Short Stories

Eleazar Hollis stands behind his makeshift pulpit every Sunday in the tiny mining town of Devil Springs.

The constantly empty pews suit him just fine, since he is not the minister he claims to be.

But when two Chinese men rush into his church asking for asylum, the secrets revealed will put his life and theirs in jeopardy.

Neville Hardencourt IV is a quintessential gentleman, always ready to help a friend—even if that friend has got himself into a predicament which common sense and a modicum of forethought could have prevented.

Lord Pepperington is just such a friend and his lost pet just such a predicament.

But there are limits. And Lord Pepperington’s choice of pet may have just reached Neville’s limit.

A short gallivant through St James’ Park with the lovable hero of the Neville Hardencourt IV series.

On dreary autumn evenings Celeste Wang wanders the streets of London, always returning, as if magnetically drawn, to stare at the brightly lit cafe above Covent Garden.

Celeste imagines great minds like H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and John Wyndham gather there to discuss deep and fascinating subjects long into the night.

When her friends and family cannot provide the solution to a major life question, Celeste searches out Wells, Verne, and Wyndham in the hope they hold the answer she seeks.A science-fiction story twisted through the realities of famous authors.

A trader on a distant planet discovers an impossible stone, an entirely pleasant kidnapping goes awry, and a young woman learns what it means to be a world nomad.

Now with more than double the stories, this second edition of Volume 1 contains an eclectic collection of twenty-one short-short pieces.

Showcasing the versatility, imagination, comic wit, and pathos of author Jessica Baverstock, this perfect companion to an afternoon tea break or a morning commute will tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings.

Baverstock's Allsorts Volume 1 draws together science-fiction, period fiction, comedy, poetry, romance, literary fiction, a children’s story, and even a newspaper article with a twist in a collection that has something for everyone.

Paulie dreams of traveling the world, and with her red umbrella by her side she is ready to tackle anything. But when she loses her umbrella on the Paris Metro, Paulie must face the city’s streets without her trusted companion.

An eventful day and a chance encounter with a wise new friend teach Paulie what it truly means to be a world nomad.

In this exquisite and sensitive tale, Baverstock captures a young person’s wonder and embarrassment in a new country, deftly weaving humour, wisdom and a celebration of life.

Available in paperback: Amazon, Book Depository, ask at your local bookstore.

When English girl Jodie moves to her husband's home in Australia, the intense summer heat, unfamiliar culture, and mounting loneliness are compounded by an unexpected source of frustration…
…a letterbox shared with their Aunt Celia.
Tension mounts as privacy is invaded and letters are lost. Can Jodie find a solution before a family rift becomes irreparable?

A sweet, sensitive tale of learning to live in a new home, written by the author of The Red Umbrella.

With humankind scattered among the stars in poverty-stricken colonies, only two things connect the last remnants of the race: a makeshift government, too busy arguing over a chain of command to be of use to its citizens, and traders, distributing necessities as they fly between colonies.

The Stone Trader trades in many things, but rocks are his specialty. He thinks himself an expert on the subject until two strange women claim to have found a rock like no other. It is a hoax or could it be the most extraordinary discovery humankind has ever made?

An origin short story set in the Stone Keeper universe.

Annie is a grown woman now, past all that childish adventuring stuff, but when her cousin Henry claims to have overheard instructions to buried treasure she is forced to decide whether or not to invest her belief in one more childish adventure.

This story is also available in Baverstock’s Allsorts Volume 1

At age 57, Angelina has raised two children, run a business, and survived divorce.

She believes herself a woman capable of managing any challenge.
But when her daughter leaves her pet bird in Angelina’s care before setting off for Venice, Angelina comes face to face with the one thing she’s never managed to do in her life—achieve a dream that’s been with her since childhood.

A thoughtful and uplifting short story by the author of The Red Umbrella.

Helen Summers spends every Sunday afternoon caring for small children, like little 5-year-old Peter who is intent on defying his mother's instructions.

As Helen tries to inculcate a few life lessons in her little nephew, she's reminded of the reasons why she has become the self-appointed guardian of Sunday afternoons.

Financial downturns affect all walks of life.

Even the criminal underworld.

Gary and Horace believe they've come up with a way to make the act of kidnapping a pleasant experience for all involved. Including, and especially, the kidnapee.

The problem is, Stephanie Monroe might be completely the wrong person to kidnap...

Heather Patterson has lived a life of converging and diverging lines.

Her husband had been incompatibly perpendicular, merely crossing her life temporarily on his way to 'better things.'

Her teenage son is gradually drifting away from her as he heads for adulthood.

And her father has completed the arc of sending her off into the world and then welcoming her back to his home in need of care.

Is it too much to expect that someone with matching tastes could converge with Heather's own continually straight line?

Can she find a parallel love?

Brandon loves pie.

Especially apple and blueberry pie.

The problem is, Brandon isn't allowed pie for a whole week when he gets detention at school.

A bigger problem is that the kids at school are so annoying Brandon can't help getting detention.

But for pie, he'll give anything a go.

Angie dreams of having a baby—of holding her own warm, tiny newborn to her chest—but always wakes to the reality of being childless.

So when Angie's sister, Marjorie, invites herself and her newborn baby around for dinner at Angie's place, Angie must face her emotions head-on.

Mr. Wilhelm Daniel Fahrenheit's surname causes him irritation and garners attention wherever he goes—from primary school days to now well past retirement.

Mr. Fahrenheit just wishes to be left in peace!

But when his daughter hatches a plan to force him into interacting with people, Mr. Fahrenheit might finally find understanding and friendship.

A warmhearted tale about discovering camaraderie and acceptance in unexpected places.

Earnestine is a consummate performer.

She lives for the roar of the audience: the waves of applause crashing down upon her as she entertains them, the ebb and flow of crowds coming and going from the Las Vegas stage she calls her own.

But as her audiences dwindle and her aching loneliness increases, Earnestine searches desperately for a solution to her problems.

Only one thing stands in her way.

One unavoidable fact.

Earnestine…

…is a walrus.

When children run away to the circus, it is Seamus Harden who talks them down and gets them the help they need.

Spoilt teenagers, abused kids, Seamus sees it all.

Until one night Seamus meets a little a little girl with a perfect pink dress, perfect white socks, and a reason for running away to the circus that even Seamus has never heard before.

A circus runaway who wants to be an accountant, a hostage in a crisis call center, and a walrus in search of love.

These are just three of the stories in the second volume of Baverstock’s Allsorts, covering genres from science-fiction to romance and plenty in between.

Lovers of heartfelt storytelling will enjoy these eleven stories, all bound together by a central theme: the discovery of identity—be it a character’s true name and history or simply the moment a hidden need or wish is first discovered.

As always, Baverstock traverses the emotions, from the depths of grief to the heights of humor. This heartwarming collection with bring a tear to the eye, but leave you with a smile on your face.

The surprise occurrence of February 30th.

The loss of a favorite umbrella.

The sudden arrival of a tiny circus runaway.

Each of these unexpected events propel a different character into their own sweet, gentle tale, which finds its heartwarming conclusion in less than twenty-four hours.

This short story collection features a total of five moving tales, each revealing the moments that make us human and how our interactions with those around us can enhance and enrich our lives.

Coming Soon!

Mrs. Mildred Merkle wasn’t the kind of person to change her habits or routine, especially not for the inhabitants of her own home.

But three cats—Tinnitus, Reflux, and Mange—have different ideas.

As Mrs. Merkle adjusts to her felines’ needs, she comes across a day which is unlike any other.

A day which will fundamentally change her life, if she can figure out what makes today different.

Coming Soon!