Eclairs for Tea: and other stories

by Julia Blake

Eclairs for Tea and other stories is a wonderful, eclectic, mix of short stories, flash fiction and poetry, to be dipped in and out of, and enjoyed at your own pace. Eclairs for Tea - There was something very important Kevin had told her not to forget. If only she could remember what it was Taproot - As war raged in the skies above, Meg fought her own battle against growing up, and her fears for her brother Do You Believe? - Susan was never one for flights of fancy, so what is she to think, when her daughter tells her a fairy has taken up residence at the bottom of the garden Vicious Circle - As far as DI Cass Sawyer is concerned, the past should remain firmly in the past, but, it seems time may have a different idea Lifesong - If there is life on other worlds, what would it be like? What would they make of us? Along with many other heart-warming, surprising tales, interspersed with the author's quirky poems about modern life, this is a book you'll want to read again and again...

233 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2017

About the author

I was born and raised in the beautiful historic market town of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where I live still with my kid, one crazy cat and a succession of even crazier lodgers. I'm a multi-genre author which basically means I write whatever story floats into my head and worry about what genre it fits into afterwards. So far, I have written in contemporary fiction, romantic suspense, YA fantasy, folklore fantasy, sci-fi, short stories, poetry, and even a fabulous steampunk retelling of the Snow White story.

I have been writing stories and poems since I could first pick up a pen, and I promise there are many more books in the pipeline. I write the kind of books that I like to read myself. Books I can escape into and that make me laugh, cry and really connect with the characters. I also like my books to have a very satisfying ending, where all is explained and no string is left untied, well, not unless I'm planning a sequel that is.

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Reviews

[Becky Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eclairs for Tea, I just love that title. It made me want to sit beneath a shady tree with a lovely cup of tea... the cover says it all.

This is a quirky, eclectic collection of short stories, flash fiction and poetry, that take you on a journey of nostalgia as well as gasps. Don't be misled into thinking it's all heartwarming tales of reminiscing - not all is as it seems. And with a healthy dash of fantasy sprinkled on top, there's something for everyone. My favourite of all these little tales is Taproot, set in WWII, it really struck a chord with me, with my love for the slightly wistful. Oh, but wait, there are Unicorns too....

The author has cleverly compiled the collection with a subtle link between each story, flowing gently into the next, that makes it hard to put down. It also includes Julia Blake's novella, Lifesong, which before has only been available as Kindle download, you can now read from the page...
A perfect afternoon read, to dip in and out, although I couldn't put it down.

[Alex (ReadingBetweenTheNotes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Blake here clearly demonstrates the meaning of the phrase 'quality over quantity'. She manages such exquisite storytelling in so few pages; I am in awe. Taproot was really lovely and surprisingly powerful for a mere 11 pages. Then came the titular story Eclairs for Tea and WOW. Only 2 pages long but what an impact. It was really dark considering the fluffy-sounding title!

There really is something for everyone here. Dinner Party highlighted Blake's ability to write superbly realistic dialogue and her talent for humour as well as the more hard-hitting stuff. Other stories were more sweet. Strange Kind of Love even had a Gaiman-esque vibe which I really enjoyed. Blake's fiction ranges from romantic and ethereal to gruesome and captivating.

I loved the subtle links between each short story/poem and the next. My favourite poem in the collection was This is Heaven; I found it very evocative.

And of course, I have to mention the novella Lifesong which brings this collection to a close. Blake's writing really shines in this longer tale and has ensured that I will be giving her full-length novels a try! I loved the whole concept and the ending blew me away.

My only *tiny* gripe is that occasionally commas would be used where I personally would have put semi-colons. However, this is genuinely the most nit-picky thing I could say and I thoroughly recommend this anthology!

[Victoria Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Blake writes with the skill of a poet, imbues her narration with old-fashioned romantic, mythic dreams and cold reality. She creates a plot scenario like a playwright, and, all the time, keeps her story as fine classic literature.
The author paints beautiful pictures in her poems and short stories. Some of these are fantasy, and others have a touch of satire and nostalgia. It isn't the tedious nostalgia that leaves nothing to the imagination, but rather the one that you just know that what happens after the last word is going to be remarkable and meaningful…
If you are in a reading slump and looking for a good opportunity to transit reading to the full speed - this is the book to choose.
A wonderful collection of short stories. Thoroughly enjoyable read - hours of reading pleasure!

