Month: June 2013

Adnan Mahmutović is a Bosnian-Swedish author and lecturer in English literature. He became a refugee of war in 1993 and has since written on the myths of home. I first got to know Adnan when we were in the same online writing group together – we were then both shortlisted for the 2011 Willesden Herald Short Story Competition. His stories have appeared in a range of journals including Stand, The Battered Suitcase and many more. His short story ‘Gusul’ was made into a short film by Artwerk in 2010 (you can watch it here). His novel Thinner than a Hair was the winning entry in the First-Novel competition run by Cinnamon Press. His short story collection How to Fare Well and Stay Fair – which I have just read and mightily enjoyed – was published by Salt last year. Here I interview him about the collection.
Continue reading “Northern light: An interview with Adnan Mahmutović”

I mentioned previously that I had a new story forthcoming in The Warwick Review. I wasn’t sure then which issue it would be in but I’m happy to say it’s in the June issue. The story is called ‘One Small Thing’ and will be published alongside new work by the likes of fellow Edge Hill Prize shortlistee Rowena Macdonald, John Kinsella, Kirsty Gunn and more. If you’re interested in a subscription to The Warwick Review, details are available here (you can also order individual copies should you want to). It’s a great read so it’s well worth subscribing if you can. My story began with a first line dropping into my head – ‘She was carving dolls for the dead.’ This has happened quite a lot to me in the past and, usually, as soon as I get the line I get the story. That’s not to say that the stories then come easily of course – they never do. Anyway, if you read it I hope you like it.
* Elizabeth Baines has given a very nice mention to the anthology of Brontë stories I’m currently editing and which she features in (Red Room: New Short Stories Inspired by the Brontës) so pop over to her blog to have a read.