is known inside the Colony as 

The Last Artist on Earth

In a dystopian future where human art has been banned to spare society the pain of unfulfilled creative dreams, only machines are permitted to create. But Michael, Earth’s last defiant artist, has found sanctuary in an illegal computer simulation where he sculpts in freedom. When authorities discover they cannot collapse his digital refuge, they deploy their most dangerous weapon: Leila, a beautiful operative tasked with seducing Michael and luring him out of his virtual paradise.

“ Award-winning short story (Writers of the Future Honorable Mention, 2025). ”
Amazon US

Blossoming

Fractured Lit 2025 Anthology Prize Winner

Flash fiction anthology to be published by Fractured Lit in 2026.

“ Gorgeously-written. It completely took my breath away with its tender and vulnerable beauty. ”
Read 'Blossoming' here

Sooth

If we know everything that has ever happened, can we also know what will happen?


A flash fiction piece published by Daily Science Fiction in January 2018.

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The Backstory

This was inspired by my experience with isolated and uncontrollable kindergartners who gradually become absorbed by the class. Written in 2017, before AI scraping vast data troves became trendy, it now seems rather prescient.

My War with Hemingway

Zach, a young veteran, contemplates suicide after a horrific tour in Afghanistan when Ernest Hemingway appears and stops him.  Alone, haunted by the wars, and with his new friend Hemingway pestering him, Zach descends into alcoholism. With the aide of Zach’s army buddies, a new young love, Jessica, searches for him. But will they find him in time to save his life? And is her love enough to help him find redemption?

“ Mike Billington, Author of Murder in the Rainy Season: This book was, I must admit, very uncomfortable for me to read. That's probably because, in many ways, I identified strongly with its central character. Like its protagonist, Zach Powell, I am a veteran; though I did my two tours as a rifleman and later as an infantry adviser in Vietnam and not in Iraq or Afghanistan. Like him, I came home from the war determined to get on with my life; to be "normal." ”
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Spirit of the Amaroq

A Story of Salvation

After a traumatic life-altering event, Jack Douglas quits his job and hikes across America. In Alaska, he takes a job on a king crab fishing boat where he struggles with his past tragedies while fighting feelings for the proprietor of a rustic inn, a beautiful Inuit woman, Qaniit.

“ Kirkus: An enjoyable, if implausible, journey story. Charles (My War with Hemingway, 2015) writes in a muscular prose that suits the no-nonsense directness of his protagonist. [T]he plot and setting are wild enough to keep the audience entertained.——Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite: I was captivated by Jack’s odyssey up north to the oil fields and his further adventures up into Alaska. I’m a big fan of adventure and travel stories, and Spirit of the Amaroq ranks up there with the best of them. ”
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King Hunters

Muse tries not to subscribe to the idea of karma. Conman, thief, and wielder of bardic magic, he’s done more than enough to warrant a karmic backhand.

When the King of Crock Mallet is kidnapped and civil war begins to brew, Muse is in the wrong place at the wrong time. To make matters worse, an ancient enemy threatens to enslave the world. Only Muse can stop it, but to do so he must overcome his selfish desires and use his magic for the greater good.

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The Trouble with Prophecies

With the prophesised Chosen One missing, Feydern’s only hope lies with Derrick, the Last Wizard, but he doesn’t want to help. In his opinion, tracking down the missing Chosen One is an idiotic idea.
But prophecies must come true and despite his best efforts, he’s dragged along on the quest. Bandits, goblins, and warring grannies stand in the way of his freedom, but his greatest obstacle is destiny itself.
That’s the trouble with prophecies…
They don’t really give you a choice.

“ I was hooked from the start and gutted when it ended, one of those rare books that comes along and catches you off guard. Well worth a read. ”
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Love, Christmas

Twelve festive stories.

A collection of twelve heart-warming love stories perfect for snuggling down with during the season of magic and mistletoe.

“ Brilliant, cosy short stories which really put me in a festive mood! ”
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Imogen Green’s Little Shop of Possibilities

A novella.
Imogen Green runs a shop in London. But it’s not just any shop. It’s been in her family for generations. Behind the façade of gifts and trinkets for all occasions, there is a room where she concocts potions and lotions to make all kinds of wishes come true. As long as the wishes are ethical, that is. Her only problem is Detective Miller…
“ This witchy closed door romance novella was super cute! I liked the contrast of modern day and witchy traditions. A perfect autumn read. ”
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November – Brussels Sprouts

For a long time, I thought Lancaster County didn’t have a rush hour. It turns out that before six, before dawn, the roads were filled...
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The Stillness of a Spellbound Audience

I like collecting. Mostly things like pens, books, spices and tropical fevers, but lately also “lean-in” moments. These happen when I’m reading out loud to...
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Under the Influence of Irving – A Review of Queen Esther

Queen Esther, John Irving, Simon & Schuster, 2025, pp. 432 I’ve just finished reading the new John Irving novel, Queen Esther. I loved it. I was...
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The Terrifying Tarap

Tropical fruits are a diverse bunch. On the one hand, we've got pineapples and passionfruit, mangos and mangosteen, all those lovely, sweet and sour flavours...
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Then Someone Said

. I thought I’d play the rapping game: words in rhythm (no chance of gain). . Shyness prevailed, but undeterred, I told my plight of...
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The Language Of Place

Pimp, dick, bumfit admittedly sounds well dodgy. Or at least it does if you don’t live in these parts. Round here though, it’s simply the...
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If the Protagonist Had Slept in

The PROTAGONIST’S room. Chapter One’s bloodstained clothes still cover the floor. The DIRECTOR stands in the doorway, exasperated. —— Look at the state of you....
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A Fresh Start

There comes a point in life* when you must admit that you were wrong. A story is trundling along at an exceptional pace, and you...
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The Book They Actually Wanted

Writers need feedback, and I have found the perfect focus group*. It offers raw, physical reactions, delivered with zero concern for the writer’s feelings. These...
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People Like Those: Aigneis

Aigneis is a diminutive lady in her 80s, still sharp of mind, though frail of limb. She moved to Birmingham from rural Ireland in the...
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Where it all started

When Alphonse de Lamartine said “music is the literature of the heart,” I’m pretty sure he wasn’t envisaging the heavy metal scene. Saying that, I’d...
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If Genre Were A Custody Battle

A conference room. Two GENRES sit fuming on opposite sides of a table. The DIRECTOR sits at the head, looking tired.     Okay, you...
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