coming out - Stories

The plan was simple: survive high school and get the hell out of his hometown.

Alec Kennedy failed miserably.

He fell in love. Unfortunately, he still carried out his plan and left town. Leaving his first love behind.

Years later, Alec's forced to return home to deal with an unexpected family emergency.

There was a new plan: desperately try to avoid his former partner.

He failed miserably again.

There seems to be a pattern here.

Owain returns to live in his home town, 20 years after leaving when he was disowned his parents for being gay. He needs to rebuild his life following illness and come to terms with his messy family history. There is much to learn and discover, along the way he meets Colin, a builder who has his own family issues. The two explore how to make a life the way that they want, irrespective of the weight of their family experiences.

The story takes place in Cheshire, UK. The main setting, Netherwich, is my invention based on elements of Crewe and Nantwich. The language uses some regional idiom.

Can a man ever truly go home again? Can he become who he's meant to be, in a place he never expected to find acceptance? These are questions for Wren as he struggles with life, love, and the legacy of his family.

Sometimes the brain fails and the heart is left to pick up the pieces. Tyson, the son of a heartless politician and an abusive control freak, has survived four suicide attempts, and has now been committed to a psychiatric ward. With severe anger issues, unhealthy behaviours and a tendency to self-harm, Tyson's terrific treatment team fights a difficult battle. Another boy in the ward, Vladimir, suffers from schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress. Tyson thinks he's perfect.

Like father like son - in most ways but one. Alone on a bench on Christmas Eve, can a stranger help John to see the light?

Daniel is single and in the closet. Then at his sister's wedding, he meets Alex, the bestman of his new brother-in-law.

In a torn Jerusalem a young Israeli Army doctor falls in love with a Palestinian boy. My God, where does this lead to? Or would it turn out to be just fine, Inshallah?

It's just supposed to be a fun night out. You’re at a bar and you meet a guy. He flirts a bit, you flirt back. Just a bit of harmless fun. But a few too many drinks later, he ends up at your place. A random hookup never hurt, you tell yourself. It’s not like you’re going to see him again. But what happens if it turns out he’s not just a random hookup. What happens if he’s actually someone who is part of your life. Well, that’s when things get complicated …

Two boys make a promise, but it might just cost John his life to fulfill it...

*A snippet of a larger concept that I've tinkered around with and may return to down the road.*

Matt Donovan realizes that his relationship with Charlie isn't the secret he thought it was. Others within in his small fishing community are opening their eyes to his reality, including his one true crush, the outspoken, gruff-around-the-edges Jake Kowalczyk, who himself begins to discover that his feelings for Matt go beyond a platonic friendship after Matt almost dies.