I promote authors across most genres except for erotica as I do have a younger readership… You can find my personal recommendations Free author promotions and personal recommendations 2026
I am an author too and here are some of my current books available on Amazon, and Smashwords. Just Food for Health is not availalble in Ebook and is not listed on Amazon. The last cover is my latest which will be available soon.
Amazon: Amazon US – Amazon UK: Amazon UK – More reviews : Goodreads
My latest book is Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces. Released on April 19th 2026
About the book
In the Irish Garden there is fantasy, magic, friendship and love to be found in this green and welcoming haven. For some of those who find their way to the garden there is a renewal and an awakening of the spirit and special gifts lost through tragedy. For others it is the end of a long and arduous journey to find their soulmate.
The Irish garden has been a sanctuary for centuries for those escaping persecution, invaders and grief. Its guardian is the storyteller, a man who has lived for hundreds of years and who is part of a network of guardians around the world, offering a safe haven to those worthy of their protection.
It is not only humans who travel from afar to this garden, but animals which are hurt or lost. One creature in particular has travelled across time following the elusive melody remembered from its time in an ancient civilisation, a cat who has reached its ninth life.
You are welcome to join the storyteller, Finn, Lilah, Ramon, Michael, Bebechat and Flaco in the garden to enjoy their company, discover their stories and be amused at some of the antics they get up to as they finally find a peaceful home to call their own.
Recent Reviews for the book
Patricia Furstenberg July 8th 2026
Tales From the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces is a book that restores something in the reader. Sally Cronin invites you into an enchanting sanctuary where magic exists not to dazzle but to heal. Within the Irish Garden, fantasy intertwines with everyday humanity, friendship blossoms as naturally as the flowers, and love (whether romantic, familial, or compassionate) becomes the force that binds every story together.
This collection of 23 interconnected stories is far more than a series of fairy tales. Each tale explores loss, hope, renewal, belonging, and second chances. Those who enter the magical garden are often burdened by grief, trauma, loneliness, or forgotten gifts. Yet the garden itself becomes a living sanctuary where broken spirits begin to mend, ancient wisdom returns, and lives find purpose once more. Rather than relying on dramatic twists, Cronin allows quiet acts of kindness to become the true miracles.
One of the greatest strengths of the collection is its cast of recurring characters. The Storyteller, guardians, healers, villagers, animals, and magical beings create a world that feels welcoming from the very first page. The stories stand alone, yet each adds another thread to a larger tapestry, rewarding readers who journey through the collection from beginning to end. The result is a novel-like continuity while preserving the charm of individual short stories.
I was fond of many of the stories included in Tales From the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces: “The Return to the Magic Garden, “The Nine Lives Begin” or “The Wedding Day”, but especially the following ones.
“The Guardian Association AGM” serves as a remarkable opening to new adventures. What could easily have become a simple fantasy meeting instead becomes a thoughtful reflection on a troubled world. The gathering of guardians reveals that sanctuaries are becoming increasingly necessary as humanity struggles with conflict and despair. The introduction of Lilah, a gifted healer who has lost confidence in her abilities after trauma, immediately establishes one of the collection’s central themes, that healing begins not with magic, but with compassion. Gabriel and the Storyteller embody quiet wisdom, offering refuge without judgement. Their gentle conversation, rich world-building, and underlying concern for humanity create a deeply hopeful beginning that resonates long after the chapter ends.
“The Return to the Magic Garden” beautifully transforms hope into reality. Lilah’s long journey to Ireland mirrors an emotional pilgrimage from fear toward belonging. Cronin’s descriptions of the hidden garden, the welcoming cottage, the scent of herbs, the magnificent magnolia tree, and the warmth of simple hospitality immerse the reader completely. Particularly moving is the Storyteller’s own history – his marriage, family, and the bittersweet burden of his long life – which adds emotional depth to a character who might otherwise have remained simply mysterious. Watching Lilah finally realise she has reached the place she had dreamed about for so long is one of the collection’s most satisfying and uplifting moments.
“A Skinny Mutt” may well be one of the most touching stories in the entire collection. At first glance it tells the tale of a starving, abused dog rescued from a roadside ditch, yet beneath its simple premise lies a profound meditation on kindness. Finn’s instinctive compassion, Lilah’s healing gifts, Michael’s innocent affection, Bebechat’s remarkable nurturing presence, and the Storyteller’s gentle reassurance all combine to demonstrate that love often speaks most powerfully through actions rather than words. The dog’s gradual recovery mirrors the healing experienced by many of the garden’s human residents, making this story especially memorable for animal lovers and anyone who believes that compassion can change lives.
