'Jan Carson is a born storyteller: her work is so imaginative whimsical mischievous and brave
but tender and curious too - you never know where she's going to take you next so reading her
is always an adventure. Exactly how it should be.' LISA MCINERNEY author of THE GLORIOUS
HERESIES 'Pure magic funny sharp heartbreaking the short form at its absolute best. Jan
Carson is a unique and very special writer one of the greatest of the modern fabulists. -
DONAL RYAN author of HEART BE AT PEACE ------ In sixteen sparkling stories Jan Carson
introduces us to worlds and characters that feel real enough to touch. All of life is here: the
thrill of growing up the grief when youth is over first love mature love parenthood and
loss - all shot through with profound compassion warm wit and boundless imagination. In 'A
Certain Degree of Ownership' a distracted couple on a beach fail to notice their baby crawl
perilously towards the sea. In 'Troubling the Water' a rumour spreads at a public swimming
pool and chaos ensues. In 'Fair Play' a dishevelled father loses his two sons in an adventure
park. Every so often an irresistible suggestion of the other world will surprise and delight
reaffirming Carson as a thrillingly original and audacious talent and making Quickly While
They Still Have Horses the perfect introduction for readers new to her work.