[Julia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all my books, this one is the surprise, the dark horse, if you like. Before the publication of this book, if you'd asked me if I would ever consider releasing a collection of all my short stories and poems, I would have laughed.

Poetry and verse is something I've been writing for even longer than I have novels, yet I never had any confidence in them, they were just something I did, but they weren't poems, not proper "I wandered lonely as a cloud" poems, no, that was what other people did.

Although, I did attend open-mike poetry evenings, where everyone took themselves very seriously, and I did, occasionally, get up and read out my whimsical, silly offerings, which people were very nice about, it never seemed real. As for my short stories, I honestly believed there was no market for them, that they were something I wrote for my own enjoyment. I mean, let's face it, there are no magazines, really, that print short stories anymore.

Years went by, I concentrated on my main love, novels, I had one published The Book of Eve, then my novella Lifesong was published as an eBook. Suddenly, I was bombarded (well, maybe not bombarded) by readers complaining that, because it was only an eBook and they didn't have devices to download it onto, they couldn't read it.

A germ of an idea took root in my head, further watered by a friend and fellow author, remarking how it was such a shame I wasn't planning anything with my extensive back catalogue. The two ideas merged, how about it I produced a paperback, that not only contained every short story, flash fiction, and poem, I'd ever written but, also contained the whole of Lifesong? That would be a reasonably meaty book, enough to justify publication. Frenzied collating, editing and re-writing then ensued, with the end result being Eclairs for Tea and other stories.

A positive smorgasbord of words, now that it's published, I absolutely love this funny little book of mine. From its beautiful green cover which invites the reader to settle down, take tea and dive within its pages, to the pick & mix of stories and poems it contains. No two stories are alike, and, although I have tried to link them subtly through the interconnecting poems, you never quite know what you're going to find when you turn the pages.

"Taproot", a coming of age tale set in WWII with ghostly overtones. "The Dinner Party", Charles prides himself on holding the best dinner parties, but, has he gone too far this time? Inviting Simon and Laura to the same party, it'll probably end in tears but will lead to an interesting evening. "What are the Chances?" Meeting your soul mate, the one person you're destined to be with, how likely is that to happen? "Vicious Circle", twenty years ago, the worst thing that could possibly happen to a child, happened to her. Now, DI Cass Sawyer is a strong, independent woman who just wants to leave the past in the past, but, it seems time has other ideas about that. "Eclairs for Tea", there was something Kevin told her to remember, something important ... and so many other tales to intrigue and delight you.

I know many people instinctively shy away from poetry, feeling that it bears no relevance to them or their lives. However, my poems are quirky takes on modern life, from the school-run to gardening, to my Nan and joining a weight loss group, they are all accessible, fun and quick reads.

A perfect book for summer, slip it into your beach bag to dip into between dips in the pool, easy reading, served equally well with a rum punch or a cup of tea, Eclairs for Tea and other stories is a book you'll want to read again and again.

[Dana Fraedrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really mixed bag of poems and short stories. It ranges from inspirational to general fiction and sci-fi. I was honestly not sure what to expect when I settled down with this pretty little book. I'm still not sure how to describe it except to say I really enjoyed it. These twenty something works are everything the pieces needs to be. Every single one of them! Given how different they all are, I would expect there to be weak spots, but they're all super solid. I don't really care for general fiction/everyday life kind of stuff. It's just not my cuppa tea. A lot of these stories and poems are in that category, but Julia Blake still made me care about those everyday snapshots. There's not a lot of time to get invested. In some cases, it's less than a page, and yet by the end I cared deeply about the characters involved. There were a few wee things I didn't enjoy. Honestly they're my own personal preferences, nothing technically wrong with the writing or the stories.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read and loved a number of Julia Blake's novels, I already had an inkling that Eclairs for Tea wasn't going to be a gentle romp through short storyland, wrapped in cotton wool and how right I was. This wonderful, thought provoking mixture of poetry, short story and novella has bite in drama, fantasy and sci fi genres. The poetry is poignant and beautiful, but it's the stories that I found extraordinary. This is how short story should be done: compelling narrative, swift world building and character work with a surprising, sometimes heartbreaking and shocking finale. I read this book in one sitting. Easy 5 stars.

[Ian Hornett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of this author's books in the long format and enjoyed them very much. I also love short stories, so it was not a difficult decision to read Eclairs for Tea. To start with, I dipped into the book when I felt like it, mixing it up with other reading, but then I had a free afternoon and the book just grabbed me, urging me to finish it in one sitting!