“Autumn and Love is in the Air” provides one of the emotional high points of the collection. Here the garden has become not merely a refuge but a thriving home where healing naturally gives way to love, family, and celebration. Lilah’s growing confidence as a healer, Finn’s quiet devotion, Michael’s birthday, and the eventual marriage proposal unfold with warmth that never feels sentimental. The adoption of Michael is especially moving because it transforms an orphaned child into a son surrounded by unconditional love. Rather than focusing solely on romance, the story celebrates the creation of an entire family, reminding readers that home is ultimately built through commitment, kindness, and shared joy.
Throughout the collection Tales From the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces Sally Cronin writes with remarkable gentleness. Her prose is accessible yet richly descriptive, allowing gardens, cottages, forests, markets, and seasons to come alive without overwhelming the narrative. Nature itself becomes a character, reflecting emotional growth and spiritual renewal. The magical elements never overshadow the human stories; instead, they enhance them, making the extraordinary feel entirely believable.
Perhaps the greatest achievement of Tales From the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces is the sense of peace it leaves with the reader. It reminds us that healing rarely happens through grand gestures but through welcoming hands, shared meals, loyal animals, faithful friends, and people willing to offer sanctuary when it is needed most. In a world often dominated by darker fantasy, Sally Cronin offers something refreshingly hopeful without sacrificing emotional depth.
This is a collection to savour slowly, returning to individual stories whenever comfort, inspiration, or simply a reminder of human goodness is needed. Fans of gentle fantasy, magical realism, Irish folklore, and uplifting fiction will find themselves wishing the gates of the Irish Garden were real—and perhaps believing, just a little, that somewhere they might be.
This gloriously uplifting book is an immersive journey into the lives of souls who are sometimes lost, sometimes injured, and sometimes simply reaching the end of life’s adventures. They are welcomed into a sanctuary where the storyteller offers refuge, a place where they can heal and flourish.
Through Sally Cronin’s rich tapestry of expressive writing, the reader is drawn into this sanctuary: the heart of the Irish garden. I adored her vivid descriptions, which brought every scene to life, making it effortless to picture each moment as it unfolded.
As the characters’ stories weave together, they face challenges that test their courage, compassion, and resilience. I was drawn to them all, but especially Bebechat, whose story captivated me. Along the way, friendships deepen, trust is restored, and each is inspired to embrace their unique gifts.
This is a book that promises enchantment and delivers the very best kind of magic. Gentle, heartwarming and filled with hope, it leaves you with that rare feel-good glow long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a treasure, and I loved every moment of it.
Tales From the Irish Garden:The Missing Pieces’ is like a whiff of fresh breeze, lifting us from the mundane world of thrillers and murder mysteries, transporting us to the magical world of love, kindness, and peace. Here, in the garden of the Emerald Island, meet with the Storyteller – the character, who holds various threads of the stories together. Cronin weaves them into a magical garland, and the link sounds realistic despite the fantasy backdrop. Anyone who comes to the Storyteller’s garden finds comfort, solace and confidence to face the world.
Characters are of utmost importance in all the stories and each one shines under the pen of Cronin. She doesn’t need to describe them, as their emotions and reactions are enough to tell about them. It is a marvel how Bebechat (a cat) becomes a part of characterisation and holds your attention with real human feelings.
While reading the stories, you get sucked into the power of positivity floating in the vibrant garden of the Storyteller, bask in the glory of his sanctuary, inhale the fragrant air, enjoy the music created by Ramon, and devour the homemade scones and cakes baked by Lilah. Also, enjoy the weddings! You have to read this book to visit the spectacular sanctuary.
Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
A selection of my other books
One of the reviews for the book Marsha Ingrao Goodreads
Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
One of the reviews for the collection
Laura Lyndhurst 15th July 2026
A Book of Both Poetry and Prose – 5*
This is a book of two sections by author and poet Sally Cronin, a collection of short stories following a selection of poems—and it’s on the latter that I’d like to focus first.
These poems are a delight, treating as they do the varied aspects of the world which we inhabit. I was on-side from the first one, ‘Key Words’, which is both sweet and bitter—the essence of poetry, so much feeling fitted with apparent ease into a few short lines. It fits into the category of the human race, the relationships which mark their journey through life in such poems as ‘Kinship’, ‘Lullaby’, ‘Bear Witness’, ‘Face in the Mirror’, ‘The Waltz’, ‘Rejection’, ‘Useful’ and ‘Marriage’. ‘Primal Fear’ refers back to “our ancestors”, as does ‘Origins’, which is introduced by the author’s explanation of having her DNA tested and the procedure used, which resulted in the identification of an ancient ancestor from 20,000 years ago. Finally, more physical journeys are examined in ‘Pilgrimage’, ‘Expeditions’ and ‘Above the World’.
