There were double-headers by Andrew Velzian and Alasdair McPherson. Lee Carrick continued with his backpacker’s travelogue. Annie Christie supplied the concluding episodes of her first McSerial, Family Fictions. Roger McKillop completed his trilogy of pieces on Scottish heroes. Ronnie Smith, John McGroarty, Michael C. Keith and Glenn Muir all made sterling contributions. And there were heart-breaking tales from James McPherson and Brendan Gisby.
Here’s the full amazing August line-up. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland.
______________________________________________________
Man Up by Brendan Gisby
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,065
Swearwords: Some strong ones.
Description: A widower reflects.
______________________________________________________
Annie Christie's Family Fictions: Episode Twelve
Genre: Drama
Word count: 2,312
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: Drowning hope.
______________________________________________________
Pet-gilante by Glenn Muir
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Word count: 1,326
Swearwords: Some mild ones.
Description: This is what might happen if animal rights activists got radicalised and started to take the law into their own hands.
______________________________________________________
Invisible Man by Alasdair McPherson
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,797
Swearwords: None.
Description: At twenty-two, James thinks he knows it all, but then he starts working beside fortysomethings.
______________________________________________________
Do You Play Chess? by Lee Carrick
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,263
Swearwords: Some strong ones.
Description: They say chess can help you relax. Not this time.
______________________________________________________
Annie Christie's Family Fictions: Episode Eleven
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,622
Swearwords: None.
Description: Dare to kiss and tell?
______________________________________________________
The 300th by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,240
Swearwords: None.
Description: Good story ideas are not easy to come by, especially after 300.
______________________________________________________
Triple Indemnity by John McGroarty
Genre: Humour
Word count: 5,854
Swearwords: None.
Description: With New York's Siamese triplet population under threat from a possible serial killer, a trio of sleuths are on the case.
______________________________________________________
Romance Is Dying by Alasdair McPherson
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,309
Swearwords: One mild one only.
Description: Why are women considered the romantic sex?
______________________________________________________
Brown Cord Trousers by Ronnie Smith
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,056
Swearwords: None.
Description: We are scarred for life by some events in our childhood and sometimes we refuse to change our habits when we grow old. That's why we still catch the cold around Easter.
______________________________________________________
Annie Christie's Family Fictions: Episode Ten
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,771
Swearwords: None.
Description: Secret diaries and imaginary friends.
______________________________________________________
Eternal Shadows by James McPherson
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,975
Swearwords: A lot of strong ones.
Description: Keeping watch over a terminally ill loved one, a man reflects on his own life.
______________________________________________________
Mumbai to Goa by Lee Carrick
Genre: Drama
Word count: 3,964
Swearwords: Some strong ones.
Description: From India's railway hell to paradise.
______________________________________________________
Ma Heroes o' Sport by Roger McKillop
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 2,103
Swearwords: None.
Description: Groin’ up in the Sixties I discovered ma trinity o’ personal Scottish heroes. For ma generation much of our heritage and culture was disseminated tae us by the writtin’s o’ Nigel Tranter an’ the music o’ The Corries. Tae these, as a Rugby player, A ay’ add the commentaries o’ Bill McLaren. A wrote and sent tributes tae them aw’ an’ A’m proud tae say that A received gracious replies. This is ma tribute tae Bill McLaren and ma other sportin' heroes.
______________________________________________________
Fuck Debt. I'm Off. by Lee Carrick
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,152
Swearwords: Some strong ones.
Description: Escaping to a new, debt-free life.
______________________________________________________
Annie Christie's Family Fictions: Episode Nine
Genre: Drama
Word count: 2,421
Swearwords: None.
Description: Secrets and fictions.
______________________________________________________
Turkeys by Andrew Velzian
Genre: Humour
Word count: 849
Swearwords: A lot of strong ones.
Description: When in Rome, gadge.
______________________________________________________
Junkie Jacket by Andrew Velzian
Genre: Humour
Word count: 216
Swearwords: One strong one only.
Description: Short-changed on the bus.
______________________________________________________