Time to look back / forward. How did I get on last week? Meetings and Events - a meeting with the Hammond House organisation, hopefully to arrange a performance of Crash early in the new year - YES (though nothing fixed as yet) hosting Contextual: 20 poetry reading event on Thursday (via Zoom) - YES … Continue reading Putting pen to paper – w/c 2nd October
Category: Fiction
“Mostly Hero”
For once the blurb in a book is absolutely correct. Anna Burns' 2014 long short story "Mostly Hero" is a little like a Grimm fairy tale reimagined by Quentin Tarantino. It must have been so much fun to write! There is something in the style of the story (not the humour!) which prefigures that she … Continue reading “Mostly Hero”
“Dante and the Lobster”
In another one of those little Faber single-story editions, you will find Samuel Beckett's 1934 tale, "Dante and the Lobster". It's an odd little story: it is interesting because of the clear stylistic influence of James Joyce, yet in an of itself it is somewhat insignificant; there are few clues, for example, as to what … Continue reading “Dante and the Lobster”
“Come rain or come shine”
I have to start by saying that I really like Kazuo Ishiguro's work, and that I have read most of his novels. Indeed, he's probably one of my favourite authors. In 2019, for some unknown reason, Faber decided to publish his 2009 short story "Come Rain or Come Shine" in a single edition to sit … Continue reading “Come rain or come shine”
Putting pen to paper – w/c 25th September
Time to look back / forward. How did I get on last week? Meetings and Events - a Society of Authors' workshop on writing audio drama (via Zoom) - YES attending a book launch event (via Zoom) - YES attending a reading by Red Door Poets (via Zoom) - YES (this evening). Writing projects - … Continue reading Putting pen to paper – w/c 25th September
“Giacomo Joyce”
Published by Faber in a special edition, both in terms of style and its snippets of content James Joyce's very short story "Giacomo Joyce" serves as a way-marker for what is to follow in "Ulysses" and "Finnegan's Wake". Perhaps never intended to be published (it was only ever hand-written) the story is an impressionistic collection … Continue reading “Giacomo Joyce”
“Rivers of the Unspoilt World”
Firstly I need to say that I am a great admirer of David Constantine's short stories. And secondly, I recognise the significant achievement in the three 'long' short stories collected together to comprise "Rivers of the Unspoilt World". But... ...he could perhaps have made them easier to read! I'm talking about format rather than language … Continue reading “Rivers of the Unspoilt World”
New podcast episode!
Just like buses, two episodes for my Walking Thru Fire podcast come along one after the other! My short story - The Piano Player - is now available. I hope you like it. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer etc.
New podcast episode!
It has been far too long since I recorded an episode for my Walking Thru Fire podcast - but I now address that omission. My short story - Closing his account - is now available. I hope you like it. Walking Thru Fire is available on all good podcast services: Audible, Spotify, Apple podcasts, Amazon … Continue reading New podcast episode!
Putting pen to paper – w/c 18th September
Time to look back / forward. How did I get on last week? Meetings and Events - A 'Cafe Writers' book launch and open mic - YES September's Derby 'Stanza' meeting - YES attending a local poetry group - YES, but the 'group' proved to be just me and the organiser! being interviewed for a … Continue reading Putting pen to paper – w/c 18th September
Ian Gouge - Writer 