As 2018 finally draws to a close, I’m delighted to announce that ‘Telling Stories’ has been published in the December issue of The Dark.
This is the first outing for a story that’s taken a while to find its feet. Indeed, you might recognise parts of it from readings that I’ve given in the past few years. As a whole, though, it’s definitely quite different to a lot of things I’ve had published in the past. It’s also one of the most personal stories I’ve written about mental illness. So, on that note, do take this as a Content Warning for those of you with related issues. I’m really grateful to Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Sean Wallace for taking a chance on this odd wee tale – and for the opportunity to cross a few things off my writerly bucket list.
Elsewhere in Issue 43, you’ll find some great stories by Wenmimareba Klobah Collins (what happens when women persist), Kay Chronister (definitely one if your children are off to school for the first time), and Alberto Chimal (the symmetry of life writ large in two people at the end of the world), translated by David Bowles. And, of course, there is the wonderful new artwork by Anna Mei at the top of this post, which really embodies the dark side of the season (with a dash of dark humour) for me.
You can find ‘Telling Stories’ online now in Issue 43 (December 2018), or read it online here.
If you’d like to subscribe to this cracking magazine, click here for a range of digital outlets, or here to check out their brilliant selection of back issues (including stories by Cassandra Khaw, Laura Mauro, Cate Gardner, David Tallerman and Angela Slatter).