Do you believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden? Would you dare steal items from a blind person or send your neighbours on a time-travelling trip full of menace and danger to stop the possibility of a bug wiping out humanity? Would you respond to calls for help from behind a door that is not all it seems, or ignore the warnings not to walk on a beautiful, deserted beach?
Two and a half years after the publication of Glimpses, I’m delighted to announce that my second collection of short stories, More Glimpses, is now available on Amazon.
Containing 32 short stories and pieces of flash fiction, many of which have never been published before, More Glimpses takes the reader on a ride full of twists, turns and unexpected endings.
Story lineup.
- The Whistle
Genre: Drama
Set in war-torn France in 1918, a soldier reflects on his life while he waits for the sound of the whistle, a sound that not only may signal the oncoming end of his life but reveal a secret the world can never ever find out.
2. Upside-Down and Inside-Out
Genre: Fantasy
Prudence Pebblebottom doesn’t believe her mother has agoraphobia and ends up giving her a heart attack when forcing her to go outside. As the only beneficiary of her mother’s will, Prudence is in for a nasty surprise when her world is literally turned upside-down.
3. Baby Talk
Genre: Comedy
A conversation a seven-month-old baby overhears its mother having with a shop assistant has it screaming the place down. However, there are worthy reasons for the baby wanting to make a quick escape from the store.
4. The Bag Lady
Genre: Science Fiction
On a time travelling mission to the year 1999, three elderly ladies from the year 1961 find themselves in grave danger when pursued by another time traveller. Can they escape and get back to 1961 with the item the other time traveller so desperately wants to get off them?
5. The Tunnel
Genre: Action/Adventure
Filled with hazards and situations that can kill, a life-changing prize awaits all who enter the tunnel, with whoever gets to the prize first having the greater chance of coming out alive. However, be quick to find it as the prize doesn’t wait around for long.
6. Tiny People
Genre: Horror
All over the world, mobile phones have been catching fire. Max Cumberland thinks he has the answer as to why it’s happening. Convincing the mobile phone manufacturers, however, is going to be hard work.
7. Murder in Evershot
Genre: Murder/Mystery
Set in the sleepy, English village of Evershot, John, Toby, Austin, and Hugh find themselves in grave danger when several murders take place. Can they find a well-known detective, who lives in the village, and ask for her help in solving the murders before the murderer finds them?
8. Floral Hall
Genre: Paranormal
Boarded up and unused for many years, Floral Hall was once a place full of music, love, and laughter. Tim, a young boy out for a walk with his mother and grandmother, thinks he can hear music and laughter coming from the old building. Is Floral Hall about to reveal its secrets?
9. The Right Choice
Genre: Science Fiction
With the choice of facing the killer bees or the old ruins for a one-million-pounds prize, two gameshow contestants have only twenty seconds to make the right choice. Will they make the right one?
10. Knock, Knock
Genre: Horror
A prankster plays ‘knock, knock’ on the front door of a house. Inside, a ‘home-alone’ young girl, Angela, and her younger sister are terrified when the prankster threatens to kill them. When Angela finally gets the courage to open the door, she discovers it’s not only whoever was knocking at the door that has disappeared.
11. Fast Forward
Genre: Science Fiction
Fascinated by the hidden feature on his new smartwatch, Brad gets the chance to time travel. As he travels forward, he doesn’t like all that he witnesses and decides that it is time to travel back to the present. However, he’s forgotten one vital piece of information. Can he get back safely before it’s too late?
12. The Jump
Genre: Horror
Jane has murder on her mind and gives her husband, who suffers from vertigo, a parachute jump for his 50th birthday. Jumping out of the plane first, she gets a shock when landing on her island paradise where she thinks her lover is waiting for her. What awaits Jane is a nightmare beyond imagination.
13. Big Brother
Genre: Science Fiction
Have you ever wondered why files and photographs suddenly go missing from your computer, tablet or phone? Big Brother has the answer.
14. Tap
Genre: Horror
At a car boot sale, two teenagers do the unthinkable and steal items off the stall belonging to a blind man. What follows will not only change their lives but will haunt them forever.
15. Harvest Festival
Genre: Science Fiction
Harvest festival – a time of celebration and thanks for what has been provided to get us all through the upcoming long, hard winter. It should never be the time of nightmares, should it?
