A collection of six fictional stories about love and tragedy. Each story lets us into somebody’s life as their problems unfold, and we follow each protagonist in their quest to cope. All stories are very different from each other but all are sure to have real life parallels and resonate with many readers. Emotionally charged accounts with some unexpected twists, often written with an underlying sense of humour, they make a compelling read.

Herbert Kretzmer, OBE - journalist and lyricist: ‘H A Howe’s chief asset is a capacity to draw the reader in to the tales, making the reader eager to know what happens next’.

Mike Hodges – Writer, Film Director: ‘Neat as a knitting pattern, dark as a closed coffin.’

Don Black, OBE – Lyricist and Oscar Winner: ‘I wasn’t surprised to hear that H A Howe was also a lyricist because a lyric writer’s job is to eliminate the unnecessary, to never meander, be as economical as possible and illuminate character. In her first book Short Stories, this is exactly what she does so effectively.

This is H A Howe’s second collection of fictional stories dealing with fears and tragedies, and although often interwoven with a humorous thread, they do highlight the darker side of life. In her belief that short stories should be able to captivate the reader just as much as longer novels, this new collection does not disappoint. As Herbert Kretzmer, OBE (journalist and lyricist) said of her previous work, ‘H A Howe’s chief asset is a capacity to draw the reader in to the tales, making the reader eager to know what happens next’.

True to her style, H A Howe likes to surprise the reader – so expect the unexpected.

Peter Bogdanovich – Film Director/writer/critic/film historian: ‘…More Thorns Than Roses …is definitely thorny, edgy, dark and very eloquently written. The tales ring true and leave you wanting more as soon as possible. H A Howe is a very gifted writer.’

John Nathan – Journalist The Times, The Independent, Jewish Chronicle: ‘Short Stories doesn’t quite say it. H A Howe’s tales of misadventure are as brief as a moment and as fully formed as a thriller’.

That’s Books and Entertainment Book Shop: ''More Thorns Than Roses is a remarkable collection of short stories from H. A. Howe. It''s an interesting collection of disparate ideas and themes. There are tales of love, of betrayal, of fears, real and imagined and tragedy events of the kind that make people shake their heads and say: "We should have seen that coming" but, somehow, nobody ever does.''

Every Picture Inspires A Story is a collection of twenty-one short stories, all of which have been inspired by (but are not based on) a particular painting. From David Hockney’s Pool And Steps to Van Gogh’s Two Peasant Women Digging Potatoes, the stories are as diverse as the artists’ brush strokes. Most of the tales have been set within the time frame of when the individual painting was created. 

Whilst the featured paintings are fundamental as they have triggered the author’s imagination, they are by no means necessary for the reader’s understanding or enjoyment of these varied and colourful tales depicting contemporaneous adventures ranging from the 16th to the 21st century.

This is H A Howe’s third collection of short stories and lacks none of her unique style that always manages to captivate, and often surprises the reader with unexpected twists

A collection of six fictional stories about love and tragedy. Each story lets us into somebody’s life as their problems unfold, and we follow each protagonist in their quest to cope. All stories are very different from each other but all are sure to have real life parallels and resonate with many readers. Emotionally charged accounts with some unexpected twists, often written with an underlying sense of humour, they make a compelling read.

Herbert Kretzmer, OBE - journalist and lyricist: ‘H A Howe’s chief asset is a capacity to draw the reader in to the tales, making the reader eager to know what happens next’.

Mike Hodges – Writer, Film Director: ‘Neat as a knitting pattern, dark as a closed coffin.’

Don Black, OBE – Lyricist and Oscar Winner: ‘I wasn’t surprised to hear that H A Howe was also a lyricist because a lyric writer’s job is to eliminate the unnecessary, to never meander, be as economical as possible and illuminate character. In her first book Short Stories, this is exactly what she does so effectively.

This is H A Howe’s second collection of fictional stories dealing with fears and tragedies, and although often interwoven with a humorous thread, they do highlight the darker side of life. In her belief that short stories should be able to captivate the reader just as much as longer novels, this new collection does not disappoint. As Herbert Kretzmer, OBE (journalist and lyricist) said of her previous work, ‘H A Howe’s chief asset is a capacity to draw the reader in to the tales, making the reader eager to know what happens next’.

True to her style, H A Howe likes to surprise the reader – so expect the unexpected.

Peter Bogdanovich – Film Director/writer/critic/film historian: ‘…More Thorns Than Roses …is definitely thorny, edgy, dark and very eloquently written. The tales ring true and leave you wanting more as soon as possible. H A Howe is a very gifted writer.’

John Nathan – Journalist The Times, The Independent, Jewish Chronicle: ‘Short Stories doesn’t quite say it. H A Howe’s tales of misadventure are as brief as a moment and as fully formed as a thriller’.

That’s Books and Entertainment Book Shop: ''More Thorns Than Roses is a remarkable collection of short stories from H. A. Howe. It''s an interesting collection of disparate ideas and themes. There are tales of love, of betrayal, of fears, real and imagined and tragedy events of the kind that make people shake their heads and say: "We should have seen that coming" but, somehow, nobody ever does.''

Every Picture Inspires A Story is a collection of twenty-one short stories, all of which have been inspired by (but are not based on) a particular painting. From David Hockney’s Pool And Steps to Van Gogh’s Two Peasant Women Digging Potatoes, the stories are as diverse as the artists’ brush strokes. Most of the tales have been set within the time frame of when the individual painting was created. 

Whilst the featured paintings are fundamental as they have triggered the author’s imagination, they are by no means necessary for the reader’s understanding or enjoyment of these varied and colourful tales depicting contemporaneous adventures ranging from the 16th to the 21st century.

This is H A Howe’s third collection of short stories and lacks none of her unique style that always manages to captivate, and often surprises the reader with unexpected twists