A New Year, ten new reviews, author interviews, a sneak preview of short story collections forthcoming in 2008……these are just some of the treats on offer in Issue 3 of The Short Review. If you haven’t already, pop into the site and sign up for our mailing list so you don’t miss out.

On the menu this month.....

Read Full Post

What a cold day. The birds are frantic for food. Before I went off to do my duty, I laid out a feast for their little beaks. Some big beaks too. Returning home, another feast was prepared and dispatched within minutes. This evening I will start editing. So much to do. There are short stories written and still lying on my desk. Too lazy to send out. No, too lily livered. I don't make resolutions but have decided to tidy up this desk. Use the shredder with gusto. Stop thinking unnecessary thoughts. I keep a diary. Have done since I was a young optimist. Then I grew up. There's nothing like putting pencil or pen to paper and not soul can read my illegible script.

..& once more I take up my electronic quill & return to the work in progress. New Year came & went with a fantastic bang, went to a friend’s party & spent the last two days more or less in bed.

Read Full Post

1. The Chocolates


The Girl (3): Mum, I've had an accident.
Me: Oh no! Are you hurt? What happened?

Read Full Post

Groan. First day back at work today, so such a trauma getting myself out of bed when the alarm went off. The alarm! Imagine, my dears – what an intrusion!... Mind you, at least it’s a Wednesday so I have only one day to do before I can get back into my essential snooze routine tomorrow. Yes, I know you all hate me. Having read the last few sentences back, I hate myself. If it makes it any better, I can reassure you that next Monday when the working week really starts will be hell ...

Read Full Post

Honestly? I've got no idea. First Facebook, and now this. I think I might be possessed or something (crack out the Yellow Pages, someone, and start searching under 'E' for 'Exorcist'). God knows, I should have had enough technological inadequacies, privacy issues and correspondence deficiencies to keep me away from Facebook until at least half-past the Apocalypse. And as for an actual blog, well, suffice it to say that you're reading the words of someone who's never managed to keep any kind of diary or journal going for longer than two weeks at a time, even during the whole angsty teenage phase, when a good number of those around me were churning out epics to rival War and Peace.

Truth be told, I held out on both fronts for as long as I could, but I finally needed to copy some photos from one friend and get hold of another, who appeared to be otherwise un-contactable. Registering on (or 'with'? Who knows?) Facebook was the only answer, so I took a firm grip of myself, filled in as few boxes as humanly possible and got the job done. I certainly wasn't planning to stay, though...

Read Full Post

Oh, the bliss of not having a novel to write. A fortnight in the middle of January is booked out for when the copy-edit of A Secret Alchemy arrives, and meanwhile I've been taking advantage to work on a couple of short stories. One is, you could say, a seasonal bagatelle: a small idea which first occurred to me this time last year, when I didn't dare divert from the long haul that has become A Secret Alchemy to write so much as a shopping list. This idea's been waiting patiently in the back of my head ever since, which is as good a test of its possibilities as any, I find. Not that I've got it right yet, but the typed-up first draft is printed and sitting on my desk. If it works it'll be because of its atmosphere: a small, strong hit of colour and scent, and something shimmery and intangible to do with time.

The other story is more substantial.

Read Full Post

Happy New Year to all! I hope 2008 is good to you. Just a short blog today as it's New Year, but here is some inspiration for you all:

Today's Inner Bitch thought:

"Always remember you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." (Harriet Tubman). Your Inner Bitch wants you to dream BIG this year.

So go on. Do it!


Read Full Post

...And he's drunk and maudlin on red wine. Not only has he the tenacity to come here on New Year's Day, a family holiday, but he was already on the bus when he called.

"How do you even know where my mother lives?" I ask him when he stumbles through the door, clutching a bottle wrapped in paper.

"You mentioned it once," he says dismissively.


Read Full Post

'Happy New Year from Charing X Library.'


Read Full Post