The stories are a clever mixture of different genres and range in length from short to very short, the sci-fi Lifesong being the longest at 10 chapters. They were all very readable, but if I had to pick a couple of favourites I would choose 'Taproot' set around war time which had a delicious twist or two, and 'What are the Chances', a lovely story about how two people meet.
I'm not a great one for poetry, but mixing them in between the stories kept me well entertained. Full of admiration for writers who can write poetry and great stories.

A super book.

[K.M. Allan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eclectic mix of short stories, poetry, flash fiction, and a novella means that Eclairs for Tea: and Other Stories has something for everyone. Personal favorites were Eclairs for Tea (great twist), The Fat Club (sad and relatable), What Are The Chances (delightful), and Lifesong (which is a unique tale with a timely message that will have you gripped to the end). Vicious Circle is another story that will stay with you. All of the pieces were well written, and while some bordered on being an obvious personal memory for the author (Nan, Morning Madness), the others contained something relatable/enjoyable for everyone. I found myself gravitating to the stories that favored dark little twists (Eclairs for Tea, Family Matters, Relative Endings), which Julia pulled off so well. This is a collection I can see myself reading again, and I'm sure I'll find more to enjoy each time.

[T.L. Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely collection of stories!
An eclectic mix of nostalgia and fantasy. This sounds odd, but they all flow in a wondrous way.

Many of the tales made me gasp, particularly the book's namesake 'Eclairs for Tea'; not as sweet as it sounds!

I loved the novella Lifesong which is in this collection. A really interesting way of viewing our species.

There's a distinct British flavour to these tales and poems. Some characters have that downtrodden yet positive feeling.
Some of these will make you laugh, some will make you cry, but all will make you glad you picked up this book.

And they're all nice and short, so you can pick up and put down according to your own schedule.

[ThatReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of poems and short stories that are just perfect for a coffee break where you want to dive into something quick and that leaves you satisfied for the hours ahead. I especially enjoyed the worldliness of the poems, they were heart-warming in their unpretentious depiction of daily life - the way life is for most women, actually, day to day, year to year. Simple, seemingly ordinary things, and yet, so filled with poetry and magic. For there are hidden, unchartened depths in the random, everyday tides of life, and it takes talent to capture them, turn them into something special, without letting them lose their ordinary common qualities. I really loved this book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read other books by Julia Blake—although by no means all—but I have to say that this collection of gems, both little and large, outshines those which have gone before.

There’s a great deal that took me way back to my childhood, as in the domestic life described in Nan. ‘Nan’s bread pudden!’ though was a long way from that with which my aunts used to gift us with monotonous regularity, and which instilled in me a lifelong hatred of the stuff. There’s negative nostalgia too, like that of My Friend’s Father, where the evil of the not-too-distant past is still visible in the present. Elsewhere, in Taproot and Vicious Circle, there’s another take on the theme of nostalgia, this time with a twist, when strange visions are explained later in the lives of those characters who encounter them.

Human relationships receive a humorous examination, as in The Dinner Party, where the forcing together of an ex-couple brings to the surface things which had been hidden before. Family Matters takes a cynical glance at the notion of blood being thicker than water, while children come under the spotlight in Do You Believe?, This is Heaven and the eponymous Eclairs for Tea.

There’s criticism of present-day attitudes, to be seen in Don’t Tread on the Cracks, which along with Morning Madness, manages to stay on the humorous side of things. The Fat Club and Domestic Bliss, however, take on an altogether darker tone, while Don’t Hurt Me is about as black as things get.

The stand-out jewel in the crown for me, however, is the longer piece, Lifesong, which uses a paranormal relationship to address the very serious issues of the human race. Our attitudes towards each other are put under the microscope, the neglect and cruelty towards the elderly and young alone being a cause for collective shame. There’s also criticism of our need to save the planet—or not. Seen through the eyes of a citizen of elsewhere, our world is examined, assessed, and pronounced as good as dead. Even those who might seem the most enlightened are blind to what we’re doing to our world, the peril of the planet played down because it’s easier to bury our collective heads in the sand and collect the tide of rubbish washed-up on that sand, rather than address the root cause of all that plastic being in the sea in the first place. Without doubt, Lifesong should be taught in schools the world over.

The poem which follows, Time No More, acts as the epilogue for both Lifesong and the various stories of Eclairs for Tea. So many stories, so many poems, with a wealth of themes between them. Take your pick from this outstanding collection.