The animal world is treated too, through ‘Dolphins’, along with those poems set within their own section, entitled ‘A Snapshot from My Garden’, where the plants and wildlife to be found within the author’s garden in Ireland are examined. ‘Bees’, ‘Butterflies’, ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘The Robin – Size Doesn’t Matter’ are all a part of this. Then there’s ‘Starlings’, followed in a natural succession by their ‘Murmuration’, and then of course by the ‘Neighbourhood Cats’. From predation for food the collection moves to that of hunters after treasure in ‘Magpies’ and thence to a note of peace for all, in ‘Doves’.
‘The Colour of Life’ and ‘Blossom’ form a part of the ‘Garden’ section, wherein Nature is tamed. Some, however, like ‘Seasons’, ‘Fire and Water’, ‘Changing Seasons’ and ‘Storm Front’ address the larger and ‘wilder’ side of things, as well as locating the human race within the cosmos, thus spanning two categories. ‘Strawberries’ and ‘Crab Apples’ both concern Nature’s abundance, feeding the need for food and pleasure by us all. ‘Drought’, however, marks the fragility of this, the threat to the bounty of the earth caused through a lack of rain.
There’s fantasy too, the more mysterious side of things, given a sidelong glance in ‘The Moonlight Concerto’ and ‘Dress Rehearsal’, which latter seems straightforward, albeit with a twist at the end, which I love. There’s also ‘Superstitions’, touching on the strange ideas which have grown up surrounding the number thirteen.
The author also plays with poetic form, as in the Choka used in ‘Origins’ and the Roku Hana used in ‘Superstitions’. There are comments on other works of art, such as ‘Exuberance’, written around the picture ‘Russian Dancers’ by Edgar Degas. Then there’s ‘Legacy’, where a photographer indulges in the particular medium through which he captures the beauty of nature.
As for the short stories, there are some very wonderful twists contained in these, with ‘The Neighbourhood Watch’ a particular favourite with me and ‘The Green Hill’ not far behind, while ‘The Home Help’ turns certain stereotypical notions on their head. ‘The Healer’ demonstrates that science can’t explain everything, while ‘Miss Lloyd’s Robin’ deals with a judgemental teacher who learns a valuable lesson. ‘On the Run’ and ‘The Secret’ look at human experiences which are unfortunately more everyday occurrences, while ‘The Village’ looks at the more rare but particular issues arising from warfare.
All in all it’s a wonderfully creative collection, demonstrating the breadth and depth of the author’s imagination. If I had to make a choice between poetry and prose, however, it’d be the former, and for which I can’t give less than 5*.
Head over to buy the collection in ebook and print: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
One of the recent reviews for the collection
“Life is Like a Mosaic: Random fragments in harmony” is a graceful collection of poetry that, as the title beautifully announces, creates a harmonious medley of poetic moments interspersed with lovely images. The poems are written in various syllabic forms, and reading them, gazing at the images, one can ponder and reminisce, discover and rediscover, while also taking delight in the beauty of life’s tapestry and the wonderful way the author puts together a rich variety of instances, thoughts and experiences.
Going with the flow of it, the collection gives a sense of having opened a lovely scrapbook adorned with sweet colorful things and memories, beautiful bits and pieces, nice words and drawings, line art or in color, some unexpected.. while some like a good old friend. The poems are in turn meditative and nostalgic, some dreamy, some playful or more matter-of-fact, and with every verse, they all appear to invite us to stop and contemplate a little more, become more aware and appreciative of the gentle way that life puts so much at our disposal, at each and every step… only for us to be able to grasp it and put it to good use.
I have only recently discovered and started writing syllabic poetry, and so Sally’s poems felt to me like the perfect stroll, taken almost like map-in-hand and joy-in-my-heart, a slow peaceful amble with an itinerary so familiar, yet arranged magically anew. This enjoyable stroll took me all along and across life’s winding pathways, its ups and downs, happy or sad, but that end up defining us and shaping our life from within.
Some of my favorite poems are “The Night Sky” and “Creatures of the Night”, “On the Wind” and “The Sunflower – One” and “Sunflower – Two” poems. I was also deeply impressed by “Silver Lining to Isolation”, “Yearning”, “Ageism”, “Life’s Progression” and “Immortality”. I felt touched and inspired by the way several poems sound like an elegant call to show solidarity and mutual understanding, kindness and altruism to one another, which is all superbly springing from the author’s warm and generous heart.
