Blog

Tartu Part Two: The Good People of Estonia

Twelve more days of Estonian magic, May 2023 Krista She's there again to meet me at Tartu Bus Station. Krista, with her shock-blue hair...

Writing the Uncanny: A Short Story Course

All you need to know about my Comma Press workshop series in July 2023 Tremendously exciting news to share. Come July, when we'd all...

Bringing Preston to Mars: Lancashire Stories Anthology

It was Lancashire Day on the 27th November and this year it was marked by the release of Lancashire Stories, an anthology of original...

Tartu: Hüvasti, Until Next Time

On the last night of my first trip to fair Estonia, I find myself at a Poetry Slam. After a quick introduction to the night’s hosts, I’m...

Tartu: Small City, Big Spirit

Tartu has opened itself to me. It is a mosaic of proud buildings, old and new, small and large, sturdy and wonky. It is a zonal city...

Tartu: The Eve of the Residency

The brief asks me to 'Bring Your Own Utopia'. A big ask in such a time of turmoils, but there's nothing quite like a pandemic, a...

Tartu, Writer-in-Residence

Rather fantastic news to share today. I've been selected via an open call to be the Tartu-Manchester UNESCO City of Literature...

The Edge Hill Short Story Prize Longlist ... and other stories

On the Edge of the Hill... My lovely little book of weird short stories about animals has just claimed its biggest achievement: a spot on...

Fauna shortlisted for the Saboteur Awards!

I'm utterly delighted to say that Fauna has made it to the shortlist for the 2022 Saboteur Awards in the Best Short Story Collection...

Daily Writing: A New Approach!

In and Out of Habits I've been a bit quiet on here recently as I've been getting my head down, writing some new stuff, plotting some new...