books – Opening Chapter

Boys from the Backfields

Who killed Betty Fish? In 1963 the world is rocking to the Beatles, and being rocked by the Cold War and the assassination of President Kennedy. There are far more important things on the mind of Mick Matthews, a 13 year old boy growing up on a council estate in Wales, such as the murder of a middle-aged widow in one of the posh houses across the road.

Mick and his small gang are out gathering blackberries and scrumping apples when they witness the murder as it happens. Around the same time as the demise of Betty Fish, Mick falls in love with the enigmatic Angel, a girl of the same age. Fifty years later, the murder is still unsolved and the shadows it casts over their lives are as dark as ever.

Get it here: Boys from the Backfields

Dead Flowers and other stories

What does the richest man in the world want more than anything else?How do you cope when your loved ones are blown up by a bomb?Is it such a bad thing to break the rules?These questions and more are dealt with in this collection – a special mix of stories selected to blend and bounce off each other and portray the amazing complexity of life as a human being on this crazy, cruel planet.

See more and buy at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1904958524

Derec Jones

Derec has been writing books, scripts, articles, opinion pieces, blogs and poems forever (it seems). Much of his work has been published by Opening Chapter. He is also an artist and has dabbled in podcasting and in songwriting. There’s a lot more on his website derecjones.com.

Here’s a list of Derec’s books published by us.

The Three Bears a meta-fiction novel

The Words in Me – poetry

The Walker and other stories – short stories

Skin and Bones – a novel

Cheats and Liars – a novel

Bums – a novel

Dead Flowers – short stories (as Derek Wynford Jones)

Is this who I am? – a meta-fiction novel (as Del Brennan)

Busted – a novel

Blodyn – poetry

To Me – metafiction novel and ramble – not publically available

For the Time Being – collection of bits and bobs (as Derek Wynford Jones)

Croeso / Welcome

Opening Chapter is a publisher and a publishing service company established in Wales in the early 2000’s

This website is currently undergoing a makeover and an update.

In the meantime please contact us at

c r e a t i v e m e d i a @openingchapter .c o m if you need more info

Everything changes, it’s always the same . . .

Coven of One

See more by clicking this

In the bluestone caverns, deep under Masterbridge someone is taking notice. It has been a long time since there’s been anything to notice, anything at all, but there is, imperceptibly, something there. The yellow ridged fingernail reaches out to swirl the inky black water. With a sprinkle of chosen herbs the scene bursts into life once again. The shrouded face watches intently as the picture clears, expands, shudders and then settles down to admit the truth . . . yes, she is coming.Coven of One is the story of a simple Hedgewitch’s journey into the furthest recesses of the darkest heart of the darkest demon. A story of spells and potions, imbued with Pagan magic.

Secondary Character and Other Stories

Edited by Barrie Llewelyn

Get it here Secondary Character and Other Stories

Gather Gold and Other Stories

Women who should know better, but don’t. Characters who occupy both urban America and rural Wales – sometimes at the same time.

Mothers and daughters; husbands and lovers – these are some of the tensions and fusions explored in this surprising collection by Barrie Llewelyn, a writer who is interested in the way each authentic voice can be startling and, sometimes, disturbing.

“Moving and powerful. Llewelyn writes with a quiet elegance reminiscent of the best of Amy Hempel or Raymond Carver. Sublime.” Mike Thomas

“Tightly crafted with an immediate and intriguing voice, which is no mean feat given the range of narrators used. Intensely relevant, thought-provoking and engaging!” Tom Anderson

“The stories are beautifully observed; they stay with the reader for a long time afterwards.” Emma Darwin

Amazon link https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gather-other-stories-Barrie-Llewelyn/dp/1904958605