In the special section of the book, “Slices of Life”, I very much enjoyed going along with the verses in “Childhood Memories”, “Summer Holidays” and “Rebellion in Frome”. The poems in this section read like diary entries, also sending the reader back to their own recollections of childhood times. And then there is a sweet poem entitled “Happiness”, one which I feel we should be reading and reciting like a gentle mantra every morning,
Wishing
your life away
delaying happiness
until whims are fulfilled
wastes time that is precious
Living
in the moment
and fully embracing
all the gifts you have now
brings true riches
and joy.
I warmly recommend Sally’s charming collection to all those who love reading comfortingly contemplative poems and enjoy syllabic poetry.
Buy the book £3.50 : Amazon UK – And for $4.79 : Amazon US
![Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet by [Sally Cronin]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41sWq4UacXL._SY346_.jpg)
Buy the book – £3.50: Amazon UK – And $4.65 : Amazon US
One of the recent reviews for the book
Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet’ by dexterous and skilful author Sally Cronin is a charming collection of short stories and poems that is uplifting and inspirational. The poems in the book really made me recollect some of my happier times in the past and the unique short stories in this collection energized me, making me want to return time and again to my Kindle to finish the book. Since all the stories have happy endings, I was left with a smile every time on my face at the end of each tale. From the return of lost love to forgiveness of grievances long past, from a vindication of wrongs done to one to lucky moments of monetary blessings, from ghosts of the past to eternal love stories – these stories make a reader feel optimistic and cheerful about the future as well as the present. Sans triggers and negative themes, this collection is a feel-good masterpiece and a must have on everyone’s Kindle bookshelf.
I especially loved the love stories mentioned here in this collection as well as the simple love poems. I am a romantic at heart and stories about lifelong love lasting till the end of one’s life makes me a happy reader. These stories are told with sensitivity and tenderness, and I loved the key roles played by pets and gardens in these tales. Sally Cronin knows the subtitles of the heart and her expertise in executing a good plot knows no bounds. I especially was taken up with the story of ‘Long Lost Love’ and theme of forgiveness contained therein. Cronin’s simplistic and mature style manages to convey the right emotions in this particular tale that captures the heart of all wounded lovers, making way for the gifts of mercy and forgiveness. In an ancient Indian folk tale, it is stated that when a victim of false love does forgive that means that the so-called victim had a big heart, making the sin of the wrong doer even greater – because that meant that the victim loved him/her/they with a great love of sorts. One is reminded of this moral when one reads ‘Long Lost Love’ by stellar writer Cronin as well as some of her other love stories in this collection.
I loved the many themes of forgiveness, redemption, mercy, love, luck, family bonding, motherhood, memories, and amour that is chronicled in these pages. They are told with proficiency and with elan, all divided into sizeable chapters each beginning with a meaningful poem to set the stage for adventure. My favourite poems were obviously the ones related to old love or eternal love like ‘Connections’, ‘Two Hearts’ and ‘Ritual of Mehendi’. They are penned in a humble but artistic manner and the lines are evocative of many emotions. Be ready to shed a tear or two as one reads these little gems, especially ‘Connections’. I was especially joyful to see the topic of Mehendi covered by the author. I’ve always believed it to be truly the very epitome of what a woman’s love is like for her partner.
Few other stories that became my favourites were ‘The Florist’ which was about finding love in one’s middle age, ‘The Date’ about an elderly woman going out with a very much younger man after 40 years and ‘The Charity Shop’ which reminded me about my own love for shopping for bargains, and sometimes coming out lucky. A reader will even be taken up and sometimes left stunned by some unique tales told in this collection like ‘The Weekly Shopping’ and ‘DNA’. Those two are really futuristic and can become a reality in the near future as AI continues to expand its hold upon as well as in our lives. Where the last two were concerned, they were so noteworthy that I hope one day Cronin will develop them into full length science fiction or futuristic novels. To know more do check out ‘Life Is Like A Bowl of Sherries’ by adroit author and notable indie blogger Sally Cronin, grab your copy of her book today!
If you are looking for a cozy collection of ‘feel-good’ short stories for the Summer or if you wish to delve into a lovely collection of subtly moralistic stories about reality that is and that can be, look no further than Sally Cronin’s title. I hope to read more of her books in the coming days. She is an author to watch out for and learn a lot from. I especially loved her meticulous prose and narrative style, reminds me a lot of Alice Munroe the Canadian short story writer par excellence as well as my favourite Joyce Carol Oates the American queen of novels and short story collections. All this with the atmospheric quality of the post-World War 2 romance novels and the Christian fiction of the 1980s sans the symbolism of course!
