Sandcastles

'Moving, funny, quirky . . . insightful'

21 tales of love, loss and the unexpected . . . exploring what it is to be human.

The cycle of life from finding love to challenging children, parents who misbehave themselves, and beyond, with a sprinkling of mystery along the way to keep things interesting.

Read cover to cover or dip in at random. There's something for the briefest of moments to a well-earned break. Whatever time you have she has a story to share with you ...

'Sandcastles is many things - there's humour, poignancy, tragedy, and tales to make you think ... what if, or if only ... I love the way in which the stories carry us through life, from first loves in different forms to being cherished beyond death. And then the splash of tales in the 'Unexplained' adds a touch of other worldliness to suggest it's not just the visible human condition which contributes to our lives' experiences.'

'Sandcastles is a wonderful collection of short stories, organised in four sections: Unexpected; Unconditional; Unending; Unexplained. The stories vary in length, content, style and mood. Each one is a beautifully crafted vignette of life, cleverly-written to evoke a different response from the reader. Some make you smile; some make you frown; some are darkly humorous; some are poignant; some are unashamedly sentimental. All make you think.

A triumph. Highly recommended.'

'Lily Lawson is largely known for her poetry, which I love.

That same understanding of human nature, not to mention of other creatures in our universe, emanates from each story.

Some caused me to belly laugh. Some to nod sagely, as if I shared her genius, although it was really that click that comes when you encounter a truth you perhaps have always known but couldn't put words to.

One had me unashamedly, full-out sobbing. If the dog story does not bring a tear, your heart needs a tune-up, in my humble.

Delightfully, you can pick up this moving, funny, sometimes quirky, insightful book for minutes or an hour at a time. I've read it twice so far. And I will read it again.

Beautiful work, Lawson.'