The Willow

by Sim Alec Sansford

Abi Millar has spent her entire life in the town of Denver Falls and she is tired of being invisible. An urban legend about a tree deep in the forest with the power to grant three wishes in exchange for blood might seem far-fetched, but Abi is desperate. Learning the hard way that you must be careful what you wish for, she faces a race against time before her final wish is granted and her entire world changes forever. The perfect campfire thriller.

42 pages, ebook

Published November 14, 2019

About the author

Born and raised in the county town of Dorchester, Dorset, Sim began scribbling away stories on scraps of paper since before he can remember. He spent a lot of his childhood on adventures walking the dogs in the woodland surrounding Thomas Hardy's cottage with his family. Something about the cottage and 'the man what wrote stuff' who had lived there sparked a fire inside him, it was from there he began to focus on writing more seriously.

In 2012, Sim signed up to Open University to study Creative Writing alongside working full time. He isn't quite sure how he made it out alive, but he graduated with honours and began using the skills he had acquired to edit and redraft old work.

The Storm is the first short to be published, followed by The Willow which is available in both eBook and paperback.

Other works include a supernatural romance novel for young adults which is currently in development.

Reviews

[Dan Bassett]

Be careful what you wish for...
This is a brilliant short story about maybe leaving some questions unanswered..
A dark forest, haunting atmosphere, and a twist you will not see coming, this is a brilliant short story which will leave you checking over your shoulder, and wondering about what really happened...
Highly recommended for a quick shot of creepy reading! :-)

[Priscilla]

The Willow is a short tale about been careful what you wish for, the first book Ive read by this author.
A perfect read for dark stormy nights, the writing is very atmospheric, I could see and hear the crisp clear forest and feel myself emerged within the pages.

Although a short read a lot is packed within those pages, the story developed to a shocking ending. A twist I didn't see coming. I had to re read parts of the book to fully understand the ending, and even now I think it could be open to interpretation. It has me looking back through the pages for clues. I have a few unanswered questions, but I guess that's what makes a book stay in your mind long after you finish.

I would read more by this author.

[Katie Rees]

A thrilling read, great fun and full of tension. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

[Leanne Kelly]

This is the second story I have read from this author and I cannot wait for more! Was hooked from the start! A must read.

[Kirsty Astin]

A wonderful story that gets you sucked in immediately, I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the heart stopping ending, a perfect thriller.

[Smarti]

Gripping from start to finish. Like his previous short story, it is well written and I will be looking out for more from this author for sure.

[Chantelle Atkins]

This was a quick and highly satisfying read which left me wanting more. I would love to know more about this mysterious town of Denver Falls and the creepy willow tree in the woods. This story is about a local legend that claims if you release three drops of your own blood under the ancient tree, it will grant you your wishes. When disgruntled young Abi tries this, she does not really expect it to come true, but suddenly very strange and disturbing things start to happen around her. A great horror story for young adults and adults alike, with a brilliant twist at the end, and as I say, it leaves you wanting more.

[Tracey Millar]

Loved this I couldn’t put it down. Gripping story, well written with plenty of suspense. Looking forward to reading more from this Author.

[Geereadsx]

I was very kindly sent a copy of Willow by the author @simeon_alec and although I don't usually read many short stories, this one was pretty good!

This short story follows Abi, she's unappreciated at work, at breaking point with her boyfriend and honestly, she's just fed up in the small town she's stuck in... That is until she hears an urban legend about a tree In the forest with the ability to grant wishes, but sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.

I really did enjoy this story, it was eerie and creepy and let's just say I'll be avoiding forests for the time being. I love a bit of gore as some of you will know so I I welcomed those parts with open arms.

The main character was slightly irritating at times but I mean. She made the story for me and I guess she got what she wanted 🙊 I gave this book 🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars and a promise to stay away from anything offering me 3 wishes *shudders*

[Debbie]

Denver Falls

And a forest to fear. Take a walk there if you dare...... Suspense, intrigue and something primeval lurks inside the dense and dark.