Book excerpt: The antidote to Valentine's Day if you like your reading sharp, not sickly sweet. 'Jean Gill's spiky humour makes you feel as if she's caught you on barbed wire and yet makes you smile about it'- Mike Sharpe, Haverfordwest Journalist Strong, fresh, vivid poems from award-winning author Jean Gill, on an astounding range of subjects including adultery, AIDS and the Mexican Earthquake. If you crossed Wendy Cope's work with Sylvia Plath's, Jean Gill's poetry might be the result. 'You're starting to smother me, darling, you're faded and boring, my dear. It's my turn to play with another and your turn alone with your fear.' Divided into two parts, this new edition includes the stories behind the poetry, some personal and some about world events; always surprising. 'Moving and varied '- Dorothy Tutin 'Jean Gill brings off the rare feat of looking life squarely in the eye without descending into dreary cynicism.' - HS Milford Haven,Journalist 'The author is particularly gifted with poetry.' The WishingShelf Award 'An excellent collection - I enjoyed the sharpness and insight, theword-play' - Robert Nisbet, Downtrain 'Brings out feelings you didn't know you had,' ClaireStibbe, Detective Temeke series