Jake Graham

Caught Up in Leaves and Vines

Caught Up in Leaves and Vines is a collection of short stories featuring a range of genres and themes. These stories are an even mix of wholesome and unsettling, not leaving readers short of laughs and tears where necessary.
This book contains 19 short stories, each with an individual cover, and a list of content warnings in the back.

The Cave

On a dark and stormy night, a girl went to deliver a letter.

Reflections

A young boy always finds himself alone when he’s at the playground. Until one day, when a new girl shows up, and he finds they have more in common than he ever could have guessed.

The First Zombie

Fred never thought working in fast food could be deadly until an infected cut turns him into a zombie and starts the apocalypse.

Flicker

Late one night, she heard knocking at the door, but when she opened it, there was no one in sight. And when the knocking continued... she knew she wasn't alone.

A Body of Water, Organs of Fish

While trying to get approval to start T, Nick explains the aquatic ecosystem analogy and the ways he realised he was trans while struggling to understand his feelings as an autistic person.

A Banquet for the Outcasts

When Ash is excluded from his family Christmas get-together, he teams up with his friend to do something special for others like them. A Christmas dinner for all those who have been left out because of who they are.

The Pit

Someone is falling. It's getting darker. Will it ever stop?

D(ist)ress

After a tense Christmas morning with unsupportive relatives, Nicholas finds a way to turn it around by regifting something that wasn’t right for him to make Laura’s day and give her the gift she deserves.

Project Milton

When Cody was seventeen, his cat died.
Ten years later, he wins an essay contest and is selected to be one of the first people to have the opportunity to bring a loved one back to life.
But a lot has changed since his cat last saw him, and Cody is afraid Milton won't recognise him anymore.

Bad Parenting

Jonah hasn't heard from his mother in months. But one day she calls, asking him to meet her for dinner with her new boyfriend. It's only dinner. What could possibly go wrong?

Good Friends

Aiden doesn't really get crushes, but when Imogen says she wants to date him. He doesn't think he likes her, he feels sick. Broken, perhaps. But his best friend insists he likes her back.
Not only does it lead to a date, but it might just help him find the answers he needed all along.

To the Ground

Today I went down to the river and realised all my dreams were dead.

Consequences

Sometimes a man might believe he can do no wrong, and never facing repercussions might reinforce those ideas. But when a man's grandson dies as a result of his actions, he finds himself being haunted by the things he did, showing what can happen when your past actions get brought back and the roles are reversed.

Breathe

In primary school, everyone dressed the same, but now Nicholas is starting high school, and the rules have all changed.
After how far he's come, he's suddenly forced into a dress again, and Laura is being told to cut her hair.
But then they meet Emery, who shows them there are other ways to survive (and maybe make a few friends along the way).

Pirates

Two brothers decide to run away and become pirates. Escaping to the water for a life of adventure sounds perfect… if only they were more organised.

From Pianos to Petals

Brendon is young, handsome, and successful. He is content with life, and doesn't feel as though he's missing anything.
But his mother disagrees. She's set out to find the perfect partner for her son, and despite his attempts to sabotage the plan, she may actually succeed, even if the outcome isn't quite what she'd expected.
This one is a gay retelling of The Princess and the Pea.

Lights

Now that he's living on his own, Ash is finally able to put up lights at Christmas. He's excited to start spreading a little joy for the locals, but when he makes the decision for this to be the final year he participates in the holiday, he wonders what it might mean for the future. Is his time bringing smiles through decorations set to end as soon as it's begun?

Santa's Beard

Santa and Mrs Claus were childhood best friends, born into their roles as the bringers of Christmas joy.
Now there's a secret eating away at them. How is Santa supposed to bring joy to the world when he can't find his own?
But Mrs Claus has a plan. She's set out on a mission to go find him a boyfriend, meeting a few interesting characters along the way.

Finding Colours

After dropping out of TAFE to recover from burnout, Emery struggles to find the motivation to do what she loves most. Even existing takes an exorbitant amount of energy in this state. But with the support of her family, friends, and a well-timed stranger, she might be able to find exactly what she needed all along.

Where to find the book

• Square (paperback)
• Square (paperback + free gift bundle)
• Ko-fi (PDF & epub)
• Goodreads
• Storygraph

Other stuff

• Spotify playlist
• YouTube playlist