Sally Cronin obviously gets 5 stars from me! Kudos to her on a job beautifully done!
Looking forward to some more of her literature in the coming days!
Buy the book – £3.50: Amazon UK – And $4.65 : Amazon US
Laura Lyndhurst 10th June 2026
A Wonderful Weaving of Words – 5*
The more of Sally Cronin’s books I read the more I’m drawn into the world she creates, and Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is no exception. It may well be my favourite of her books which I’ve read to date.
The cover features a weaving loom, matching the title, and I can’t help but see the structure of this slim volume as forming a similar frame upon which the author constructs her views on life. The work is divided into sections which form the ‘warp’, threads which run lengthwise, stretched taut on the loom to provide a strong foundation, resistant to the tension of life. The ‘weft’ is the words used, woven under and over the warp threads, to which they’re set horizontally, to fill in the framework and add decoration. Hence, Sally Cronin gives us a broad tapestry picture of life, completed and coloured by the experiences which her words provide.
There’s an order to the sections which to me represents the landscape through which our lives will travel. “The Seasons of the Year” represents Nature, the weather, the flora and fauna as a background against which we move and within which we interact. “All things Human” brings we, the people, into the picture; our evolution and development, our survival from youth through the various trials of life: ‘Romance’, ‘Rejection’, ‘Betrayal’ and other ‘Wonders I have seen’ while ‘Age Defying’ we move towards ‘Devolution’, a not-necessarily rosy future for the species.
“Fairies and other Folk” moves into the world of the imagination, of ‘Fairy Tales’ and ‘Enchantment’, while “The Natural World” looks with more focus through the developed human eye at those with whom we share this planet: ‘The Peacock’, ‘The Eagle’ and ‘The Fish’, amongst others, as well as the habitat we share—including the ‘New Moon’, ‘The Yellow Rose’ and ‘The Magnolia’—and conditions which affect it, such as ‘The Storm’ and ‘The Drought’.
“Remembrance” looks at the negative side of what mankind has brought to the world, with ‘Young Soldiers’ and ‘Old Soldiers’ remembered through ‘The Poppies.’ On the positive side there’s a section “Celebrating Pets”, in which dogs, cats and even a spider are considered, while “Random Thoughts” are just that; a collection of arbitrary reflections on aspects of our existence.
Thus far the sections are made up of poems, short pieces no more than a page long and perhaps representing the enthusiasm and speed with which young people enter upon life, keen to experience as much as possible as fast as possible. However, at a certain point they’re forced to adopt a slower pace and think more deeply about it all; and in this text the section entitled “99 Words in a Flash” is that point.
The pieces here are flash fiction, short but written in prose, not flowing in quite the same manner as the poetry. Short paragraphs chart issues, of present and future worlds, of the animal kingdom; siblings separated, broken relationships, new beginnings, old life ebbing. There’s a polar-bear’s-eye-view of the problems posed by melting ice caps, and that of a boy ‘Following Elephants’ in his search for water; and on the lighter side there’s even a recipe for ‘The Devilish Mojito’.
Things slow down at last with three sections of “Short Stories”, of which two deal with humans and their relationship to their pets. The first concerns dogs, via “The Underdogs”, with the next being set around “The Superiority of Cats”. As a cat person I couldn’t help but love the marmalade cat of ‘The Good Neighbour’, Millicent and her care for her cat, Lily, in ‘For the Love of Lily’ and Napoleon, ‘The Maine Coon King’. Finally there’s a section of “Speculative Fiction”, where characters reflect upon what might have been, sometimes able to make a change, sometimes not.
My favourites? Pretty much all of the poetry section, along with ‘DNA’ from the flash fiction, in which the distant past is connected with the present via the DNA from prehistoric bones found in a cave, which was ‘matched to millions of women who migrated across the continent … populating almost every part of Europe and beyond’. As I recall, the subject matter also relates to ‘Origins’, published in the author’s Variety is the Spice of Life, where she identifies herself as one woman to whom the DNA had come down. I also liked the bittersweet charm of ‘Great Aunt Georgina’, where a woman finds out a family secret too late to act upon the information.
All in all it’s a great collection, a tangled web woven by the actions of mankind and teased into some sort of order by the authorial skill of Sally Cronin; one which I highly recommend.
John Dolan Goodreads May 14th 2026
As recommended
I stopped to smell the roses
precious time well spent.”
