Even before I decided to give Ailsa a new title, I think I realised the old ‘cover image’, although very appealing, wasn’t quite right for the book, and so I couldn’t resist having a look on Flickr. I was delighted to find an image with the exact phrase I had used, and immediately loved this linocut to … Continue reading A Fine Kettle of Fish
I consider myself more a reader of novels than of short stories, but just as I have found time for writing short fiction, I am also learning to give it a place in my reading schedule – and for pleasure as well as for ‘educational purposes’. For this I am also developing some rules, e.g. I don’t want to … Continue reading Short Story Time
I’m hoping that snow (or any other extremes of weather) will not be a factor when I set out in February for Hertfordshire and the Get Writing conference, but the knowledge that I’ll be making a three minute pitch of my latest novel on that day is already concentrating my mind. I still have some editing … Continue reading Get Writing
It seems reasonable to celebrate, or at least mark, National Short Story Week with a round-up of the stories short-listed for the BBC National Short Story Award as broadcast last week on Radio 4. Unfortunately I missed the first one and also the ending of one of the others, and with a busy week ahead … Continue reading Venturing an Opinion
An extended sojourn with Scottish literature has kept these half-forgotten words crowding in thick and fast. Here are a few that might require translation. Cowp – spill or tip Warsle – wrestle or struggle with Fykie – fiddly Fankled – tangled (especially of wool or thread) Havers, havering – rubbish, ranting, talking like a mad … Continue reading Scottish season