[Sherry Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Blake is known for her rich novels that satisfy our hunger for a big read. Eclairs for Tea, published in 2017, is a different experience. It is a collection of short stories and poems. It also includes her critically acclaimed futuristic novella, Lifesong, which is reason enough to buy the book. I have reviewed that separately this past year.

As a poet, it was especially fun for me to read Julia’s poetry. I love it. It is earthy, real and direct. But don’t be deceived by this straightforwardness; it is poetry and it packs a punch because of its very relatability. These poems are often humorous, satirical, contain flashes of wisdom and create lasting portraits. I especially loved “Nan,” in which the poet brings her own nan to life. In, “Don’t Tread on the Cracks,” we have a social satire that shows us how our social trends and fears have escalated, causing even greater harm in their own way, using humor:
“And hanging baskets must go, Because it’s been said, One might fall on Someone’s head.”

“My Father’s Friend,” is elegant and serious. We learn quietly, with dignity, that the father of a friend of the poet’s, when she was a child, has been in a Nazi concentration camp.

And then there are the short stories. They are masterful. Each one holds a distinct theme. There is always a surprise, a twist, a moment of serendipity that could be fate…an unexpected resolution. She spices and seasons these tales with skilled literary ingredients. None are boring. The title story, Eclairs for Tea, is quirky, tragic and humorous all at the same time.

My favorite story, if pushed, is “The Dinner Party.” Charles creates the best dinner parties. Not only is the food and wine the finest, and the beauty of the table settings and presentations beyond compare, but even more importantly, it is his selection of guests. This time he has outdone himself and invited Lauren and Simon, past lovers who have not seen and refuse to see each for years. The outcome is stupendous.

This collection expands on Ms. Blake’s very diverse literary skills and furthers my admiration. I fully enjoyed reading these tales and poems.

[Dana Fraedrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid 4.5 of 5! Like the description in the title says, this is a really mixed bag of poems and short stories. It ranges from inspirational to general fiction and sci-fi. I was honestly not sure what to expect when I settled down with this pretty little book. I'm still not sure how to describe it except to say I really enjoyed it.

There are over twenty different pieces in here, plus the novella Lifesong, which I previously did a review for if you want to read it. So the more I read, the more I realize the different areas in which authors excel. Some are masters of decadent descriptions that drug you in a sensory haze. Others have action scenes so epic you feel like you're watching a Marvel movie. And some are a jack of all trades. I feel like Julia Blake is one of these latter authors. I always find her writing tight and thoroughly enjoyable. These twenty something works are everything the pieces needs to be. Every single one of them! Given how different they all are, I would expect there to be weak spots, but they're all super solid.

I've just written so many paragraphs and words to try and get to the heart of what it is I like so much about these stories. I keep coming out with things that make it sound mediocre, which it absolutely isn't, so time for me to ramble, okay? Here's the thing, I don't really care for general fiction/everyday life kind of stuff. It's just not my cuppa tea. A lot of these stories and poems are in that category. There's nothing supernatural or fantastical about them (though some of the others are that way), but Julia Blake still made me care about those everyday snapshots. There's not a lot of time to get invested. In some cases, it's less than a page, and yet by the end I cared deeply about the characters involved.

Morning Madness is so accurate it hurts.

Relative Endings and Eclairs for Tea took my heart out for some light curb-biting. Same goes for My Friend's Father and The Fat Club.

Vicious Circle (which does brush lightly up against the paranormal genre) and Don't Hurt Me are creepy as all get out. I refuse to read them at night.

A Strange Kind of Love and Unicorn Dreams, both fitting snugly into the SF&F areas, are really sweet and made my heart happy.

So yeah, there's just a lot of different things to like about this book. There were a few wee things I didn't enjoy. Honestly they're my own personal preferences, nothing technically wrong with the writing or the stories.

[Linda Ganzini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Eclairs for Tea. It's a lovely collection of poetry, short stories, and the highly acclaimed science fiction novella, Lifesong, which delivers an important message about humanity, our environment, and our play in its future—I found it profoundly moving.

I loved ‪the eclectic‬ mix of these thought-provoking, heart-warming, and intelligently woven stories—the perfect introduction and sneak peek into Julia Blake's lyrical writing style and wonderful imagination. The collection made it easy for me to dive in and out of this book throughout these busy past weeks, and I never lost my connection to the book, which tends to happen when I put a novel down for a few days.

Julia's writing flows beautifully, as it connects each story and weaves each poem into the collection. Eclairs for Tea will make a wonderful gift—highly recommended. I've purchased a few more of Julia's Blakes five-star rated novels, and I'm excited to dive in.