Lately, I have been reading some rather heavy ‘classics’ (and doing tax returns), so I was ready for something uplifting – and Sally Cronin’s works have always made me feel more optimistic about life. As expected, this delightful volume of poems and other short writings did the trick. And although there are some sad and downbeat pieces (e.g. Mid-Winter, Greed, Rejection), the general thrust and tone is light and hopeful.
My favorite poem here? That would be ‘Fish’ for the downright surreality of it:
“Fish hide in branches
of water reflected trees
safe from angler’s hook.”
… or maybe ‘A Walk Across a Bridge’:
“You have not gone far
Just a walk across a bridge
Where you wait for me.”
If you need cheering up, for whatever reason, I recommend you dip into ‘Life’s Rich Tapestry’.
Amazon :Amazon UK Amazon US : Amazon US
Tales from the Garden – Also in Spanish
One of the reviews for the book.
Please meet Queen Filigree as created by Donata Zawadzka
What an enchanting and captivating journey, to step into a magical Fairyland, a fascinating realm imbued with delightful elements from traditional folklore and fantasy, a mysterious place governed by its own whimsical laws, and inhabited by fairies, supernatural beings, and other such fantastical and adorable creatures.
In Tales From the Irish Garden, which is a standalone sequel of the first book in the series, Tales From the Garden, Sally Cronin tells the story of Fairy Queen Filigree and her court who have to find a new home, and move the entire kingdom of Magia from beneath the roots of the old magnolia tree in Spain to the Emerald Island. The entire endeavor is told in amazing detail, beautifully and minutely described, from the search for a new sanctuary by sending royal pigeons and then a magic butterfly to finally finding a new safe place with the help of Summer, a half-fairy and her daughter who can understand the Queen’s message carriers.
The stories begin to flow with the seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn also being the four parts of the book. I enjoyed the through description of the flight to the new land “by swan express” in the middle of winter, and then the Storyteller’s kindness and hospitality of Queen Filigree and her court in the new magic garden helping all the fairies and the bees’ settle in their new home, helping them with a new wardrobe of clothes by the Dapperman and his assistants.
We also meet adorable creatures such as Jeremy the Donkey and his mother, Fiona at Michael’s dairy farm, we are invited to take part in an elegant Royal Banquet, a Summer Festival or Piglet races, we find out about the Foxes Tale and then about Basil, the Badger’s trouble in the Rose Garden followed by a satisfying rescue mission, and then, as autumn draws near, we are told about the kindness of mice in Herbert’s story, who runs the local mill with his son, Calum. Halloween is celebrated with the people in the village of Freakish with whom the residents of the magic garden have a cordial arrangement, led by Bethany and Cecil her Cat. We also witness specific preparations for the rainy days and the winter to come, made with the help of Sir Arachnid, the spider and Sir Spitface, the frog, the Queen’s orders for Winterising the Palace being obeyed to the dot.
The flow of the Tales ends during Christmas time, thus rounding off the very first year of the fairy court on the Emerald Island, from looking for a new home and safe haven to now celebrating the marriage of the Queen’s two daughters and offering the entire court a surprise gift on the First Christmas in the magic garden. What is uniquely admirable about Sally Cronin’s stories, their welcoming rhythm, refreshing sense of humor and magnetically descriptive force is the fact that we, the readers – much like the wise storyteller himself – easily find ourselves as if shrinking in size unawares and suddenly able to join the endearingly miniature characters’ to and fro in this magical realm so cozily tucked away under the old magnolia tree. The beautiful illustrations preceding each story also add to the charming allure of the book, almost turning it into a portal to a wonderland where we can easily recognize many of the ups and downs, hopes and worries in our human life.
If you are looking for a unique collection of tales combining a variety of elements from fantasy and folklore while also deeply touching your heart, then I warmly recommend reading Tales From the Irish Garden. It would also make a perfectly delightful gift.
The book is now available in Kindle on : Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
What’s in Name – Volume Two – Stories of life and romance. The print version of combined volumes one and two is available in the UK and Ireland
What’s in a Name is full of very human, touching, sometimes hilarious, and often surprising stories that dip lightly into the lives of quite a cast of characters: loners and match-makers, scoundrels and lovers, widows and retired soldiers, heart-breakers and the heartbroken.
Three of my favorite stories were “Patrick”, “Norman,” and “Xenia.” Patrick was an RAF pilot who was so convinced he would not survive the war that he refused to follow his heart when smitten by a red-headed woman he met on leave. Norman, a retired WWII vet, was forced to downgrade into an apartment complex overrun by gang warfare. When he sees how the children have been driven away from their playground by gangs of teenagers, he dons his old uniform and fights back. Xenia is about a young woman who wants to name her unborn child after a beloved grandmother and conjures up all the old lovely memories of this gentle and radiant woman.
