Dark & Twisty

By Rachel McGrath

DARK AND TWISTY promises a collection of short, succinct, sometimes quirky short stories with a dark, emotive edge and intriguing twist.

All net profit generated from sales of the paperback and ebook will be donated directly to Worldwide Cancer Research. https://www.justgiving.com/darktwisty/

Additionally, should you want to directly support this fund you can via the just giving link above.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel McGrath
• Release date: Jan 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370761609

Rachel McGrath

Winner - The People's Book Prize (Non Fiction - 2016) - Finding the Rainbow Winner - Readers Favourite Awards 2016 - Honorary Mention - Finding the Rainbow Winner - New Apple 2016 Summer Ebook Awards - Mud on your Face Finalist - Readers Favourite Awards 2016 - Mud on your Face Winner - Pinnacle Book Awards (Women's Interest) - Finding the Rainbow Winner - People's Book Award (September 2015) - Finding the Rainbow One of my primary ambitions as a young girl was to become a writer. I've always enjoyed putting words to paper. Creating fantastical stories in my head and then watching them translate into short stories or poems, or sometimes just writing about my thoughts and feelings throughout the most crucial stages of my life, as a way of capturing my emotions at that point of time. Whichever, the written word has always enthralled me, helped me find solace and been my constant diversion from reality. My first book, Finding the Rainbow is a personal memoir, detailing our passage towards family planning, I was full of hope and excitement for something I was confident would be a sure path. I was so naïve to the struggles that many women face, and conceitedly, infertility or loss was not something I fathomed would happen to me. It was an unspoken grief that many of my friends had already experienced, yet no one openly voiced. It was only after the fact, often when good news finally prevailed, or sadly when hope was lost, that stories were shared. But only sometimes! I am now excited to be publishing a series of children's books aimed at middle school and early readers. I look forward to continuing to write both fiction and non fiction - reaching an audience of people and connecting through my writing.

Book preview

DARK & TWISTY

A Twisted Anthology

Rachel McGrath

Copyright © 2015 Rachel McGrath

McGrath House

rachelmcgrath.net

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1518707919 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1782806844 (Hardback)

DEDICATION

This book is especially dedicated to both my Father, Cornelis (Casey) and my Great Aunt, Olive; both who have always been incredibly supportive of me and are very dear to my heart.

Both my Father and my Aunt are facing an ongoing battle with Cancer, and I personally feel powerless against this cruel enemy. Like so many others, they continue to battle against this disease with strength, bravery, and sometimes humour.

Dark & Twisty is a collection of short stories I have written over the years, and it is my small way of contributing to the fight against cancer. These stories are aimed to entertain and keep you guessing until the very end.

One hundred percent of all net profits will be donated to Worldwide Cancer Research to help support funding for research and development projects.

You can monitor the progress of donations received from sales of this book at www.justgiving.com/darktwisty

Thank you for your support in the fight against cancer!

IN MEMORIUM

Sadly my Great Aunty Ollie (Olive Edna) lost her battle with cancer in December 2016 after battling the disease for almost six years. More than an Auny, Ollie was a grandmother, a carer, and one of my greatest supporters. Always in my heart Ollie Edna.

15 December 1930 – 11 December 2016

* * *

My father Cornelis (Casey) also lost his battle with cancer almost six months later, on 28 May 2017. He was sixty-six years of age and a loving father and grandfather. His legacy of family, respect and values will live on his his family.

9 December 1950 – 28 May 2017

ABOUT WORLDWIDE CANCER RESEARCH

Worldwide Cancer Research is a UK charity funding pioneering early-stage cancer research into any type of cancer around the world. In the last 35 years they have funded over £190 million into some of the most diverse projects at some of the world’s best research institutions. And they do all that for one very good reason – to gain a worldwide perspective. Because research doesn’t happen in isolation. The answers will not come from one scientist, in one lab, in one country. They can come from anywhere in this world we share. Worldwide Cancer Research is not limited by geography or nationality. And neither is cancer.

If you’d like to find out more about Worldwide Cancer Research, make a donation or even fundraise please visit worldwidecancerresearch.org

You’ll be making a world of difference. Thank you.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge the support and expertise I received from my fellow independent authors who helped with editing this very special anthology:

Grant Leishman, author of fiction novels: The Second Coming and A Drop in the Ocean. Soon to be released, Rise of the Anti-Christ.

Michael Kelly, author of The Eldritch Isle, The Rampant Damsels Gutter Series, Earth Mother, Fear of Little Men, Water into Whine, Dread Souls and many more.

SJ Higgins, author of The Dark Side of Chemistry, and soon to be released, Chemistry’s Captives.

Thank you for your time and commitment to helping make this collection of work something that will hopefully be read and enjoyed by many!

BETRAYAL

He sat in the car in the driveway; he had been there for ten minutes now, the engine running, unable to move. If only time could stand still, just this once. He didn’t want to move forward, he didn’t want to move at all. He just wanted to take this moment in.

She would know he was outside; he wondered if she was watching him sit there, perhaps wondering what he intended to do. His eyes searched the small, white, weatherboard home, scanning each of its windows. Lights were on in most of the rooms; that woman never knew how to save electricity. Regardless, he couldn’t identify her figure by the window. She was giving him space, letting him come to terms with his decision.

This was it; this was the moment where his life could take a different turn. Had he done the right thing? Only time would tell. What would she think; him being here? He felt;