[Jessica Juby | jesshidesinbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of short stories and poems by indie author Julia Blake largely features fantastical twists but there are narratives that range from contemporary to sci-fi which wonderfully showcase the author's talent at handling different subject matters. I'm not a big poetry fan (I personally struggle with finding the flow if it doesn't rhyme and poetry just isn’t my natural go-to), but the story behind My Friend's Father really hit home hard 😭

Lifesong, a sci-fi novella, is one of my favourite short stories of all time, because it packs so much meaning into a few pages.

This edition contains bonus stories, including Rosemary for Remembrance which had me in tears but filled with hope. All the stories were moving in their own way but there was always hope, reminding us that things may seem desperately hopeless in the moment but things will work out better.

A couple of the stories were a little similar with wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff but were still different enough to be really enjoyable 😊

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories, poems and a novella (which I'd already read called Lifesong), where each piece is strong and vivid. The first story, Taproot, grabbed me from the get go, and it's possibly my favourite one, though the title piece, Eclairs for Tea, is a strong contender and quite visceral in its honesty about age and memory. This is a mixed genre collection, from contemporary fiction, fantasy, science fiction/speculative fiction and paranormal. These are Julia Blake's earlier works, but her unique and insightful voice for storytelling shine through loud and clear! I'm glad I purchased this little book. It's a wonderful interlude where each is fresh and different, and just right if you're not up to committing to a full-length novel.

[Elena Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly incredible collection

This is an absolutely outstanding collection that includes short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and a novella. They’re all so different with regard to genre and the emotions they trigger, but one thing they all have in common is that they pierce straight through your heart.

Some make you smile, some make you cry, and some make you gasp in horror. All of them make you think. And feel. And need some time to process what you just read before diving into the next amazing story or poem.

Beautifully written. I truly admire the author’s talent and highly recommend this fantastic book. You’ll definitely want to read it again and again.

[Barbara Kellyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly delightful read in every way! A blend of prose and poetry, I looked forward to each chapter not knowing what to expect… and even when I thought I knew what was in store, the author delivers an out of the blue twist ending that gave me reason to gasp, sigh or laugh. I enjoyed those little zings so much! I also wasn’t expecting to love the poetry as much as I did, but Blake had me hanging on to every word in what can only be called linguistic ballet. Highly recommend.

[DLV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a lovely collection of poems and stories.
Each story flows to a poem or a few poems which flows to a story which flows to a poem or a few poems.
Each story and poem is well written and touched my heart.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I begin to describe this diverse and entertaining collection of short stories, poetry, and a novella served like a tray of fancy desserts at an elaborate party? This is my introduction to Julia Blake’s work, and I am in awe of her creativity and ability to pull me into her writing—no matter what the genre.

I loved Lifesong, a blend of sci-fi, paranormal, and romance that offers thought-provoking insights into the future of our planet. I also enjoyed The Dinner Party, where a couple’s past relationship is revealed and becomes the focus of the other guests at the dinner table. The poems elicit their own sensations of fear, humor, or sadness, and balance out the collection.

From light to dark, each piece of writing triggered a different emotion, and I was eager to keep on reading. Truly a compilation of superb treats!

[Linda Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eclairs for Tea is a wonderfully delectable mix of entrees and desserts to satisfy the literary palate and appetite of even the most discerning of readers. You can begin anywhere you like, I chose the very first one, Taproot and I was instantly immersed.

An added plus is the inclusion of a novella, Lifesong which is a sci-fi environmental story of our earth. Everything has a season. Everything has a time. Everything has a song. But what happens when that song is a mere whisper or wore, silent? This is both a short sci-fi and love story intricately intertwined by one woman’s journey to Earth only to discover its song is slowly disappearing. What happens when only silence is heard? Lifesong by Julia Blake asks the question.

I love the beautiful simplicity of this hard cover edition as It is reminiscent of an old timey classic. This simplicity sets the mood for some fine reading pleasure. Eclairs for Tea should not be gulped down in one sitting; but rather read leisurely giving time for thought and whimsical musings in between. I have a stash of such books on my bedside table just for that purpose.

Note: I have every single one of Blake’s books and have read them all. I cannot pick a favorite as she is one of the most electric and eclectic authors I have had the pleasure to discover. I hope you discover her as well.

I’m pleased with the inclusion The Deal and Rosemary for Remembrance…ahhh, dessert!

A Delectable ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️