Rainbow Snippets | Octopus Pizza

Rainbow Snippets is a Facebook group where GLTBQ writers post snippets of their work every Saturday. Click here to join us for some great, intriguing glimpses!

Good afternoon, snippeteers! I hope you’re all having a lovely weekend. I’m recovering from my latest book launch and a massive attack of tree pollen, and I am head-down over GDPR stuff – which is enough to shrivel your brain to the size of a hazelnut.

Apart from that, all’s fun here. We had a most lovely dinner out at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, Gareth’s favourite restaurant and just across the road from the (fictitious) mining company, Jack and Gareth work for. I was very tempted to use the restaurant in my First World War Mystery / spy story, Forever England, but I was reliably informed that women were not allowed into Simpson’s dining room until 1982. There were ladies’ dining rooms upstairs, where gentlemen could entertain their guests. Since the MC of Forever England is an indomitable young woman, I can see that NOT working…

Nevermind. I’ll think of something.

For today, though, one final snip from Swings & Roundabouts, before I have to find something else to entertain you with. And here we’re with Nico and Daniel, who have survived their first day of work experience, their first day spent apart from each other and in the company of only strangers.

Jack has collected Nico from his workplace and when they come home, he’s pleased to hear that Daniel seemed to have had an enjoyable first day

From Swings & Roundabouts

“And then he said he wanted baby octopus on his pizza!” Daniel’s voice floated down the hallway, the excitement in it like a bright light.

Nico froze, one shoe still unlaced, and made a face. Octopus pizza, he mouthed soundlessly. Yuk.

“I wouldn’t eat that either,” Jack said quietly and hung up Nico’s jacket. “Come on. Let’s see if he’s poisoned anyone on his first day.”

The first three Jack and Gareth books are on sale over at Dreamspinner Press all this weekend. You can find them here. And if you’d like to add Swings & Roundabouts to your collection, you can do that here.