BackStory: Five Questions with Christine Collinson Author of A Piecer’s Tale What inspired you to write “A Piecer’s Tale”? It was inspired by Quarry Bank Mill in Styal where they have some working machinery. We also spent some time in…
A Piecer’s Tale
A Piecer’s Tale by Christine Collinson Mr. Hendrick is watching me. “Work faster, girl!” he bellows over the clack-clack of the looms. I heap loose fibres into the sack, just like every day, and hold my misery tightly inside. He…
BackStory: Five Questions with Michelle Hemstedt
BackStory: Five Questions with Michelle Hemstedt Author of The Essex Girl What inspired you to write ‘The Essex Girl’? I grew up in Witchfinder General country close to the Essex/Suffolk border. I went back to that part of the world…
The Essex Girl
The Essex Girl by Michelle Hemstedt I have told them she killed my daughter. I have told them she kissed her and gave her an apple, and the child perished. Laying that tiny body in the earth, I fancied there…
BackStory: Five Questions with Steve Campbell
BackStory: Five Questions with Steve Campbell Author of Senna Were there any interesting facts, details, or turns of phrase that didn’t quite make the final version of ‘Senna’? In an early draft of this flash, I split the narrative into…
Senna
Senna by Steve Campbell Sunday mornings are spent dithering in the cold, passing tools to Dad’s lower half while he works beneath our car. I fight for his attention against spark plugs and tyre changes. After scrubbing his hands with…
BackStory: Five Questions with Aileen Hunt
BackStory: Five Questions with Aileen Hunt Author of A Falling from the Sky What inspired you to write ‘A Falling from the Sky’? I’ve been working on a series of flash pieces about the Famine in Ireland. The impetus came…
A Falling from the Sky
A Falling from the Sky by Aileen Hunt Philipstown, King’s County, Ireland, 1846 That night, the wind bore a strange cry. Not the cry of a banshee. They knew that sound, carried it around like a familiar chill. Not the…
BackStory: Five Questions with Jan Stinchcomb
BackStory: Five Questions with Jan Stinchcomb Author of Ice Man What inspired you to write ‘Ice Man’? This is loosely based on the Ice Man (Ötzi) found in the Ötzal Alps in 1991. While scientists were busy doing their work,…
Ice Man
Ice Man by Jan Stinchcomb She knows that all the travel will end him. She stitches his leggings and sews his hat, stuffs his pouch with dried mushrooms, and carves her sign into the handle of his knife. She uses…