16. The Hole
Genre: Horror
Why do the same two dogs visit the garden of Elizabeth Jones every day and sniff at the same area? Wanting to know the answer, Elizabeth digs a hole at the spot where the dogs sniff. Will she find anything?
17. Easter Bunny Cake
Genre: Horror
For centuries, the Easter Bunny has been trying to find a way to punish naughty humans. Is simply not leaving them a chocolate egg the only answer?
18. Double Eighteen
Genre: Rom-Com
Quentin has a brand-new girlfriend, Maureen, and he’s determined to win them a romantic weekend for two in Paris, at the local pub’s darts competition. On the evening of the match, something terrible happens, giving many of the regulars a shock.
19. The Man In The Television
Genre: Horror
Unaware of what is in the room with them, a family watching a popular Saturday evening television show have no idea what is really happening in front of them. Have you seen the man in the television?
20. Dream Catcher
Genre: Horror
How often are we told to follow our dreams? And what happens if we actually catch one? Does it give our dream a better chance of coming true? One man, who actually caught a dream, reveals all.
21. One-Hundred
Genre: Science-Fiction
If something wanted to kill off most of humanity, what would be the most unlikely weapon it could use? And are you one of the humans it wants to kill?
22. When The Tide Turns
Genre: Horror
On a day out, three young men discover a beautiful, deserted beach. However, despite a warning from an old man not to venture onto the sand, they take no notice, resulting in horrifying consequences for all of them.
23. Honeymoon
Genre: Rom-Com
Having just got married, it’s the night of the honeymoon for Sylvia and Marty. Marty is eager to get things started, but Sylvia has something else on her mind.
24. The Truth About Waiting Rooms
Genre: Horror
Like or loath them, waiting rooms are everywhere, and we all find ourselves in them at some stages of our lives. Next time you find yourself in one, take a closer look at what’s around you. You may be surprised at what you’ll find.
25. The Chair
Genre: Horror
Agatha Burnell’s favourite lumpy chair has been her saviour. But what secrets does it hold?
26. Royal Shopping
Genre: Comedy
A light-hearted look at what happens when the Queen goes shopping, finds a bargain, and doesn’t seem to have the right change in her purse. Will anyone come to her aid?
27. Revenge
Genre: Comedy
There you are, not looking your best, and your ex-partner walks past with their new partner. How would you feel? Would you have revenge on your mind, or would you just laugh about it?
28. The Door
Genre: Paranormal
If somebody was calling for help from the other side of an old, scruffy looking door, would you go to their aid, or would you simply walk away?
29. The Wedding Bouquet
Genre: Drama
As a bride gets ready to throw her wedding bouquet to the eagerly waiting hands of her wedding guests, she asks the photographer to film the event. Will true love find the person who catches her wedding bouquet?
30. Fairies At The Bottom Of The Garden
Genre: Fantasy
Do fairies really exist? Roger Young, a cheating, lying, husband and father, is in for a colourful shock when he visits the greenhouse at the bottom of his garden.
31. Walking Into The Future
Genre: Drama
John Anderson has a dream of being able to walk into the future and finding out what awaits him. After completing the short journey, it’s the journey back to his present that exposes a shocking truth.
32. Where To Now?
Genre: Science-Fiction
On the dying planet of Orion, the frightening events of what happened to all its inhabitants are revealed. Can what happened be stopped, before it spreads to other worlds?
First Review
Hugh Roberts is back with More…Glimpses, that is! This is his second collection of short stories showcasing the dark and somewhat twisted mind of humankind. Roberts’ witty imagination, coupled with his love of stories from The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, crafts 31 more tales of dark humor and hair-raising tales in a variety of genres, some a short read, others a little longer to get your heart racing! In every case, just when you think you’ve got the tale figured out, Roberts drops in a completely unexpected ending that may make you jump, laugh or even ponder your use of technology! The Tunnel, Baby Talk, Floral Hall and The Right Choice were my favorites! – Terri Webster Schrandt
Are you ready for another ride full of twists and the unexpected?
Click here to buy your copy.
Alternatively, contact me to buy a copy.
Also available, Glimpses, my first collection of short stories and flash fiction.
Click here to buy Glimpses.
Hugh's Views & News 