1986.

If David hadn’t missed his train and if Rob hadn’t been in the kitchen when his mother was baking a birthday cake, they might never have met.

Both found themselves sitting at the same table in the café on Waterloo Station and got talking. There was an instant rapport between them, despite their differences: David, twenty-eight, with a good job and a house all to himself; Rob, ten years younger, jobless and homeless. The solution to the latter seemed obvious …

But was David just being a good Samaritan or were his motives suspect? And why had Rob left home?

"It is a marvellous story from start to finish ... your work struck a deep chord with me." Ronald L. Donaghe, author of Common Sons and Uncle Sean

"My personal recommendation is this excellent book by Jay Mandal. … sensitively, humorously and believably related. An engrossing read." Tony Heyes, The Sunday Express

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"[Knockout] is well-written: a good attention-grabbing narrative style." Matthew Parris

"I enjoyed reading [Taxi for Mr Smith] and wish you well with it." Sir Ian McKellen

"[Crying for the Moon] was a good tale, with a rare sense of optimism, and some lively dialogue. Well done!" Russell T Davies

"All the stories are written in the sympathetic, amusing and inimitable style which has become Jay's trademark. Jay handles dialogue extremely well, and is a master of quick-witted repartee." Lookout magazine

"very enjoyable and readable..." Graham Norton

"I greatly enjoyed reading [Taxi for Mr Smith] and I have no objections at all that one of the main characters shares my name."Chris Smith

"Thanks for [Knockout] which I thought very good." Brian Case

"I enjoyed reading [Taxi for Mr Smith]." Peter Burton

"Congratulations. I enjoyed [Heart on my Sleeve]." Ned Sherrin

"Thank you so much for sending your wonderful story (Crying for the Moon). Good luck for the future and don’t give up!" Hanif Kureishi

"Thanks for sending the shrewd and thoughtful Crying for the Moon. I enjoyed it." Alan Sinfield

"[Knockout] is well-written: a good attention-grabbing narrative style." Matthew Parris

"Thanks for sending me The Restaurant. I particularly enjoyed the punch line." Kevin Elyot

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When Matt is diagnosed with cancer, he and his partner, Jamie, gradually come to terms with the illness.

Precipice explores a potentially melodramatic theme deftly, sensitively, and with great conviction. An uplifting story of love.

Nine short stories accompany the novel. Truly another 'must read' book from this talented author.

I found it a fascinating - if also rather painful - read. You certainly capture the nuances and claustrophobia of a relationship in a state of breakdown. Sarah Waters about All Worked Out

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The Loss of Innocence continues the theme from Jay Mandal's earlier collection, A Different Kind of Love, of love found and, sometimes lost, together with the innocence of the people involved. Some of the stories are heart-warming, while others would break your heart. Jay writes with tenderness, humour, and compassion for his fellow man. Readers will identify and sympathise with the characters in this book.

Here we have a collection of poignant short stories ranging from a two minute read to longer stories of ordinary people leading ordinary lives until they fall in love and their lives become, for a little while at least, extraordinary.

"I found [The Loss of Innocence] very engaging. You characterise your people well through their speech and sympathetically. I’d guess this would adapt well for radio, too." Susannah York

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Jay Mandal is unique in his writing of gay love - his uplifting stories focus upon romance rather than sex, on fulfilment rather than despair.

Of course, there are tragedies in these pages. Life's like that. But the difficulties faced and the thrills enjoyed by his characters are the lot of lovers of any gender in a world both bad and beautiful.

This is a collection of beautiful love stories, sad, humorous, heartwarming - and made 'different' simply because key characters share, not only passion and compassion, but gender.

It's been a long time coming, but at last we have the first worthy British equivalent of the well-loved anthology of short story publications that the American lovers of well written gay fiction have enjoyed for several decades with the best-selling Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin. Neil Barnett, Speakout Magazine

Jay Mandal's selection of sometimes funny, sometimes bitter-sweet stories deal with a wide range of instantly recognisable aspects of gay life - closetry, coming out, older gay men's experience of the gay scene, loss, bereavement and rekindled hope. These are written with a good ear for dialogue and are both affirming and insightful. Sebastian Beaumont, Gay Times

"Thanks for sending me [Operation Lonely Heart], which I read with pleasure." Neil Bartlett

"[I] enjoyed Invitation to Dine." Beryl Bainbridge

"I enjoyed reading [Heart on my Sleeve] and [Making Hay]." Sir Alan Ayckbourn

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Talented authors around the world were challenged to visualise a kaleidoscope image … and to craft stories around whichever colour struck them most strongly.
The result is this exclusive collection of thirty-one short tales of between a few hundred and several thousand words.

Each story is inspired by a colour. But the work covers a full spectrum of genres from romance and humour to horror and violence.

Just twist the Kaleidoscope and experience a striking and unique new image every time.

Stories by: Roy Barton, Mike Broemmel, Sarah Crabtree, Matthew Gaunt, Joanne Hanrahan, Chris Hunt, Barry Ireland, KJ Kofsuske, RD Larson, Peter Lee, Jay Mandal, Marion Moon, Andrew J Müller, Teresa Nixon, Johnny Nys, Carmen Ruggero and Troy L Smith.

All royalties from sales of Kaleidoscope are being donated to The Myasthenia Gravis Assocaition, thanks to the generosity of the contributing authors.