When Emma, a young English journalist, is required to babysit in a dark country house on the longest night of the year - the winter solstice, 21st December - she must confront both her fear of the dark and her unresolved grief for her much-loved late Great Aunt Sophie. Where will she find the courage she needs to avoid risking an even greater loss?

This single short story, about 3000 words long, will brighten the darkest night and offer comfort and hope as the days grow longer.

EARLY REVIEWS FOR LIGHTING UP TIME

"A delightful story." – Petrea Burchard

"Lovely story that perfectly captures that big sister/little sister thing, and Aunt Sophie is a lovely gentle presence throughout – I especially like the way you use scent (perfume, flowers) to evoke her.". Lucienne Boyce

"You had me scared of the dark with you!" Melanie Spiller

"Lovely story and a great, feel-good ending ." – Christina Courtenay, romantic novelist

OTHER SHORT STORIES BY DEBBIE YOUNG

Debbie Young has published three short story collections, Quick Change - Tiny Tales of Transformation, Stocking Fillers - Twelve Short Stories for Christmas, and Marry in Haste - 15 short stories of dating love and marriage as well as the stand-alone Christmas tale The Owl and the Turkey. Her flash fiction and short stories have also been included in many anthologies.

PRAISE FOR DEBBIE YOUNG'S SHORT FICTION

"Very subtle, very English, very clever" (Marius Gabriel, novelist)

"Debbie Young's attention to detail brings the extraordinary out of the everyday" (Calum Kerr, founder of National Flash Fiction Day)

"Brimful of the Debbie Young brand of sly and wry humour" (Mari Howad, author of the Mullins Family Saga)

NOVELS BY DEBBIE YOUNG

Debbie Young also writes novels, including the Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series that begins with Best Murder in Show.

Debbie Young

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