Family Tree: Stories of Love Beyond the Grave

The body of Eddy's mother was found entangled in fungus-laden roots of the rotting ancient yew on the cemetery side of the family's garden fence. At nights, Eddy stutters, imploring his father to believe that the tree – or is it his mother – seems to call him. Dad just keeps saying “Grief works in strange ways, boy. You'll heal !” But that tree... Mum... calls. Should he sneak out... to the cemetery side? Or had Mum gone to that cold place which Dad kept saying was “Just death by misadventure, Eddy, as the autopsy stated” ?

Loss of family and loved ones revealing how, for those left behind, hurt and longing can find resolution – where unexpected.

The author's degree in Psychology and Philosophy from the University College of North Wales, together with an interest in the lonely, the outsider and those who have to contend with dysfunctional relationships and loss have been much of the inspiration for this book.

**'Beautifully observed characters, atmospheric, intriguing.'

Barbara Erskine - Sunday Times best selling author**

'A real page turner, worthy of the early John Fowles, The Magus.'

Reay Tannahill - historian, novelist and author of The Seventh Son.

The author gives great voice to his characters, describing well their idiosyncrasies. A good story must either go deep or wide, and with his background in psychology he goes deep within the human condition.

Stephen Valentine - author of Nobody Rides for Free

**Winner of the Harper Collins Gold Star award May 2010

A Child from the Wishing Well**

Gerard's only wish is to escape the dark of chronic paranoia, be closer for his lonely daughter. He accompanies Rosie to violin lessons with eccentric but friendly music tutor Miss Stein. But could the old spinster's often foul-smelling “wishing” well really be a place for his wish ?

Editorial reviews :

'All the characters are built up so stealthily we fail to notice that odd behaviour could develop into obsession and dark foreboding secrets.'

Daniel Manning - author of No Compatibility

' Atmospheric, vibrant, spooky page-turner. '

Reay Tannahill - historian, novelist and author of The Seventh Son.

'Growing up in a suburb of Chicago, the first scary movie I remember seeing was the 1965 Bette Davis movie, The Nanny. To this day, that movie has always stuck with me as one of the great psychological thrillers of all time. For me, A Child from the Wishing Well, is reminiscent of that movie.'

Candace Bowen Early - author of A Knight of Silence

Twists in the Tale

Schizophrenic Sam Baldock says he 'hears' Beethoven calling him. For therapy, his doctor and daughter Joanne accompany Sam to the Beethoven Museum in Vienna, once the composer's apartment. Will lonely Joanne, at last, get closer - to her strange Dad ?

Cupboard of Skeletons

Can Miranda trust her hypnotist ? Can an unexpected but strained romance survive ? Can a family avoid being torn apart by the paranoia of one ? At the core – themes which reach out to those left lonely within a crowd; they alone who know that, for the moment, their brave face is a veil.

Mister Kreasey's Demon

Broken by his street-hardened London students, reduced to chronic paranoia, can Amy's teacher stop himself losing she, alone, he might have trusted, might have loved ?

Aristo's Family

Aristo, private museum curator in Paphos, Cyprus, living alone with his sole surviving son Pavlos, is obsessed with his belief that he still has surviving family, even though told they were all burned during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. In his preoccupation he comes to neglect Pavlos yet both Aristo's and his son's need to belong, so long mutually exclusive, are at the core of this novel. Father and son... or strangers forever ?