Inner Landscapes

From Belfast to the Potteries

I spent Tuesday evening (June 10th) at the Belfast Book Festival in conversation with Paul McVeigh as we discussed the changing outer and inner landscapes of the city that has informed his key work: the novel The Good Son, the Polari Prize-winning story set in the Ardoyne area during The Troubles; Big Man, a story of queer love performed brilliantly by Tony Flynn at the Lyric, Belfast (pictured right below and who read from Paul’s work at the event) and most recently, the city in transition captured in I Hear You, Paul’s recent collection of stories and originally commissioned for radio. At a time when most of us have a sense of belonging that encompasses many places and inner identities, it was a fascinating insight into a writer’s changing influences and perceptions. A master at capturing the serious in deceptively light dialogue, I thought you might like to step back in time and enjoy some of Paul’s readings for the Word Factory above. I am currently exploring a series of masterclasses on the boundaries between the short story and other forms, from the theatre to poetry and memoir, and hope to invite you to join me with Paul and Tony again at a future date.

Next week we will be stepping into a different geographic space, though I sense there will be connecting threads, as Jonathan Taylor gives the latest masterclass in our Small Like a Bullet series with a story set in the English Potteries from his award-winning collection, Scablands. There are still a few places left if you would like to join us online at 7pm on June 17th. Tickets here.

Please note: very sadly, Kirsty Gunn will not be giving her masterclass in the series as planned in July due to a bereavement. I know we will all pass on our condolences to Kirsty and look forward to seeing her at a later date.

We will, however, be moving through other geographic locations and inner landscapes in the weeks ahead when Sophie Haydock, author of the brilliant Madame Matisse, gives her Word Factory masterclass on July 16th, a deep exploration of Medusa’s Ankles, one of A.S.Byatt’s stories from the collection, Matisse Stories. More details to come soon and tickets here.

And in the meantime, I am very much looking forward to our gathering for the Short Story Club on June 24th when we will be discussing Brian Friel’s classic short story, The Diviner. Tickets here.

Wishing you all calm inspiration in the weeks ahead. Look out for the work of Lucy Sweeney Byrne, a writer I was introduced to on that Belfast trip. Her latest collection Let’s Dance, is a brave, dark, brilliantly executed insight into contemporary lives and the fragility of love and belonging.

Finally, fans of Tom Conaghan’s short story publishing house, Scratch Books, who live in or near London might enjoy the following events to celebrate the work of Korean author Heuijung Hur. Tom writes:

25th June - Heuijung Hur and Rowe Irvin at Brick Lane Bookshop. The authors of the best two books of the summer in conversation! Heuijung Hur, the Korean author of the brand new Failed Summer Vacation, with Rowe Irvin of Life Cycle of a Moth.

26th June - Failed Summer Vacation: the grand launch Come along to the Korean Cultural Centre on the Strand to meet Heuijung in person. Tickets are free and it should be great fun!

Onwards. Cathy Galvin