Barbara Jaques

Biography

Life has so many possible outcomes. From the simple question what if? a thousand stories can evolve. This is how novelist, Barbara Jaques, finds inspiration, through questions of coincidence, uncertainty, superstition and faith.

Born in a tiny town in Alberta to wandering parents before their return to Bristol, Barbara has also wandered a little, although is now settled in Wiltshire with her family, close to her childhood home.

Smashwords Interview

What motivated you to become an indie author?
The mainstream world of publishing has narrowed, rather like the film industry. The vogue is for dead-cert money spinners. No one appears to want to test ideas or expand the market; taking a creative gamble and seeing if it pays off seems to be a thing of the past. Nowadays, unless the genre is very clear and specifically commercial, forget finding the more regular sort of support. Fortunately, the emergence of independent publishing platforms has allowed for greater expression once more.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
For me, writing is like painting: shape it, colour it, give it mood with subtle shade; perhaps re work it or throw it away and start again with a new canvas. The process of creation is wonderful.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Barbara Jaques online

Where to buy in print

Series

A short story
Short stories with unexpected outcomes
Baggy
Price: Free!
The Front Door
Price: Free!
Sterling Close
Price: Free!
Anita Smith.
Price: Free!
Fibre
Price: Free!
Party Bus
Price: Free!

Books

Following Alice
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,280. Language: English. Published: April 26, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Supernatural
Sun, sea and sand serve only to perpetuate an annual nightmare
Listen to Me
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 1,590. Language: British English. Published: January 30, 2022 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Supernatural
A short tale of two people finding warmth at an ancient ritual and a dark, unwanted obsession.
Cold Bones
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,630. Language: English. Published: July 15, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
Two cycling friends take a short break from family life and find themselves caught up in a nose twitching puzzle.
Lonesome Corpse
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,370. Language: English. Published: October 7, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » General, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
A creepy short story of why it is always better to stay on the path
We Are Who
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,190. Language: English. Published: May 31, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories, Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy
(3.00 from 1 review)
The age of technology? The ride might be longer than you think.
Number Ten
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,030. Language: English. Published: December 12, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy, Fiction » Literature » Literary
(3.00 from 1 review)
The decision of one man seems to change the course of the day for many. But was change coming, anyway?
Agnes Wagner's Gardening Club
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,610. Language: English. Published: October 22, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy, Fiction » Horror » Weird fiction
A short tale of an elitist gardening club driving the horticulturally minded to insane extremes. Nature, nurture or just plain creepy?
Portia
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 4,310. Language: English. Published: August 15, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » General
A short cautionary tale; when does a stranger become something more?
Fibre
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,720. Language: English. Published: May 2, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories, Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy
A short tale of threading lives and private stories where not everything is as it seems.
Party Bus
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 6,640. Language: English. Published: October 11, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy, Fiction » Literature » Literary
What sort of party starts at 8am, includes the young, the old, and strangers, and begins on a bus in a supermarket carpark?
West of Eden; A Dedicated Tale
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 3,330. Language: English. Published: November 4, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Satire
Two small English cities battle it out, in a short tale of personal rivalry and obsession.
Anita Smith.
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,500. Language: English. Published: July 25, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy
(3.00 from 1 review)
Life is a bus journey. Or is it a lottery, where you select your own numbers or even make a random choice? Whichever, the odds do not change. What does matter, however, is what you do with the ticket. Anita Smith left hers on the bus.
Sterling Close
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 4,670. Language: English. Published: July 5, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Humor & comedy » Black comedy
(4.00 from 1 review)
Sterling Close is the short story of a tiny community and their very particular, and rather unexpected, tastes. From the author of other unexpected short stories, novelist Barbara Jaques.
Baggy
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,060. Language: British English. Published: February 2, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Supernatural
(3.00 from 1 review)
An unexpected turn of events for a young mischief maker, forces him to take a different view of his best friend
The Front Door
Series: A short story. Price: Free! Words: 2,380. Language: British English. Published: January 23, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
(5.00 from 1 review)
An unexpected tale of opportunity in the rental market. Inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Roald Dahl.