The Inside Stories
by
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The Tree in Spring, Summer, and Autumn. The Head towers above pointing to the sky. Long slender arms reaching out with open fingers. those hands hang heavy with springtime blossom. Held high, suspended in midair by a long slender trunk. Standing erect with toes that project and grip the earth. A beautiful green spray spreading over the head. That summer bloom from those long slender hands. The trunk now hidden beneath the swaying arms. Underneath the shadowy feet with griping toes. Beneath the earth, the grass roots begin to grow. Everything above the head has now turned to gold. Rustling fingers dropping, swirling, twisting to the ground. A ghostly finger sways a slender trunk with arms outstretched. Dangling in the mist those hands are unyielding and empty. With cold weary feet and long gripping toes still clinging. Poem by Val Sheppard
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About the Book
My short stories are mostly based on my life’s experiences and the places I have visited as well as the people that I am lucky to have shared part of my life with. There is something here for young and old alike to enjoy, whether on your travels or just snuggled up on the settee in front of the fire. You can even read a bedtime story to your children from these sweet and simple tales.
About the Author
Val Sheppard is a well-known artist in Littlehampton, West Sussex. At the age of sixty-four, she decided to attend Chichester College Outreach Centre for Adult Education to study computer technology and creative writing. She enjoys writing short stories and poems, and now, at the age of seventy-nine, she has become a published author. I’ve painted all my life, from the age of eleven, when I passed a scholarship to go to Art College. My first job was illustrating comic strips. I then painted backdrops for a film studio and theatres. I decided to go freelance and worked on displays for some of the biggest stores in London. A few years later, I went back to college to become a qualified art teacher. When I received my BA, I worked in an art studio, painting everything, especially horses, beautiful landscapes, and portraits. After I suffered a stroke, I decided to use the inspiration from my paintings to write. It’s what keeps me sane. I do hope you get some enjoyment from my little book.