Collection of short stories by Wick writer published soon

WICK-based author Kevin Crowe is due to have a collection of short stories published next month.

No Home in this World will be out on June 12 and comes from Derby-based publisher Fly on the Wall Press.

Kevin said: “I'm really excited that after all these years a publisher has expressed an interest in my work – particularly as this will be the first time they have published a fiction collection.

"Some of the stories have previously been featured in magazines, but two of the six are being published for the first time."

This will be his first book despite having fiction, non-fiction and poetry published in many magazines and on websites over the years.

Kevin has also done readings of his work at the Ullapool Book Festival, the Scottish Parliament, Glasgow's Aye Write Book Festival, the John O'Groats Book Festival and Highland Pride

The stories in this collection have received plaudits from Scottish makar Jackie Kay and Scottish novelist and short story writer Brendan Gisby.

They have already received a favourable review in UnDividingLines – the Highland LGBT+ magazine.

Isabelle Kenyon from Fly on the Wall Press said: “Kevin perfectly sums up the aims of Fly on the Wall Press – to highlight under-represented voices, to generate conversations about current issues and to fight for social justice.

"The stories in this collection are unafraid to look at huge subjects such as terrorism, our prison system and sentencing, sexuality and HIV. The stories are vivid, engaging and lovable.”

Kevin thinks that most writers "need a sympathetic editor" and Isabelle fulfils that role perfectly.

The offer to publish the collection came after he submitted a short story for a magazine Fly on the Wall was publishing.

That story, The Executioner, which describes an execution from the perspective of the hangman, was not only published but led to him being asked to submit further stories.

Because of the lockdown, Kevin is unable to launch No Home in This World in bookshops so it will take place online instead.

He said: “The publisher and I have decided to launch the book on June 12 with two YouTube videos in which I will be answering questions submitted through my and the publisher's Facebook pages.

"This is followed by reading two of the stories from the collection. Another video will be released on our Facebook pages early in June as a taster.”

The book can be ordered in advance on the publisher's website www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk (priced £7.99) and will be available on Amazon and other bookselling sites.

It will also be available in bookshops and other retail outlets once they reopen.

Kevin is currently working on a series of stories featuring characters who may find lockdown more difficult than most of us, and has already put video readings of some of them on his Facebook page.

He has also recently been appointed the new editor of award-winning Highland LGBT+ magazine, UnDividing Lines.

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