Iain Kelly's Blog, page 5

SIMPLE THINGS

Simple things. Being able to take a walk without fear is one of them. The empty blue sky overhead is another. Seeing the children running and playing again, though their innocence has been stolen. The worry remains. How long will it last this time? There is no simple solution. There is too much hate, too […]

RESET

The drought lasted through the summer. Trees and plants shriveled and died, so did a few thousand vulnerable people and animals. Everyone waited for The Rains to end the suffering. Anything that could collect water was set out in readiness. Watering cans hung from tree branches, buckets lined pavements, plastic bottles sat on window sills. […]

ALL WE CANNOT LEAVE BEHIND – 112 DAYS UNTIL PUBLICATION

16 weeks to go until the official publication date of my new novel ‘All We Cannot Leave Behind‘ on the 28th February 2024. Work on the front cover is ongoing at my publisher, but in the meantime, the book listing has started to appear on several online stores, including Waterstones, Amazon, WH Smith and Bookshop.org. […]

BOLT FROM THE BLUE

‘It’s hardly a bolt from the blue. More like a threatening grey sky and several storm warnings.’ ‘Oh sure, with hindsight it’s all so easy.’ She’s right of course. I should’ve seen it coming. The signs were there. Still, I never thought he would leave me like this, I am his wife after all. Just […]

JOURNEY

There he was again. Always in the same seat, always at the same time, always on the same bus route. Did the old man notice her the same way she noticed him? Did he wonder where she went everyday? Of course not. Her uniform gave it away. Him though? Where did he go? He never […]

THE MOOSE’S REVENGE

It was supposed to be a quiet getaway to escape the festive season. ‘You don’t think it will take away from the rustic charm?’ I tried. Nothing could dampen his enthusiasm for twinkling fairy lights. ‘Some on the moose’s antlers?’ ‘He’s lost enough dignity as it is.’ He tottered on the chair trying to hook […]

THE BARRA BOY IN PARLIAMENT

It’s easy to be cynical about our current crop of political leaders, so it was a welcome surprise to have this letter pop through the door yesterday, from my local Member of Parliament, acknowledging ‘The Barra Boy’ and my recent event at the local library. Of all the places I thought The Barra Boy’s publication […]

SIGHTSEEING IN THAILAND

‘It’s not a race!’ called Somchai. Lamai redoubled her efforts, breaking into as much of a sprint as she could muster while pulling the occupied rickshaw. ‘Watch out for the hole!’ She swerved in front of him, the rickshaw threatening to topple over. Somchai took evasive action to avoid careening into the back of her. […]

DECISION TIME

Pick a door. Go through it. The choice is hers to make. She hesitates, shuffling on the illusory sidewalk one way then the other. Images surface through glass panes. Behind one door she sees her mother, smiling, beckoning, encouraging. Through the the next she sees Bethany, her cute pudgy smile, her big blue eyes, her […]

COMPULSION

I didn’t want to be sitting here. I want to be over there, where she is, inside that room with her. Instead, I’m staring through binoculars, trying to catch a glimpse of her, a tantalising tease that will satiate my desire for another night. People will judge me, call me names – a freak, a […]