Delighted to be a guest at this very busy festival in Mumbai, on a panel talking about the short story as a lens through which to view India. Curator: Indira Chandrashekar.
‘The Wrong Question’ is finally answered in India.
My short story, ‘The Wrong Question’, has been accepted for online publication by ‘The Bombay Review’. The story concerns the efforts of an elderly guru to achieve enlightenment. The exact words of Samia Mehraj, the fiction editor, were: ‘A poignant and powerful piece. I can’t admire it enough.’. Thrilled! The story is scheduled to appear round about the end of February.
‘The Work of Lesser-Known Artists’ Makes its Debut
‘Flamingo Land and Other Stories’ launched last week at Waterstones, Piccadilly, London. The book includes ‘The Work of Lesser-Known Artists.’ The story features hard-pressed gallery attendant Patti, struggling to make ends meet in an ever more draconian work environment supposedly dedicated to Art. It explores the issue of the commodification of people as well as the commodification of Art. For details on how to get hold of a copy, visit the Publications page.
Olga Sinclair Short Story Award 2015
Attended the prize-giving ceremony of the Olga Sinclair Short Story competition in Norwich on Tuesday 20th October. The competition is hosted by the Norwich Writers’ Circle, and was established in honour of one of their longstanding members and presidents. My somewhat mad story ‘Moving In’ achieved ‘highly commended status. The competition was adjudicated by Ashley Stokes, editor of Unthank Books. There were 155 entries.
One for the Off – Visual Verse
My latest – or should I say, my only – very short short story goes live today on the website of ‘Visual Verse’, an on-line anthology of images and fiction. Check publications listing to read it.
‘Degsie’s All-time Runners’ – instalment 2
Instalment 2 of Degsie’s All-time Runners’ goes live on YouTube today. This story, about a cat with a ‘distributed’ lifestyle who upsets the lives of two elderly people, is bound to raise issues about ‘Care in the Community’.
‘Degsie’s All-time Runners’ goes live on YouTube
‘The Queen of Campbeltown’ finalist in the Earlyworks Press short story competition 2014
Due for publication in the finalists’ anthology over the next few months, ‘The Queen of Campbeltown’ is about a little lad marooned in the Highlands who is desperately trying to get home to his mother.
The Work of Lesser-known Artists
‘The Work of Lesser-known Artists’ judged joint runner-up in the London Short Story Competition 2014.
These are the quotes from the judges:
‘This story packs a punch and puts a smile on the face – quite an achievement. An energetic and ambitious take evoking the humour and vitality of one woman’s life as she breaks free of the imprisonment of the everyday.’ – Cathy Galvin, co-founder Sunday Times/EFG short story competition.
‘An uplifting and irreverent story – bold and engaging, it asks important questions about reality and perception and art.’ – Jackie Kay, poet and novelist.
London Short Story Prize
Reading from my short story, ‘The Work of Lesser-known Artists’ at an event to mark this year’s London Short Story competition, at Waterstones, Piccadilly, London on Monday, 24th November, from 7pm.
http://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/view/the-london-short-story-prize-2