Once Upon a Somewhere

by M.K. Aston

Once Upon a Somewhere is an eclectic collection of short stories. Within its pages there is the occasional twist and the odd coincidence as well as some heartwarming nostalgia. What's in store for the photojournalist when he happens to be in the right place at the right time? Can the young couple who knew that change was coming to their lives survive the Great Storm? Will the man be able to cope with his wife's strict new diet or will it drive him away? Only one way to find out....

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 9, 2014

About the author

Mark Aston was born in England in 1967 and grew up in a small village in Sussex. Here he lived until his mid 20s before relocating to London to study drama. A very short acting career ensued during which a variety of typical "resting actor" jobs were undertaken to pay the bills. Somewhere along the way he regained his childhood habit of producing short stories and this quickly evolved into a passion for writing, much of which draws on the varied and peripatetic lifestyle he has lived to date.

He has published two collections of short stories, Woeful and Roses (2013) and Once Upon a Somewhere (2014) both of which are available in paperback and ebook form.

For several years he was a regular contributor to The Daily Opinion where he happily waxed lyrical about another of his passions - classic cinema and TV.

He lives in Surrey.

Reviews

[BestChickLit.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having reviewed M.K. Aston’s last collection of short stories, Woeful and Roses, I was excited to hear that he had published another. As I expected, Once Upon A Somewhere is a selection of timeless stories that truly tap into human nature. They take place in everyday situations that we all are likely to experience, either first-hand or through friends and family, but they offer a certain wisdom that only comes from observing life at its most raw. They work as a commentary on social conventions, human nature and the everyday parts of our lives that we so often take for granted. These stories are comforting and unnerving all at once.

As with the last collection of stories, there are some stories that really stood out and resonated with me, but as a whole Once Upon A Somewhere is a pleasure to read. I doubt anyone would be able to resist devouring it in one go. Journey Through Hell shows Aston’s skill at writing suspense and really makes the reader care about the protagonists in a very short space of time. In contrast, Resisting a Rest I found to be heartwarming and comforting, offering an older lady’s view of the world as retirement loomed. I was hooked early on with Living Without Wings, as Aston really tapped into the minds of children, but the final story of the book is one that will stay with me long after I finished reading. I’ll refrain from commenting on At the End of the Day, in case I give anything away, but it is one of those stories that leaves you staring into space, fighting back the tears. Overall, I heartily recommend the collection and if you like it, don’t forget to pick up Woeful and Roses too!

review by Elizabeth A Wright on behalf of BestChapLit.com

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Somewhere is a collection of short stories. The characters in these stories come to life and are believable. You find yourself rooting for them. The author uses some beautiful descriptions throughout although sometimes there could have been less as it made sections hard to read. Journey Through Hell, had me gripped and on the edge of my seat. This one was my favourite followed by Blast From The Past and William The Conqueror.
I struggled slightly through the first two stories in the collection but am very glad I read on.