Rab Christie (he of the McRant) penned five more episodes of the latest McSerial blockbuster, Soap Opera Scotland’s Game of Gnomes. Musselburgh poet Roger McKillop also continued with his series of laugh-out-loud anecdotes from his time as a sports instructor and lecturer.
Glaswegian journalist, writer and bletherer Pat Black made a welcome return with a knock-out (or is that knock-down?) new tale. Another much younger and better looking Glaswegian writer, Emma Guinness, also made a welcome return with a gruesome tale, perfect for Halloween.
While Lincolnshire exile Alasdair McPherson dished up the soft porn, another Dalmuir stalwart, Jack O’Donnell, served a double helping of quintessential McStorytellers fare. As did Bo’ness poet Glenn Muir, although one of his dishes wasn’t so palatable. And oor man in Boston, Mass., Michael C. Keith, supplied not only two dollops of his own special brand of humour, but also another unforgettable memoir of his early life on the road.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, two wonderful writers made their debuts on the site, Bellshill-born Robert Cowan with a slice of gritty West of Scotland humour and Hawick-based Sara Clark with the poignant tale of a lost soul.
Here’s the full line-up for October. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland.
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Soap Opera Scotland's Game of Gnomes - Series One: Episode 9
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,784
Swearwords: None.
Description: Will you push the button?
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The Staff by Roger McKillop
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 3,316
Swearwords: One strong one only.
Description: Some memorable moments wi' the staff o' the college.
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Bag Lady by Sara Clark
Genre: Drama
Word count: 874
Swearwords: None.
Description: A bag lady in a shopping mall contemplates suicide as her life falls to pieces around her.
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Roadkill by Glenn Muir
Genre: Humour
Word count: 755
Swearwords: None.
Description: The road is a dangerous place, especially if you are small and fluffy or are covered in feathers, but, hey, one man's roadkill is another man's meat.
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Soap Opera Scotland's Game of Gnomes - Series One: Episode Eight
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,577
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: The Caps versus the Socks.
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Honour Amongst Thieves by Robert Cowan
Genre: Humour
Word count: 1,415
Swearwords: A lot of strong ones.
Description: A tale of music, drink and larceny.
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The Duke Beats Up the Bad Guys by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 888
Swearwords: None.
Description: Never underestimate a child's will to survive.
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Two Tone by Jack O'Donnell
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,080
Swearwords: A lot of strong ones.
Description: A friend in need...
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Soap Opera Scotland's Game of Gnomes - Series One: Episode Seven
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,651
Swearwords: None.
Description: The Great Gnome Migration.
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Call Me Alice by Alisdair McPherson
Genre: Romance
Word count: 2,239
Swearwords: None.
Description: Untrue confessions of a randy author.
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Soap Opera Scotland's Game of Gnomes - Series One: Episode Six
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,583
Swearwords: None.
Description: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
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Family Matters 1990 by Glenn Muir
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Word count: 2,323
Swearwords: None.
Description: Artist Eck MacDermid answers a lonely hearts ad and becomes the second victim of the mysterious Estelle Degas, a skeleton from his mother's past who has returned to Scotland in vendetta mode.
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The Builders by Roger McKillop
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,410
Swearwords: A couple of mild ones.
Description: Some o' the apprentices were no' as bright as ithers.
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Alice by Emma Guinness
Genre: Horror/Supernatural
Word count: 1,700
Swearwords: None.
Description: The haunting of a conscientious objector during the London Blitz.
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Exceptional Service by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Humour
Word count: 219
Swearwords: None.
Description: A driver discovers how serious a delivery service is.
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It Was a Book That Revised Itself by Michael C. Keith
Genre: Humour
Word count: 95
Swearwords: None.
Description: Some readers just miss the obvious.
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The Big Malky by Jack O'Donnell
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,077
Swearwords: Some strong ones.
Description: Having hitched from Glasgow to London, down-and-out Frank is roped into helping with the graveyard shift.
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Soap Opera Scotland's Game of Gnomes - Series One: Episode Five
Genre: Drama
Word count: 1,645
Swearwords: None.
Description: Bowling a maiden over?
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Mural by Pat Black
Genre: Drama
Word count: 4,253
Swearwords: A few strong ones.
Description: A trip back home to see his old school being demolished triggers a series of strange aftershocks in James. His partner, Kate, suspects that the real James is about to appear – and fights against it.
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Educational (Mis)Communication by Roger McKillop
Genre: Memoir
Word count: 1,156
Swearwords: None.
Description: Education involves communication that’s meant tae enlighten – but sometimes the communication can go wrang wi' hilarious results!