional Reviews
Love these short stories
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love these short stories 13 Feb 2014
By R T Worth
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a big fan of short stories; but writing them successfully is a unique skill, and Nicola McDonagh definitely has it. The stories here are well-crafted and told with verve. In particular 'On the Eighth Day' really gripped me with its dark occult-themed undertones, but there's something here for everyone. Thoroughly enjoyed.
The Shine of Glimmer
5.0 out of 5 stars 21 April 2014
By No Labels - See all my reviews
This review is from: Glimmer (Kindle Edition)
It was very difficult for me to pick an overall favorite out of this showcase of seven. Yet four of them really stood out for me: Glimmer, On the Eighth Day, Daub and Rousseau’s Suburban Jungle.
Glimmer spoke to me because it really played with the workings of the mind. Which was truly the reality: the character’s take or everyone else’s? The first line really set the ambiance: “The world will not end because I close my eyes.”
I absolutely love the richness of personification in On the Eighth Day. I can always appreciate when an author can take an inanimate object and give it human characteristics. It reminded me of what I tend to do with some elements of my poetry (fear, pain, happiness, and the like). I connected with it very strongly.
The spook element of Daub excited me. I’m a huge fan of psychological, thriller, and horror reads that are carried out well. Timing, dialogue, reactions, everything–very well placed. It was refreshing to have the type of short dark read that wasn’t overly predictable.
I was not sure what to make of Rousseau’s Suburban Jungle at first. That is the beauty of this author’s work. You don’t know what you’re going to get. Yet there were so many segments I liked about it. One was the banter between the saleslady and Esther about the print. Yet there are two more that stand out greater than that exchange.
The tenacity of Jenny the dog spoke volumes. She was the epitome of “Don’t mess with my master.” When Jenny got into action, I wish she would have bitten a bit more of that guy or even an additional appendage–if you get my drift. I also would have liked her to thrown in a bite towards the fakery known as Louise.
With all of her stories, there is a connective fabric. The author uses the reader’s mind as an easel and puts dots, splashes, and strokes of color along with deep incorporation of nature and locations. The end result took me away. The metaphorical richness was akin to the joy of childbirth in which a healthy, vibrant baby is the result.
Verdict: These snapshots of writing are lovely from start to finish. There is something in here for everyone. The only thing I would like to add is that the author should definitely write more short stories. There are some types of talent that are natural and others which are learned. Her use of language in this work is a testament that she is in fact a natural in the writing world. All of this gives this work 5 out of 5 stars!
Stories that allow th eimagination to roam
4.0 out of 5 stars Stories that allow th eimagination to roam, 9 July 2014
By Chris Harrison "chronologie" - See all my reviews
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Glimmer (Kindle Edition)
Seven short stories all with one thing in common: intrigue. As the title of this collection suggests Nicola McDonagh's seven tales shift in the light, never quite settling in tangible form. From the opening story, the eponymous Glimmer, to the final tale Rousseau Suburban Jungle you won't quite know where you're being taken by the narrative.
But don't take that as a criticism. McDonagh has absolute control over the writing and carefully leads the reader towards the final reveal. What you won't find at the end of these stories are final sentence 'gotchas' a la HP Lovecraft, but evocative conclusions that continue to drift after the page is turned.
Some of the stories are rooted in the real world, such as Scarecrow, Ernest Thirk and the aforementioned Glimmer, whilst others like The Reclaimed Merman and Daub are more uncanny, straggling the line between the real and the perceived.
For me the stand out story was On the Eighth Day. I'm not even going to hint at the subject matter because it's such an exquisite unexpected tale that you need to approach it with a clear mind and enjoy the full impact of a superb example of the art of short story telling.
Glimmer and other stories will appeal to readers who don't want ideas prescribed and spoonfed to them. These stories give you the space to let the imagination roam.
In this eccentric tale set in a small town in northern India, Pawan Mishra masterfully weaves ingenuity and sarcasm in a manner that’s simultaneously hilarious and tragic.
A teenage boy struggling with the coming-of-age issues of sexuality, religion, and peer approval is overwhelmed, but soldiers on. After several years, he comes to understand the family forces that have left him so deeply troubled, and the process of
My second book is about a boy who has Asperger's Syndrome and is bullied to the point to where he shoots up his school. I have divided the excerpts from it into three parts: Before, during and after the shooting.
