Blog

On Thursdays, I invite my favourite writers to share the inspirations behind their stories. Here’s one from the brave and beautiful Carys Bray. The Story: ‘Scaling Never’ was published in Dialogue. An Extract: Before Issy died Mum used to read a fairy tale each night from the old, fat, book that she had been given as a present when she was a little girl. Afterwards she would get the Bible and the Book of Mormon picture books out and read…

Thievery is a series of blog posts about story inspirations. On Thursdays, I invite my favourite writers to share the inspirations behind their stories. Here’s one from the ever-charming Tom Vowler. The Story: That Dark Remembered Day was published by Headline. An Extract: High above him a bird drifted idly on the thermals. He trained the binoculars upwards but it was only a gull, buoyant in its long arcs, slowly heading out to the coast. His father’s obsession with the…

I really can’t state this enough: if you want to get into arts journalism, you MUST apply to be the IdeasTap columnist. You MUST. I won’t take no for an answer. And you’d better get a wiggle on, because you’ve only got until Thursday 31 July. I can say this with confidence because I spent seven months as the IdeasTap columnist (that’s 28 columns – bloody hell! What did I manage to write about for 28 columns? Find out here…)…

Thievery is a series of blog posts about story inspirations. On Thursdays, I invite my favourite writers to share the inspirations behind their stories. Here’s one from one of my all-time favourite short story writers, Amber Sparks. The Story: ‘And the World Was Crowded With Things That Meant Love’ was published in Matter. An Extract: Down the years they sent their strange missives. She sent maps made of clay, locks with no key, books with words cut out, fantastical animals…

Thievery is a series of blog posts about story inspirations. On Thursdays, I invite my favourite writers to share the inspirations behind their stories. Here’s one from the most fabulous Kaite Welsh. The Story: ‘This Is Not Your Great-Great Granddaughter’s Roller Derby’ was published in For Books’ Sake’s Derby Shorts anthology. An Extract: The truth is, we have always been competing against one another. To be prettier, more accomplished, better-dressed. To be the most marriagable. And though none of us dare…

Thievery is a series of blog posts about story inspirations. On Thursdays, I invite my favourite writers to share the inspirations behind their stories. Here’s one from novelist Liam Murray Bell. The Story: The Busker was published by Myriad Editions. An Extract: ‘Wake up!’ I try again. ‘Rab?’ the voice is thick with catarrh, but he hocks it up and a phlegm-missile flies out from beneath the blanket to land on the solicitor’s door and dribble down the paintwork. It…