Iceblink by Mary Morrissy Down below you could hear them revelling, hallooing. Boots hoofing on boards, someone’s birthday. Wouldn’t half-mind being down there with them, instead of here, perched in the crow’s nest, blowing on your perished hands. You and…
Six Questions with Sian Brighal
Six Questions with Sian Brighal Author of Water Over the Tunnel What inspired you to write ‘Water Over the Tunnel’? I was suddenly made aware that many things we make use of on a daily basis have a history. When…
Water Over the Tunnel
Water Over the Tunnel by Sian Brighal This ain’t no rock or land I’m familiar with. It’s as though the stone has steeped too long in the river above it, becoming soft and corrupted on what the city adds to…
BackStory: Six Questions with Charles Duffie
BackStory: Six Questions with Charles Duffie Author of Y2K What inspired you to write ‘Y2K’? Mass shootings have become a tragic ritual in America. These shattering events can’t be predicted and, given our current political and cultural environment, I don’t…
Forgotten Women Workshop: Saturday, 6 April 2019
There are still a few tickets left for tomorrow’s workshop collaboration between Word Factory, Tara Arts and FlashBack Fiction. Join us from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, 6 April 2019 at Tara Studio (356 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, London SW18 4ES) for…
Y2K
(Content warning: this story covers recent history & mass shootings.) Y2K by Charles Duffie The latch on the bathroom door rattles like the lid on a boiling pot when Papa’s cooking. Kaamisha squeezes her eyes and prays to wake up…
BackStory: Five Questions with Sarah Smith
BackStory: Five Questions with Sarah Smith Author of The Blockcutter What inspired you to write this ‘The Blockcutter’? My grandad, who worked as a blockcutter in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. The town was central to the linoleum industry for a large part…
The Blockcutter
The Blockcutter by Sarah Smith Apprenticed at fourteen; he never minded the early starts. Mornings, he shrugged his jacket on and pocketed his piece box. At the corner of Braehead Cottages and Mid Street, he wrapped his muffler close to…
BackStory: Five Questions with Rosanna Hildyard
BackStory: Five Questions with Rosanna Hildyard Author of Whispers, behind closed doors What inspired you to write ‘Whispers, Behind Closed Doors’? I’ve always been interested in Anne Boleyn. She seems to have been as glamourous to the English courtiers of…
Whispers, behind closed doors
Whispers, behind closed doors by Rosanna Hildyard Many years ago, back in our green days, we played at the new game of tennis, dressed up for May masques and dared call King Harry’s wife ‘the Spanish woman’ almost openly behind…