Flash Fiction is a relatively new but growing phenomena and Gail Aldwin is a master of the craft. Her latest book, ‘Paisley Shirt’ is a fascinating collection of 27 stories that explore many facets of life in the 21st century. They reflect a wide range of emotions and experiences that we may all be familiar with, even if only observed from afar.

The stories may be brief but every word counts, creating vivid images and strong characters with few words. A perfect example is Stone, barely a paragraph but quite perfect in its expression of love. The characters and settings throughout are vividly drawn and the expressive use of language a tell-tale sign of the poet.

If you’re not a lover of poetry then flash fiction may be the perfect alternative for a short but satisfying read. The brevity it offers gives the reader the ability to devour one in spare moments but to be left thinking about them long afterwards.

Paisley Shirt is published by Chapeltown and is available from www.bookdepository.com

Gail Aldwin is a prize-winning writer of poetry and short fiction. Chair of the Dorset Writers’ Network, she works with the steering group to support writers across the county. She is a visiting tutor at Arts University Bournemouth and her work can be found online at Ink, Sweat & Tears and Slamchop and in print anthologies including What I Remember (EVB Press, 2015) Dorset Voices (Roving Press, 2012) and The Last Word (Unbound Press, 2012).