While I was away, a book I have been waiting eagerly to read was published; Freaks!

‘Dedicated ‘To all who, if only for a moment, felt that they didn’t belong’, FREAKS by Caroline Smailes & Nik Perring, illustrated by Darren Craske, is a unique collection of short stories with comic book style illustrations. Darkly humorous these stories explore the more disturbing consequences of ordinary, flawed human beings obtaining superpowers. A bizarre collection of short stories, each featuring a character with an unusual superpower.’

If that weren’t enough to get you picking up a copy, Andrew Kaufman, the author of books as wonderful as The Tiny Wife and All My Friends Are Superheroes, said this about Freaks:

‘Read it and be amazed! Before you finish you’ll already be thinking of who to buy it for. It’s a circus sideshow made of words: dare to enter and become astonished to discover yourself on stage, in the starring role. I guarantee that by the time you finish reading this book you’re not only recognize your inner freak, but you’ll have learned to love it.’

If you require further convincing here’s one of the stories from book, complete with illustration:

SUPER POWER:

The ability to make

oneself unseen to

the naked eye

*

Invisible 

[Super Power: The ability to make oneself unseen to the naked eye]

If I stay totally still,

if I stand right tall,

with me back against the school wall,

close to the science room’s window,

with me feet together,

pointing straight,

aiming forward,

if I make me hands into tight fists,

make me arms dead straight,

 if I push me arms into me sides,

if I squeeze me thighs,

stop me wee,

if me belly doesn’t shake,

if me boobs don’t wobble,

if I close me eyes tight,

so tight that it makes me whole face scrunch,

if I push me lips into me mouth,

if I make me teeth bite me lips together,

if I hardly breathe,

if I don’t say a word.

Then,

I’ll magic meself invisible,

and them lasses will leave me alone.

Enjoy that as much as I did? Then seek out a copy of your very own over on Amazon in either print edition or ebook.