On the McSerial front, December saw the publication of all twenty-four episodes of The Greatest (Advent) Stories Never Told by Dundonian McRenegade Kirsty Eccles, while January featured the opening four episodes of To Die For, co-McRenegade Annie Christie’s latest blockbuster.
There were also contributions from many regular McStorytellers. Michael C. Keith, John McGroarty, Angus Shoor Caan, Glenn Muir, Lee Carrick, Roger McKillop and Andrew Velzian all submitted at least one story. Even Mister McStoryteller himself, Brendan Gisby, managed to slip in a couple.
After a lengthy absence, Saltcoats funny man Brian Morrison made a storming comeback to the site with as many as eight pieces!
And talented Glaswegian writer Danny Gillan made his debut on the site with a double-bill of his trademark tales.
Phew! The full line-up for December and January is listed below. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland.
Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Four
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,426
Swearwords: None.
Description: Summer days.
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Running On Eggshells by Andrew Velzian
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,255
Swearwords: None.
Description: When nothing can be made right again.
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All There Is by John McGroarty
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,984
Swearwords: None.
Description: When the usual diversionary tactics fail.
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Up The Indians! by Brendan Gisby
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,336
Swearwords: None.
Description: Learning to support the underdog.
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Awake by Danny Gillan
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,143
Swearwords: One strong one only.
Description: Funerals. They bring out the best and the worst in people.
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Dad Leaves by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,134
Swearwords: None.
Description: A father makes his own bad luck.
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The Dark Stranger by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 2,832
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: Clint McGuire experiences the nastier side of Ho-down nights at the Saltcoats Labour Club. But help is at hand in the shape of a fair maiden.
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Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Three
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,027
Swearwords: None.
Description: A night to remember.
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Something Freeing by Danny Gillan
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Word count: 3,649
Swearwords: A lot of strong ones.
Description: All that was left to be done was to deal with Job Done. Then it would be… erm… job done – and five-star luxury in Antigua.
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David of Seafield by Glenn Muir
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,447
Swearwords: None
Description: Memories of a much loved pooch.
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How would Leonardo have sliced a pizza? by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 2,028
Swearwords: None.
Description: Professor of Ancient Symbols and Master Codebreaker, Dan Lambert, woos his new girlfriend in the only way he knows how. He is helped along in this quest by one of the “Little People”.
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The Appin Murderer by Roger McKillop
Genre: Historical
Word count: 1,524
Swearwords: None.
Description: Drawing on Stevenson's Kidnapped version of the murder of The Red Fox and the article here on Facebook, this is an imagined conversation between the unknown (for two and a half centuries) murderer and the corpse of James of the Glens.
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The Writer by Brian Morrison
Genre: Drama
Word count: 475
Swearwords: None.
Description: A feelgood story about a young American writer who gets lucky. He owes his success indirectly to an English pop band. Will his good luck ever run out?
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Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Two
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,202
Swearwords: None.
Description: Follow the Light.
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Wash Like an Egyptian by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 464
Swearwords: One mild one only.
Description: The year is 1966 BC. It is laundry day down at the Nile delta.
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Nun So Many by Brian Morrison
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,006
Swearwords: None.
Description: The terrifying ordeal of being taught at school by nuns.
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What I did during the holidays by Angus Shoor Caan
Genre: Humour
Word count: 789
Swearwords: One mild one only.
Description: Drug-fuelled New Year resolutions.
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The Motorcycle Trip - Part Two by Lee Carrick
Genre: Drama
Word count: 957
Swearwords: None.
Description: The unfortunate incident of the trapped exotic bird.
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The Klugenhoffs by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,779
Swearwords: A couple of strong ones.
Description: Bertha Klugenhoff's bubble of wonderment is just about to be burst. (An excerpt from the comedy novel, Blister.)
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That Hemingway Moment by Brendan Gisby
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,188
Swearwords: A couple of strong ones.
Description: Ernest Hemingway comes to 1970's Benidorm.
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Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode One
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,684
Swearwords: None.
Description: The calm before the Sturm und Drang.
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Song of Jacob by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Drama
Word count: 4,486
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: A boy against the odds meets them head on.
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Lion Rampant by Glenn Muir
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,096
Swearwords: One mild one only.
Description: The forming of a friendship between erstwhile strangers, set against the backdrop of Africa's Serengeti.
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Talk Like an Egyptian by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 606
Swearwords: None.
Description: Another day in the life of your average Egyptian punter back in the old BC days.
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Walk Like an Egyptian by Brian Morrison
Genre: Humour
Word count: 637
Swearwords: None.
Description: A story transcribed from an ancient Egyptian scroll. It tells of a chance meeting between two old friends.
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Cue-Ball and the Pen by Angus Shoor Caan
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 2,655
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
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The black hill by Angus Shoor Caan
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 2,051
Swearwords: None.
Description: Taboo or not taboo. That was always the question.
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The Diary of a Deleted Person by John McGroarty
Genre: Humour
Word count: 4,057
Swearwords: A couple of strong ones.
Description: The perils of listening to a rich and powerful American imbecile who wears a blond brush-over flicky wig.
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Not Prescribed by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,061
Swearwords: None.
Description: Life can be a real pill.
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