We do not get to know these characters well, but the brief glimpses we do get of them (well, most, anyway) make you proud to be part of the human race. And for the few who are awful scoundrels and cheats–well they (mostly) get their just desserts in the end. And those who escape scot-free? Well, that too is the way the world turns, and Cronin handles it in such a humorous way we smile as we shake our heads and sigh.
If you are looking for fun and heartwarming stories to lighten your heavier reads, I highly recommend turning to What’s in a Name.
I really enjoyed this short story collection. it’s different from others taking a person’s name as the starting point for creating a story. There is a wide range of variety in this collection but all share one thing in common: these are about life, love and humanity. The range of topics in the stories will appeal to all from amusing, sad, emotional to happy stories. There is even a story about a nun, Celia, leaving her calling which remained with me a long time after reading. The twists at the end of the stories were entertaining too, especially loved the one in ‘George!’ and ‘Isobel.’
Another favourite of mine was ‘Clive,’ about a boy taking a walk in the tropics and walking into a whole lot of trouble – the little ‘un meets a cobra! But, the moment when the boy and cobra look into each others’ eyes is just priceless. Loved it. Cobras are not that uncommon a sight in the tropics, my mum’s step mum came face-to-face with one too! And, in ‘Eric,’ you’ll smile at the tale of a widower who learns to live again through his cat, Doris. in ‘Grace,’ the moving yarn of a young girl in an orphanage ticked all the boxes for me. And the tale of the drunk driver and ‘Hannah,’ was fantastic.
Highly recommended to short story enthusiasts and to all who enjoy well written tales.
You can read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US
Turning Back the Clock – An anti-aging programme.
Amazon Customer An enjoyable and informative read
This was an unexpectedly quick, easy and enjoyable read. It is written by a professional and offers excellent advice on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle to promote healthy ageing and help to turn back the clock by up to ten years. This should be compulsory reading for anyone who is getting older.
Just Food for Health is only in print and available directly from me. It is 360 page kind to health with food as the focus. It is a common sense guide to the human body in plain English and shares the foods you need to eat to keep it healthy. Originally used as a work book for my clients it continues to sell well at book fairs. I am currently in the process of revising and editing for an ebook version due later in 2024.
One of the reviews for the collection
Laura Lyndhurst Books that make you think
This collection of short stories, rounded-off with a novella, is a little gem from the pen of author Sally Cronin which hits hard from the beginning, through ‘Getting Away with Murder.’ The opening line’s a shocker, even for fiction, but the situation was mitigated to some extent when I realised the narrator had been placed in a ‘her or me’ situation, the antagonist not an innocent party but someone actively engaged in conduct which put the life of the protagonist at risk. As I’d come to know the author to some extent since we became acquainted as fellow bloggers, it didn’t take me long to work out what was going on in this great narrative with an autobiographical element.
It leads on into a cornucopia of settings, from the paradisical in ‘The Other Side of Heaven’ through a life just this side of that in ‘Curtains’ and on to the new life of ‘Mañana, Mañana.’ Life, death, starting again on either side of the divide, attempting to stave off the crossing from the one to the other, the refusal to accept reality and the results of doing so at last—these are the themes to be found within these and the other tales, such as ‘Trust’, ‘Albert – The Perfect Candidate’ and ‘Father Christmas’. This isn’t to say there isn’t a great deal of humour to be found here, as in the life-changing advice dished up by ‘The Psychic Parrot’, or the justice to be found in the table-turning ‘Flights of Fancy’. A personal favourite was ‘Henry’s Story’, in which an episode from the author’s book Sam, A Shaggy Dog Story is enlarged upon, being the life story of a feral cat told to the family dog, Sam.
The novella The Sewing Circle concerns a group of elderly women affected when an influx of troublesome new residents to their estate brings with it an increase in crime. When one of the members of the sewing group becomes a victim of one such crime the other members of the group band together to solve the problem and dispense justice in the process. I believe the author may at one point have published it on her blog, because I’d read it before. No harm in a second reading, which rounded-off satisfactorily the reading of this wonderful collection.
One of the reviews for the book
Laura Lyndhurst Books That Make You Think
Imogen’s story is a familiar one. Marriage at the age of twenty, to the young man she met in college and regarded as her best friend; life as a housewife and mother to three children, who flew the nest when they were supposed to; parents left with to a well-earned rest and quality time together after launching their offspring onto the world. The same old story of happily ever after, right?
