Julian Simpson

Yeah I just finished reading his latest piece: "Y - The Continuing Saga of Mr and Mrs Montague" http://www.abctales.com/abcplex/viewstory.cgi?s=22423 Loved the idea of placing Romeo and Juliet in a modern setting.. found this piece to be very clever and humourous.. enjoyed it a lot. These two passages in particular spoke out to me, and I felt I could relate to them: "..He was suddenly struck by a lightning bolt of emotion and nostalgia that almost made him take a step backwards. He realised that his passion had not died out, but had merely become muted, and the sound of the owl made him look back into himself, as the feeling of being transported back twenty-five years ago, to his crazy, abandoned, hedonistic youth when he had loved so strongly once more welled up inside him.." "..He marvelled at the sounds the owl made outside, the carefree attitude with which it called out in the dark to an unseen lover, not with regret, but optimism. I need to embrace my love, my life, once again, he thought. Be once more like the beautiful owl, grasp those desires that once enflamed my youth – return to the basics, to whit: to woo.."

Also, The Big Leap and Bourbon. Julian is one of the finest writers on the site, very low-key and talented. We do forget how many newcomers there are. Other luminaries who don't get enough press are Andy Barratt (whose "Noodles" is my favourite piece of prose here - and I've read close to 9,000 pieces in my time here. ) Justyn Thyme (whatever you want to read, Justyn will have written a piece to suit you, like that magic teapot that can pour G&T or Irn Bru on demand. Check him out, or email him and name your poison) and the much-loved but still overlooked Stormy Petrel (in particular the piece called, I think, the Queen's Gambit. ) Not all of our very best, by a long chalk, but some very good places to begin.