Scribblings from a Dark Place

by Matt Shaw

Readers beware... take extra care... the short scribblings in this morbid little book don't just apply to you if you are good, bad or even slightly mad. They should serve warning to you no matter who you are for, if fate wants you, fate will get you. From the warped mind of Matt Shaw comes a book full of short stories and strange limericks. If you like Tim Burton and Roald Dahl - this book will be right up your street!

Genres: Horror

72 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2008

About the author

Biography

MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.


Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.

Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.

Reviews

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading a few of these here and there... They're hit or miss, as all short story collections are, but I find that these little snippets are charming in a way that Shaw's darker works don't allow for. "Menu" is my favorite of the lot thus far, even though it's been done before, the simple reveal is all the more refreshing FOR its simplicity. I also enjoyed "Hindsight" immensely. Nice little flash fiction there, gave me a grin :)

[mark feenan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some great short stories here. Beware of the one star review!

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start off this review with stating I am a Matt Shaw fan. I love most of his books. If you have not ready any of his books, then don't start here as it might put you off which would be a real shame. Why do I say this? well this is a collection of short stories written (presumably) when Matt was refining his writing style. A number of the stories are a miss, some start off well, but as I have found with other early works from Matt, some stories end rather sudden. Having said that, by the final third of the book you start getting to the good stuff. "The Little Girl", "The Review", "The Food Critic", "The Mystery Shopper", "Insomnia", are all great. It is impressive how far Matt's writing has improved over only a few years, and you get glimpses through these stories of the themes that he expands on in later books.

[Kittykorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book a few gems within, only reason I gave 3 stars is that I found some of the stories too short, not long enough to sink my teeth into.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Matt Shaw - loved it - good introduction to his unique style - went on to read the Happy Ever Books - wow!