Northern Soul Review for THwTLB

‘It’s a collection whose many seams are as abundant with gold as they are of coal… Swinney’s protagonists have the depth and fleshiness that D.H. Lawrence, writing about similar communities around his native Nottingham, struggled to imbue.’ – Desmond Bullen 

Samyukta publishes ‘Hot Cakes’

The gloriously illustrated literary journal, Samyukta, ed. Anupama Mohan, publishes ‘Hot Cakes’ in its inaugural edition.

The story concerns Pooja, a girl who occupies the lowliest role in her family’s pecking order. But even Prime Minister Modi has a hand in her fate.  Follow the link for a free read:

https://samyuktafiction.in/2021/04/14/hot-cakes/

 

 

Fish Shortlist for ‘Neelam’s Wedding’

My story ‘Neelam’s Wedding’  has been shortlisted in the Fish short story competition 20/21. Brusque Glaswegian Asian, Dean, arrives in Delhi to be best man at his friend’s wedding. He’s received by the straight-laced Vinod, an officer in the Indian Army. The pair quickly get on the wrong side of each other, and Vinod, for reasons of his own, decides to torpedo the wedding. Just how does he do it?

Signed with Fly on the Wall Press!

Just signed the contract with the enthusiastic and energetic publisher ‘Fly on the Wall’ for my next collection of short stories, ‘The House with Two Letter-Boxes’. All the stories in this collection are set in the North East of England and they are not, repeat not, middle-class. Expect a world you can recognise, and a language you are familiar with (depending on your origins). Publication date end of next year.

https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/

‘Best British Short Stories 2020’

Took me a while to realise that ‘The Map of Bihar’ had been given a mention by Nicholas Royle in ‘Best British Short Stories 2020’ and, in particular, the story ‘Washing Machine Wars’. Thanks to Selma Cavalho for pointing this out, and thanks again to Circaidy Gregory Press for publishing me.