The other day I read my short story "Park'n'Ride" at a local writing group. Someone whose opinion I respect described it as 'brilliant'. It was - needless to say - a real boost! Of course it was also a demonstration of how subjective our appreciation of writing - or any art - is. "Park'n'Ride" has … Continue reading One little word…
Category: Fiction
Two New Podcast Episodes
I have just published two new episodes on my "Walking Thru' Fire" podcast; both are short stories. "Downsizing" - sometimes short stories can surprise you, emerging not from specific ideas or experiences, but growing organically from seeds which you are later unable to identify or remember. “Downsizing” is one such story. It will be included … Continue reading Two New Podcast Episodes
“Tea at the Midland”
The stories in David Constantine's "Tea at the Midland" are a little like stained glass windows: sometimes you see fully formed portals through which the sun shines, and on other occasions just a fragment or two of glass glinting in the sun. As a consequence - and as I may have said before - don't … Continue reading “Tea at the Midland”
After the dust settles…
The best part of a week since I returned from my retreat and, in terms of 'what next?', things are now clearly in focus. Which was one of the things the retreat was all about, to answer questions like that. And the 'what next' things are tangible and solid. Firstly: finish my next novel; second … Continue reading After the dust settles…
Retreat – Day 3
06:55 - 13th May 2022 Another decent day yesterday with the majority of my time spent on editing 'Reunion'. Some work on the Sonnets as I edge closer to drafting #80. Plus I started work on my Reviewers' list by reestablishing control over my Goodreads author profile. I think I'll be doing some work on … Continue reading Retreat – Day 3
“Klara and the Sun”
I was left strangely underwhelmed by Kazuo Ishiguro's "Klara and the Sun". It wasn't the quality or style of Ishiguro's writing (which to my mind has only failed to come up to scratch in "The Unconsoled"), nor in the inventiveness of the basic premise. I think I felt left down by the way the plot … Continue reading “Klara and the Sun”
Retreat – Day 2
A good day yesterday. Most of the creative effort went into editing "Reunion" plus some sonnet-dabbling. Had a snooze after lunch to try and catch-up on Tuesday's poor night's sleep, and another short walk before dinner for cobweb-blowing. The highlight was the 'open mic' though. I read my short story "Downsizing", two sonnets - "Pilgrimage" … Continue reading Retreat – Day 2
Retreat – Day 1
07:15 - 10th May 2022 (Day 1) So what does today hold? A walk up to the station after lunch to remind myself of the genesis of 'Degrees of Separation'. A certainty if it's dry (it was damp yesterday eve and is gusty this morning - typical edge of Pennines/Cumbria weather). Options: start revision of … Continue reading Retreat – Day 1
“The Field”
Often the challenge with 'portmanteau' novels such as Robert Seethaler's "The Field" is one of maintaining a cohesive narrative thread throughout the work in order to prevent it from fragmenting into discrete and inadequately connected portraits. The premise behind "The Field" - the deceased, all buried in the same graveyard in a small European town, … Continue reading “The Field”
“The Angels of L19”
It is difficult to like Jonathan Walker's "The Angels of L19" - in the sense of the novel giving you a warm, comfortable, fuzzy feeling - but impossible not to admire it. Without doubt it is a real pressure-cooker of a book: intense, unrelenting, dark, ominous, ambiguous, challenging. Perhaps the latter most of all. Not … Continue reading “The Angels of L19”
Ian Gouge - Writer 