Author Archives: mike olley

Caught up in the mellow drama

The other night I was watching a TV programme about murder in fiction; it was good except for one annoying aspect. The presenter talked about melodrama but insisted on pronouncing it “mellow drama”. As if the sinister was fine. Like: “Hey man, let’s do a murder.” “Mellow drama” It spoiled the effect really. “Mellow drama”Continue reading “Caught up in the mellow drama”

Having A Wild Time.

Here is a piece I entered for the Writers Talkback Forum ‘One Word Challenge’: a 200 word story inspired by a one word prompt. The word? Wild. The result? I was judged to have won. Talk about having your cake… —————————————————————————————————– Having A Wild Time. If there was ever a place not to lose it,Continue reading “Having A Wild Time.”

Web-based Artist (another Drabble)

I was getting fed up of working at my desk and looking out the window to see the dump of a garden we inherited with this house. So, I took some time off, got lucky with the weather, and took up the decking that covered almost the entire garden. Disappointingly I found only concrete and spiders underneath – no treasure, butContinue reading “Web-based Artist (another Drabble)”

The Joke That Bombed

Oh, I forgot to mention, at the start of this month I won two minor writing competitions with my short fiction. Both with a limit of 200 words, one story was based on the prompt: “a piano lesson” – I took inspiration from the Laurel & Hardy short where as removal men they deliver aContinue reading “The Joke That Bombed”

Zest For Life

A beautiful family walk serenely towards a perfect horizon where a wonderful new day dawns. A soft disembodied voice fills the sky: “Zest, everything you’ve ever wanted. Zest for life.” A crumpled beer can hit the television screen. ‘Life’s not like that!’ said Davey opening another beer. ‘You mean our life’s not like that.’ RosieContinue reading “Zest For Life”

A Diluted Idea

It couldn’t get any better, or worse: maverick scientist, Ron Archimedes, had won the World Esoteric Science Fair’s Innovation Award, the Indie equivalent to a Nobel Prize, except without the cash. He therefore couldn’t afford to fly halfway round the world to accept the honour. Unless, he found an alternative to regular travel. Think! Concentrate!Continue reading “A Diluted Idea”

Spotlight on Mr McGovern

Worse than the cane, out came the dreaded phrase: “Illuminate me, please do,” along with the trademark condescending smile; Mr McGovern towered over the twelve-year-old me. Caught in the shadow of this self-proclaimed genius, I’d drawn attention to myself. I should’ve kept quiet like everyone else, not expressed my ‘radical’ political theories in class. TheContinue reading “Spotlight on Mr McGovern”