Review – On the verge of extinction

I thought I'd share this 5-star review by Brian Matthews of my short fiction collection, 'On the verge of extinction'. 'On the verge of extinction' by Doug Jacquier I found this book of short stories both highly enjoyable and thought provoking. The short and sometimes very short stories in the first section are often dark …

I think we need some space

This piece was written for the Six Sentence Challenge, with the prompt word of 'space'. Bert and Gladys were folding up the tent on their camper trailer when Bert said “Gladys, you know how we were sleeping in the space inside the tent last night?” Gladys said ruefully “Well, you were doing most of the …

Update – ‘On the verge of extinction’

I know we're all busy but I just thought I'd provide a brief reminder about the launch of my collection of short fiction, 'On the verge of extinction', now available at Amazon.com in the US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7L4JYJY and at https://tinyurl.com/mt3f7yp4 in Australia and https://tinyurl.com/3c6bv3rp in the UK. If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, it's free …

Bush Rescue

It's taken me 22 months to find a home for this story that I've always believed was worth telling. It's finally been accepted by an online magazine that agrees. I hope you do too. https://www.unlikelystories.org/content/bush-rescue

Pathways

These pieces were written for the Six Sentence Challenge, with the prompt word of 'path'. Path-ology (Acknowledgement – I am indebted to Perambulation T. Biped, Professor of Path-ology at Forkintheroad University, for providing the following definitions and clarifications for new students of this discipline.) Psycho-path – Walking trail to the Bates Motel - not to …

A Tiger’s Tale

This fantastical and hopefully funny tale of mine about the Tasmanian Tiger has just been published by UK Magazine, Cafe Lit. https://www.cafelitmagazine.uk/2022/08/a-tigers-tale-by-doug-jacquier-hair-of.html

Now I lay me down to sleep

https://spillwords.com/now-i-lay-me-down-to-sleep/

Quarry Light by Edie Meade

(mac)ro(mic)

Limestone country, where the quarry growls in heat thunder over the fields: we’re driving to find the place Dad wanted his ashes interred. Tonight Mark and I bring the boys to a cabin so quiet we can hear the electric lines of the high pylons hum through the easement.

We take a creekbed for our evening walk. Limestone bears fossils and slips of gray clay, mayapples, mint and touch-me-nots alive with damselflies. I know them like old friends – comfortable even decades later because they represent the nothing-times, those stick-digging days when little needed to be said.

At nightfall, we walk back to the cabin along an access road white with crushed gravel. The kids rush through puddles made by over-payload dump trucks. Frogs hop out ahead, unafraid. None of us are afraid, somehow, out here. Quarry light brings a lingering, thick sunset and I realize how much beauty there…

View original post 293 more words

Martian towards Bach

These pieces have been re-worked from two of my previous longer stories to meet the strictures of the Six Sentence Challenge and the prompt word 'bookmark'. Mark Martian and Eddie Earthling discuss novels Mark Martian said to Eddie Earthling ‘Eddie, what are you doing?’ and Eddie replied ‘I’m writing a book, Mark, or a novel …

My new book – ‘On the verge of extinction’

I am delighted to announce the launch of my collection of short fiction, 'On the verge of extinction', now available at Amazon.com in the US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7L4JYJY and at https://tinyurl.com/mt3f7yp4 in Australia and https://tinyurl.com/3c6bv3rp in the UK. If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, it's free anywhere! Any and all support will be gratefully received, especially …