Before You Judge

A 50 word story, published on Fiftywordstories The rules are easy. Don’t hit people, or shout at them. If they say you’re too close, you’re too close. If they say don’t touch, you mustn’t touch. When I grew up, people didn’t follow the rules. Didn’t follow them with me. That’s my excuse. I know it’s […]

These Walls of Me

A short piece of fiction and second prize winner for The Short Story Net   When I was eighteen, my therapist told me that every day I should draw a picture of my face. “Don’t think about what you’re doing,” he said, “and don’t try to be an artist. Take only a few seconds, look […]

England Doesn’t Want You

A short story published in the Bristol Short Story Prize anthology   GUS BROOKS TROUBADOUR MADMAN LIFE GAZER POP UP X Click to exit Gus Brooks ‘A better class of scum’ OUT NOW on Riposte Records Contains the tunes ‘England doesn’t want you’, ‘Love after love’ and ‘Stained by eyeliner’ Buy it HERE LINK   […]

Reindeer Salami

This short piece of fiction on divorce, family and the failure to communicate was shortlisted for the Wells Festival of Literature Short Story Award. The annual festival’s details are here – http://www.wellslitfest.org.uk/competitions.php “I can’t believe you bought it for him.” “I thought it would be festive.” “And you put it in his stocking.” “It seemed […]

The Happy Parents

A short piece of fiction published by the plucky and influential, but now sadly defunct Pulp.Net. It is still available online – http://www.pulp.net/fiction/stories/43/the-happy-parents.html It was when they were in their forties and we were living just outside a large city. Our house had three bedrooms and a small front and back lawn. There were no […]