Wrong. There’s another old story, oft-told, although it’s clear that husband Peter’s paid closer attention to it than has Imogen, whose world shatters when he recites the ‘I’m sorry darling but I’ve met someone else and I’m leaving you for her’ opening line to her. The script pans out along the usual lines, with the upshot being that Imogen at the age of fifty finds herself alone, in a new house and with the need to find something to do with herself. Peter’s paid for the house, along with enough to keep her fed and clothed, but doing up the new place only keeps her occupied for so long, and soon time hangs heavy; as does her body, after the initial comfort eating with which Imogen fills her days—and her stomach.
It won’t do, so she resorts to something she hasn’t done in a long time; paid employment outside the home. An agency seems like a good way to go; they ought to be able to get Imogen back up to speed regarding the world of work. Putting together a CV is an eye-opener, as she realises the number of different jobs she undertook back in the day before she became a mother—and they’re an eyebrow-lifter too for Andrew Jenkins, proprietor of the agency to which Imogen applies. When her lack of confidence becomes apparent, he suggests that she talk him through her varied career—and there follows a history of experience gained in a multiplicity of places, from sales assistant through dental nurse to the hospitality industry, schools and funeral directors.
I enjoyed this story mainly because I can relate closely to Imogen. Fortunately for me—arguably—I still have the man in tow, but before and during our marriage I managed to clock up a breathtaking tally of jobs, in following his mobile career. Imogen and I both worked as dental nurses—on reception too, in my case—and working as a secretarial temp for me led to a variety of posts in whatever town the man’s employers sent us to. Like Imogen I have stories of my outstanding successes, as well as occasions when I didn’t fare so well.
Whatever the case, I feel Imogen’s story has to resonate with many other women. I wasn’t too sure about her readiness to blame the other woman one hundred percent for the breakdown of the marriage; it takes two to tango, after all, and if Peter was so easily led then he probably wasn’t worth having in the first place. As Imogen does wonder how she could have been ‘married to someone for twenty-five years and not known him at all’, and as she gets enough grief from her children laying the blame at her door, I’ll put it down to insecurity and the lack of confidence she’s feeling from the body blow dealt her. Whatever the case, the ‘narrative therapy’ through which she goes with Andrew Jenkins restores her confidence, as well as an irresistible opportunity for revenge on Peter. It’s a fun read, with a serious message of self-respect enclosed. If it sounds like your thing I’d recommend you give it a go.
Review Forget the Viagra, Pass me a Carrot – J.E. Spina
This book was chock full of information on the workings and processing of the human body. Sally Cronin, the author, has produced an incredible resource for all. Everything you ever needed to know about diet, exercise, super foods, vitamins, what’s good and bad for your body and even how to breathe more effectively to keep your body working better.
There is a lot to take in but I felt that I gained an enormous amount of essential information that I always wanted to know.
Sally is a wonderful nutritionist who takes her profession seriously and is always available to answer questions or lend a hand to her clients. She also has a fabulous blog which I follow religiously. I love her books and look forward to more from this talented and articulate author.
A review for the book
“Media Training: The Manual” by Sally Cronin is a comprehensive and invaluable resource for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of media communication. From seasoned professionals to novices, this manual offers practical advice, insightful tips, and step-by-step guidance to help individuals effectively engage with the media.
Cronin’s expertise shines through in every chapter, as she covers a wide range of topics essential for mastering media interactions. Whether it’s preparing for interviews, crafting compelling messages, or handling challenging situations, she provides clear and actionable strategies that can be applied in various contexts.
One of the standout features of this manual is its accessibility. Cronin has a knack for breaking down complex concepts into digestible nuggets of information, making it easy for readers to grasp key ideas and implement them in their own media interactions. Additionally, the inclusion of real-life examples and case studies adds depth and relevance to the lessons, allowing readers to learn from both successes and failures.
Moreover, “Media Training: The Manual” is not just a one-time read; it’s a practical guide that readers can refer back to time and time again. Whether you’re facing a crisis situation or gearing up for a high-stakes interview, having Cronin’s insights at your fingertips can provide a sense of confidence and preparedness.
Overall, Sally Cronin’s “Media Training: The Manual” is a must-have resource for anyone looking to enhance their media communication skills. Packed with practical advice, expert guidance, and real-world examples, this manual equips readers with the tools they need to succeed in today’s media landscape.
I do have print copies available of most of my books and you can contact me on sally.cronin@moyhill.com if you are interested in buying a copy..thanks Sally.
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine 