Hi
Good afternoon. I’m still at home with my cold.
I’ve decided to turn the four-part story I sent you into a Reader Magnet - a taster for the Portals trilogy which fantasy readers can download via Prolific Works or Bookfunnel. It won’t appear in Book Three.
Thank you to everyone who contacted me.
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Some time ago, I produced a paperback version of the eight Tinker Tailor stories.
I recently looked at the book description and ‘that’s pretty uninspiring.
It’s here
So then I turned to the AI platform chatgpt and told it to imagine it was a top copywriter for a major publishing company specialising in writing Amazon book descriptions. Here’s what it came up with (in seconds)
Here's a polished, high-impact book description that captures the intrigue, mystery, and rich storytelling of your collection:
Whispers of the Forgotten: Tales of Love, Loss, and the Supernatural
Step into the realm of the timeless and the uncanny, where ancient myths intertwine with human fate, and magic lingers just beneath the surface. Eight spellbinding short stories, woven in the dark and captivating tradition of the Brothers Grimm, transport you to worlds where the past calls, the supernatural beckons, and destiny is rarely kind.
A Tinker’s Love That Defies Time
For two thousand years, Hamish has walked the hills outside Edinburgh, unaware that an ancient love waits to be remembered. When a mysterious pool opens a portal, Esibell steps through—and with her, a forgotten curse that could claim them both.
A Tailor’s Wit Against the Goblin King
Joachim, a 14th-century tailor with a modern mind, refuses to believe that goblins have stolen his baby. But when he is set three impossible tasks, his nimble fingers—and even sharper mind—must outplay the trickster fae before it's too late.
A Viking’s Refuge That Becomes a Trap
Fleeing the devastation of battle, two warriors seek shelter in the lush, untouched garden of Mistress Gefn. But the flowers conceal secrets, the birds whisper warnings, and the price of safety may be far worse than death.
A Sailor’s Search for the Daughter He Never Loved
The moor-folk steal abandoned children, their cries lost to a dreamlike world. Jago Penhaligon never cared for his motherless daughter—until the day she vanishes. His journey into the land of the fey will cost him dearly, for those who cross into their world rarely return unscathed.
A Rich Man’s Window Into the Abyss
Thorburn Mackay’s wealth came from distant shores, but when he peers through a mysterious seer stone, the last rays of a Caribbean sunset flicker… and then something looks back.
A Pauper’s Greed That Awakens a Curse
Gaspar has always longed to escape his humble life. The Persian armbands from his family’s enchanted chest promise power—until he learns the price: everything you desire will bring great success… before it destroys you.
A Beggar Who Knows Who Will Die
In Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, the ‘Major’ sees death before it arrives. A student and a singer cross his path—one seeking the truth about his past, the other searching for a lost twin. But the deeper they dig, the more they question: who—or what—is the Major, really?
A Thief Who Outsmarts Kings, Knights, and Destiny
The greatest thief in the world can steal anything—diamonds, princesses, even the impossible. But when two Crusaders and a ruthless ruler demand the same treasure, the only way to survive is to outplay them all.
Darkly enchanting, richly woven, and brimming with intrigue, this collection of fairy-tale-inspired stories will transport you to a world of mystery, magic, and the unexpected. Fans of Neil Gaiman, Angela Carter, and classic folklore will be spellbound.
Dare you step into the shadows of legend?