On Kindle

The intro to the TLS review

My short story collection has been out for a year now - and, yes, it's flown by. It's been an interesting year. I've taken part in readings at literary festivals, been reviewed in the TLS (see right) and a number of other places, answered interview questions and tried to work on new writing (see my Next Big Thing answers below). And considering the anniversary, it's rather apt that my book is now available on Kindle (see Salt's special Christmas offer here for my collection and five other Scott Prize-winning books). So, if you haven't got hold of a copy - I understand it's being reprinted at the moment so physical stocks may be difficult to find - and you have a Kindle then you can download it now. Thanks to all those who've bought, read, reviewed and/or spoken to me about my book over the past 12 months - it's really nice to know you have, in the main, enjoyed it. Here's to whatever the next year brings!

Next big thing

I've been tagged by Elizabeth Baines in a blog meme called The Next Big Thing. Read Elizabeth's post on this over at her excellent blog. I have to confess I've no idea what a meme is (and I'm happy to remain ignorant) but I'm very pleased to take part anyway! I therefore have to answer a series of questions on a recent or forthcoming book. I don't really like talking about current writing but, rather than chicken out and answer questions about the short story collection, I'm going to be brave - but very vague - and talk about my novel. Here are my answers:

Where did the idea come from for the book?
Possibly from watching too many science shows and documentaries.

What genre does your book fall under?
Novel.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
Paul Giamatti (who plays Miles in the film 'Sideways') seems to have a lot of soul and depth and there's a poignancy to his acting that is really endearing. I would like soulful actors - the more understated and low-key the better - so I wouldn't be overly bothered about who they are as long as they can make you feel something.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
I don't want to say too much but it is about the unearthing of a dark secret.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I would very much hope that I'd have an agent once it's finished.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
I've only just started it so I'm a long way off the first draft.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I think I inspired myself - and the science shows helped.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
I will probably have to go on a field trip to do some research - I'm saying no more.

All that's left for me to do now is to pass the baton to five other writers so that they can answer the same questions - so may I introduce you to:

* Novelist and short story writer Ashley Stokes, whose short story collection 'The Syllabus of Errors' is forthcoming from Unthank Books;
* Fellow Scott Prize winner Cassandra Parkin, whose collection 'New World Fairy Tales' was chosen as one of New Writing North's Read Regional books for this year;
* My writing pal Gill Blow, who has just published a collection of short fiction called 'Split Seconds';
* Online writing chum Joel Willans, whose debut short story collection 'Spellbound' has just been published by Route (and must surely be in line for a cover of the year prize);
* And, finally, another online writing chum and fellow Willesden Herald shortlistee Adnan Mahmutović, whose collection 'How to Fare Well and Stay Fair' has just been published by Salt.

They will be posting their answers on Wednesday, December 12th so pop over and see them then to find out more about their recent or forthcoming work.

Interviewed by Roelof

Here's a new interview with me by Roelof Bakker, the founder of the press which recently ran the Negative Press London/Foyles Short Story Competition. My story 'Piano' won the competition and appears on the press's website here, so feel free to have a read of that if you haven't already. As well as running the press, Roelof is an artist-photographer so why not check out his own website here too? I really enjoyed having a look around at Roelof's work, in particular the 'Snow' video.

At the Dylan Thomas Festival

A picture in the green room at The Dylan Thomas Centre

It was great to read at The Dylan Thomas Festival in Swansea last Saturday (November 3rd) with fellow Edge Hill Prize shortlistees Rowena Macdonald and Zoe Lambert. After a lovely introduction from Dylan Thomas Centre Literature Officer Jo Furber, I was first up and read 'The Rings of Saturn', the last story in my collection. Rowena followed with sections from her story 'Brian, McMurphy and Sally Too' and Zoe came last with a reading of her story 'Down Duchy Road'. Instead of a formal q and a in the auditorium, it was nice to go into the bar with members of the audience and chat more informally - answering questions about our inspirations and backgrounds over a glass of wine or two. The three of us then had to dodge hailstones as we headed away from the centre and into the early evening. I kept an eye out for Mr and Mrs Pugh from 'Under Milk Wood' while I was there but sadly didn't see them. Perhaps next time, you never know...

Something nice

The cover of 'Still'

Something nice happened this week - I won a competition with my first ever piece of flash fiction.
I entered the Negative Press/Foyles short story competition for stories inspired by a photograph from artist-photographer Roelof Bakker's art project 'Still' (other photos and the stories inspired by them appear in a book called 'Still: Short Stories Inspired by Photographs of Vacated Spaces', which is available to buy now). Ten writers were shortlisted in the competition, including my good pal Gill Blow, and it was very nice to find out this week that I'd won. You can read the story and also see the photograph that inspired it on the Foyles website here. The competition was judged by Roelof Bakker, Foyles local marketing manager Lisa Bywater plus authors Nicholas Hogg and Evie Wyld (both of whom contributed to the 'Still' book). And Evie Wyld said some very nice things about the story too: ‘It was the voice that attracted me and Nicholas Hogg to this one. Her story is strong and understated at the same time.’
My piece, 'Piano', can be seen in the Foyles cafe gallery as part of a 'Still' exhibition until the end of November.

Unthology 3

Unthology 3, which features my story 'The Monolith', is now available here for pre-order on Amazon. The collection is described as 'lit up tales for dark times' and features work by writers David Rose, Philip Langeskov, Ashley Stokes, Sarah Dobbs, C. D. Rose and many more.

Here's a little more about it: 'Its eighteen stories describe sticky predicaments, testing choices and reluctant confessions: a publisher surveys the changing literary scene while losing an age-old mob war; a man finds himself trapped by his own perfectionism in a forbidding meat-processing factory; a strange black monolith appears in a back garden somewhere in the north of England.'

An interview and other news

Rachel Connor

I'm interviewed by writer (and wonderful cook) Rachel Connor over here today as part of her 'Literary Sisters' series. I know Rachel from when I attended an Arvon course at Lumb Bank a couple of years ago (where she works) and she welcomed us all with the most delicious cakes. Being a huge cake fan, friendship was inevitable really. Anyway, have a read and leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning a copy of my book too. While you're there have a look at the other 'Literary Sisters' (writers past and present) and why not buy a copy of Rachel's novel 'Sisterwives'? I really enjoyed it - it's an intriguing insight into the lives of two women who live in an isolated religious community and are married to the same man. There's some beautiful language in the book and I found it be quite a page-turner as I wanted to know how the difficulties the women faced were going to unfold. It would be worth keeping Rachel on your radar too, if she isn't already, as she is set to have afternoon play on Radio 4 in the future. Very exciting indeed.

In other news: I'm holding a short story workshop in Hebden Bridge on Sunday, October 14 as part of the Writers' Roadshow during the Calderdale Readers' and Writers' Festival (Rachel is also holding an event as part of the festival). You can find out more here and book a place.

Also, I'm going to be reading with fellow Edge Hill Prize shortlistees Zoe Lambert and Rowena Macdonald at The Dylan Thomas Festival in Swansea on Saturday, November 3 - details here.

Finally, I have a story in the forthcoming Unthology 3 from Unthank Books (due out November) and I'm very excited to be alongside writers David Rose, Philip Langeskov and Sarah Dobbs in that. (Sarah's novel 'Killing Daniel' is also out from Unthank soon.)