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
Just when I thought I had no news to report, I’ve beeen contacted to say that the aforementioned short story (which I felt had had its share of glory) has lived to fight another day and is one of 50 commended entries in the Aesthetica annual competition fiction category. It’s not one of the 96 finalists, but since these … Continue reading Preparing for Winter
There are certain writers with whom I always feel totally at home, and perhaps it’s not surprising that a number of them are Scottish. One of them is Ian Rankin whom I might never have read if I hadn’t had a flat tyre a few years ago on a Saturday. Up until then, although curious … Continue reading Voices of home
I used to be impressed by those colour supplement features called ‘A Room of My Own’ and positively lapped up those pictures of best-selling authors ‘working’ at mahogany desks, wearing checked shirts or velvet pashminas. But since I’ve progressed from someone who’s thinking about writing to someone who actually does it, I’ve lost interest in … Continue reading Trains of thought
Ali Bacon, Author 