DISTURBANCE IN A SMALL TOWN
'You've to get up early in the morning to get up early in the morning.'
Mr McStoryteller at his finest. Nae jokin''
Mr McStoryteller himself linked to this in his previous post.. but in case you missed it, check it out at the link below DISTURBANCE IN A SMALL TOWN Our readers say: 'What do Paddy's ken aboot history onywey?'
'You've to get up early in the morning to get up early in the morning.' Mr McStoryteller at his finest. Nae jokin''
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Make a cup of tea or coffee... or something stronger if you like and head on over to McStorytellers for a free story HELEN By Bill Robertson (Just click the title) For anyone who has ever got lost in musicMy new McSerial is going to be starting next Wednesday and it’s like no other serial you’ve ever read. It started out simple enough, but then I got Lost in Music and so now I’m giving you the chance to join me and experience the 1970s all over again. Remember the age of ‘concept’ double albums, when a tranny was a portable music device? This is for anyone who remembers when Grease was the word. There’ll be songs you love, songs you hate, but if you were there in the 70s, and especially if you were growing up in the 70s, you’re going to love this! As they used to say – you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and it’s definitely better than Cats! It's first love, teenage angst, and a healthy dose of nostalgia for the Jack and Diane generation. Annie Christie. Welcome to The Soundtrack of Our Lives. A Double Album in Prose DISC ONE SIDE ONE LOST IN MUSIC We're lost in music Caught in a trap No turnin' back We're lost in music (Sister Sledge) Starts on Wednesday 9th August. Turn up the volume and get Lost in Music. Want to sing along? Discography for Episode One includes: John Cougar - Jack and Diane https://youtu.be/h04CH9YZcpI Sister Sledge - Lost in Music https://youtu.be/43qB9FpfCR8 Leif Garret – I was made for dancing https://youtu.be/3GVugJj7BUs Fairground Attraction – Perfect https://youtu.be/txapREGWHp0 The links are to YouTube – sorry about attendant ads – sure you can find these all on your streaming music delivery platform (if you have such a thing!) and if you can think of a better way to embed the tracks... give us a shout out. We'll turn over the album on September 27th for Side Two. SIDE TWO MIS-SPENT YOUTHS Holdin' on to sixteen as long as you can Change is coming 'round real soon Make us woman and man (John Cougar) But you’ll have to wait till 2018 for DISC TWO Last summer, an unassuming loon from Macduff by the name of Pat Hutchison made his McStorytellers debut with a spooky tale entitled The Seven Coins o Kinnedart. Since then, Pat has had another five stories published on the site. While one was similarly spooky, one was heart-breaking and the others were imbued with that bone-dry humour of the North-East of Scotland, uniquely all six stories were written in what Pat calls the Banffshire Doric – and were all the more enjoyable for that.
After reading the first couple of those stories, fellow-McStoryteller Cally Phillips, who runs the Turriff-based Deveron Press, recognised Pat’s obvious storytelling talent (as we did) and quickly got in touch with him. We’re delighted to announce today that the outcome of Cally’s contact is the publication of a collection of twenty-six of Pat’s short stories, all penned in his beloved native Doric. Sanners Gow’s Tales and Folklore of the Buchan will be launched in May, but pre-publication signed copies can be ordered now from the unco online bookstore for delivery by 20th April. This book deserves a place on the bookshelf alongside the cream of North-East Scottish writers. McStorytellers. Proud to give the wee folk a voice. Posted by Brendan Gisby on behalf of McStorytellers And the seasons they go round and round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time If you’re a fan of Joni Mitchell, as we at McStorytellers are, you’ll recognise those words. Yes, the seasons do go round and round. It was the beginning of summer when we posted our last round-up here on McRenegades. Summer is long gone, of course, and autumn is now seguing into winter, but our particular painted ponies continued to go up and down throughout those seasons. On the McSerial front, we were delighted to publish ten episodes of James Leatham’s century-old serial, Twixt Desk and Shelves. And we’ve almost reached the end of Annie Christie’s exciting and highly topical That Long Hot Summer. Beyond the McSerials, there were contributions from many regular McStorytellers. Sara Clark, Angus Shoor Caan, John McGroarty, Michael C. Keith, Glenn Muir, Alasdair McPherson, Roger McKillop and Greg Michaelson all submitted at least one story. Even Mister McStoryteller, Brendan Gisby, let us have the opening chapter of his latest biography, The Rebel’s Daughter. And if that wasn’t enough, two wonderful writers – Kirsten Stalker and Patrick Hutchison – made their McStorytellers debuts. The full line-up for the period is listed below. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland. ______________________________________________________
Nosegay by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Romance Word count: 3,621 Swearwords: None. Description: A tale of young love blossoming. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Eleven Genre: Drama Word count: 1,998 Swearwords: None. Description: If you build it, they will come? ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Ten Genre: Drama Word count: 1,548 Swearwords: None. Description: The Long and Winding Road Home. ______________________________________________________ No Witnesses by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,257 Swearwords: A couple of strong ones. Description: The tale of a man of chivalry with an eye for the chance. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Nine Genre: Drama Word count: 2,348 Swearwords: None. Description: We're All Going on a Summer Holiday. ______________________________________________________ Cute by Greg Michaelson Genre: Crime/Mystery Word count: 3,198 Swearwords: None. Description: The latest case for the Detective and the Constable turns into a game of cat and mouse. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Eight Genre: Drama Word count: 2,456 Swearwords: None. Description: The Great Escape. ______________________________________________________ If I Catch Ye I'll Eat Ye by Patrick Hutchison Genre: Humour Word count: 1,142 Swearwords: None. Description: A wee funny story written in Banffshire Doric about Tarlair beside Macduff in Aberdeenshire. I've added a glossary of Doric words to help readers understand the story. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Seven Genre: Drama Word count: 2,200 Swearwords: None. Description: In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle... ______________________________________________________ The Barefoot Bishop by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,422 Swearwords: None. Description: Be careful where you stop to pray. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 2,049 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE TEN – Food and World Politics. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,600 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE NINE – The Daily Round. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,729 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE EIGHT – A Large Man and Some Small Topics. ______________________________________________________ Candy Abroad by Roger McKillop Genre: Memoir Word count: 4,785 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: The further adventures of a Pomsky Princess. ______________________________________________________ Table 9 by Sara Clark Genre: Romance Word count: 434 Swearwords: None. Description: A woman reflects on her past, brought to life by the sights and sounds of the Café where she sits. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,700 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE SEVEN – The Wolf and the Not-too-lamblike Lamb. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,588 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE SIX – Pro and Con. ______________________________________________________ Candy? by Roger McKillop Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,842 Swearwords: None. Description: The Pomsky Princess receives a new home and a new name. ______________________________________________________ The Stones That Turned by Patrick Hutchison Genre: Horror/Supernatural Word count: 2,379 Swearwords: None. Description: When it’s time to abandon God and call upon the Black Airts for revenge. ______________________________________________________ The Bard by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Historical Word count: 2,368 Swearwords: None. Description: On McStorytellers of old. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Six Genre: Drama Word count: 2,550 Swearwords: None. Description: After a wonderful night spent with Daniel, Shelley leaves for work and promises to return. But she doesn’t. So Daniel sets off to find her… ______________________________________________________ One of Eight by Roger McKillop Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,788 Swearwords: None. Description: The early days of a Pomsky pup. ______________________________________________________ Do the Funky Chicken by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Humour Word count: 649 Swearwords: None. Description: Please don't try this at home. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Five Genre: Drama Word count: 2,425 Swearwords: None. Description: For Daniel and Shelley, secrets are divulged and love is declared over a Chinese meal for two… in the glasshouse. ______________________________________________________ Dead Certain by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Word count: 1,880 Swearwords: None. Description: I'm just reassuring your readers that they're not wasting their lives – or, if they are, they'll be sent back to get it right next time. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Four Genre: Drama Word count: 2,291 Swearwords: None. Description: Daniel and Shelley meet at The Lowry in Salford. Will their first date go not with a bang but a whimper? ______________________________________________________ Ozsome by Glenn Muir Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Word count: 1,390 Swearwords: None. Description: A parody-cum-satire of a semi-political nature, written in Scots and based on a familiar story with some weel kenned faces. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Three Genre: Drama Word count: 1,816 Swearwords: None. Description: Daniel receives some strange packages, but he finally asks the lovely Shelley for a date. ______________________________________________________ Wanted: Pearl Diver by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 2,649 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Pearl diving isn't all it's cracked up to be. ______________________________________________________ The Seven Coins o Kineddart by Patrick Hutchison Genre: Horror/Supernatural Word count: 4,667 Swearwords: None. Description: In mid-nineteenth century Aberdeenshire, a young girl goes into service in a big house and enters into a world of the past. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode Two Genre: Drama Word count: 1,606 Swearwords: None. Description: Daniel can't bring himself to ask Shelley out. But his colleague, Mike, has a cunning plan to help him. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's That Long Hot Summer: Episode One Genre: Drama Word count: 1,698 Swearwords: None. Description: Daniel has an unwelcome houseguest. ______________________________________________________ We All Grieve In Our Own Way by Michael C. Keith Genre: Memoir Word count: 460 Swearwords: None. Description: The title tells it all. ______________________________________________________ Mother Hen by Brendan GisbyGenre: Drama Word count: 1,567 Swearwords: None. Description: It’s 1936 in rural Ireland. With her mother too ill to cope, a little girl from a poverty-stricken family takes care of her siblings. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,500 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE FIVE – A Club Scandal. ______________________________________________________ The Secret History of the Fourth Reich by John McGroarty Genre: Humour Word count: 1,936 Swearwords: None. Description: A blood-curdling contribution to the Great Brexit Debate. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,902 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE FOUR – Imports and Exports. ______________________________________________________ The first time by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,660 Swearwords: One strong one only. Description: In the days when no-one had a camera. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 1,264 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE THREE – The Uncommercial Corner. ______________________________________________________ Table One by Sara Clark Genre: Romance Word count: 405 Swearwords: None. Description: A couple meets for tea at the dying of an autumn day. ______________________________________________________ The Impoverished Artist by Kirsten Stalker Genre: Historical Word count: 1,940 Swearwords: None. Description: It's 1912 and Tom Barker, a struggling painter, has been invited to dine with his wealthy patrons, the Johnsons, in Glasgow's West End. Mrs Johnson has an ulterior motive for inviting Tom to her house that evening and instructs her housemaid Gertie to help execute a cunning plan. Gertie reluctantly obliges, but her sympathy, and ultimately her loyalty, rests with Tom. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 2,305 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE TWO – What it is to be eccentric. ______________________________________________________ Twixt Desk and Shelves by James Leatham Genre: Drama Word count: 2,560 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE ONE – There's nothing so funny as folk. ______________________________________________________ We had a busy old time on McStorytellers during the months of March, April and May. Here’s a round-up for those Spring months. It was full steam ahead on the McSerial front. During Fair Trade Fortnight, we were treated to young Jack MacRoary’s Fairtrade Adventure. Another treat came in the form of S. R. Crockett’s last published work, the exciting Peninsular War adventure, Peter the Renegade. And throughout May we were privileged to showcase Rosalie Warren’s sharp and witty Lost Apostrophe. Beyond the McSerials, we received contributions from many regular McStorytellers. Brian Morrison, Angus Shoor Caan, Glenn Muir, Michael C. Keith, Sara Clark, Cally Phillips, Roger McKillop, Alasdair McPherson and Keith Coleman all submitted at least one story. Karen Jones also made a very welcome return to the site, while Mister McStoryteller, Brendan Gisby, completed his trinity of tales commemorating Ireland’s Easter Rising and added his tuppence worth to the grubby phenomenon that is Donald Trump. The full line-up for the three months is listed below. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland. ______________________________________________________
Pensées Dix by Michael C. Keith Genre: Humour Word count: 491 Swearwords: A couple of mild ones. Description: Ten metaphorical thoughts. ______________________________________________________ Dreel by Keith Coleman Genre: Horror/Supernatural Word count: 3,387 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Berry-picking in the raspberry fields of Strathmore, where sometimes you picked up more than just a fair day's pay. ______________________________________________________ The Oxter Bar by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 3,492 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Revenge is the sweetest drug. ______________________________________________________ Jobby Done! by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Memoir Word count: 2,419 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: School pals – there’s nothing like them! ______________________________________________________ Saints With Dirty Feet by Michael C. Keith Genre: Drama Word count: 889 Swearwords: None. Description: Bitter wine from the altar. ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett Genre: Drama Word count: 4,787 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE SIX – The Crowning Mercy. ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett Genre: Drama Word count: 6,548 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE FIVE – Capturing a King. ______________________________________________________ Body Language by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,420 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Breaking up is very hard to do. ______________________________________________________ Wean by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Humour Word count: 114 Swearwords: None. Description: Whit's in a name? ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett Genre: Drama Word count: 5,167 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE FOUR – The Treasure of Ten Thousand. _____________________________________________________ The Flemings o' Dalnoid by Roger McKillop Genre: Memoir Word count: 729 Swearwords: None. Description: Remembering a wonderful Highland couple. _____________________________________________________ Get Lost by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Memoir Word count: 3,488 Swearwords: None. Description: A well-remembered fleeting instant. ______________________________________________________ A Dining Experience by Michael C. Keith Genre: Memoir Word count: 523 Swearwords: None. Description: Something to chew on... ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett Genre: Drama Word count: 5,393 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE THREE – The Treasure Seeking. ______________________________________________________ Trumped by Brendan Gisby Genre: Drama Word count: 2,016 Swearwords: Some strong ones. Description: A grubby little scam is exposed at New York’s Trump Tower. ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett Genre: Drama Word count: 5,125 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE TWO – Peter Cleans the Slate. ______________________________________________________ The Magical Chalks by Glenn Muir Genre: Horror/Supernatural Word count: 1,145 Swearwords: None Description: Street art linked to a missing child as summer daydreams turn into nightmares. ______________________________________________________ The Parrotts of Penzance by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,388 Swearwords: None. Description: Always read the small print on that retirement plan. ______________________________________________________ Peter the Renegade by S. R. Crockett #Genre: Drama Word count: 5,628 Swearwords: None. Description: EPISODE ONE – The Scout-Master of the Fourth ______________________________________________________ Uprisin' an' Doonfa' by Roger McKillop Genre: Historical Word count: 1,437 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Bliadhn 'a Phrionnsa? Mo thoin! – The year of the Prince? My Arse! Remembering the butchery of Culloden in prose and verse. ______________________________________________________ Cottoning on to Fashion by Cally Phillips Genre: Drama Word count: 5,005 Swearwords: None. Description: Going beyond the labels to make a real fashion statement. ______________________________________________________ Table Four by Sara Clark Genre: Romance Word count: 574 Swearwords: None. Description: A man arranges to meet a blind date at a local café. ______________________________________________________ The Patriot Game - Part Three by Brendan Gisby Genre: Drama Word count: 2,056 Swearwords: Some strong ones. Description: It is 1961, forty years after the end of Ireland’s War of Independence. In a village in the north of County Longford, Eire, an elderly man recalls the part he played in that War. ______________________________________________________ Friends In Crime by Michael C. Keith Genre: Drama Word count: 1,286 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: It's a crime the way friends treat you at times. ______________________________________________________ The Last Word by Karen Jones Genre: Drama Word count: 246 Swearwords: None Description: Imagining a world without creative writing. ______________________________________________________ Al Fresco by Glenn Muir Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,094 Swearwords: None Description: A hot Sixties summer day. Time for a picnic and a spot of fishing. ______________________________________________________ A room with a phew by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,546 Swearwords: None. Description: All thoughts of escape are futile. But feel free to dream. ______________________________________________________ The Patriot Game - Part Two by Brendan Gisby Genre: Drama Word count: 1,254 Swearwords: Some strong ones. Description: It is 1961, forty years after the end of Ireland’s War of Independence. In a village in the north of County Longford, Eire, an elderly man recalls the part he played in that War. ______________________________________________________ Play Bingo Like an Egyptian by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 1,739 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Is it wise to take your mummy along to a game of Bingo at the Luxor Palace Bingo Hall? Especially when she has been dead for ten years. ______________________________________________________ My mother, God bless her Irish soul, hailed from a small village in County Leitrim up there in the north of Eire. She was just a slip of a girl when she came over to England during the War to work in service at Mentmore Towers, Lord Rosebery’s vast former pile in Buckinghamshire. Not long after that, she moved up to Dalmeny House, Rosebery’s stately home in Scotland. The Dalmeny estate lies on the southern shore of the River Forth along the road from South Queensferry, where Mum met and married my father and had seven children, six of whom are alive and kicking today. But that’s a whole other story, which you can read in The Bookie’s Runner, my little biography of my Dad. Back to Mum, then. When we children were growing up, she often spoke to us about her father – our grandfather, Patrick. Her reports of the man were conflicting, to say the least. Most of the time, she referred to him as “a useless, ould drunk”. She blamed him for her mother taking ill and being put in a sanatorium. And she blamed him for the subsequent break-up of her family, with her brothers and sisters being split up and farmed out to be brought up by aunts and uncles. She had no time at all for the man. But there were other occasions when she spoke proudly of her father as a war hero. He joined the Irish Republican Army when he was still a boy, she said. He fought in Ireland’s War of Independence. He was a lieutenant colonel. He was Michael Collins’ right-hand man. He was captured and tortured by the Black and Tans. They pulled out his fingernails, wrapped a Union Jack around him and paraded him through his own village. The poor man never recovered from the humiliation and took to the drink. Now, the thing about Mum is that she was a bit of a romantic, with a lot of fanciful notions about our lineage. We were descended from Brian Boru, from the Kings of Ireland, she told us. We were also descendants of the Black Irish and had Spanish blood running in our veins. And our father – well, he was descended from a long line of Norwegian sailors. Where Mum was concerned, we could never just be ordinary. As we grew up, we learned to treat Mum’s claims with a pinch of salt. There may have been a sliver of truth in some of them, but by and large we saw them as embellishments. And such was the case with her claims about our grandfather’s war hero status. Yes, in all likelihood Patrick was a member of the IRA and had a minor role in the War of Independence, but that was about it. Well, it was until some recent revelations. My older sister is what you might call our family archivist. Her research into Mum’s family tree over in Ireland brought her into contact with a cousin, who supplied her with a whole wad of official papers about Patrick. Among the papers was a copy of Patrick’s application back in the 1950’s for a Military Service Medal and Pension. (He was awarded both, by the way. The photo at the top of this article is what the medal would have looked like.) It’s in the detail of that application form where the revelations lie. It seems that the seventeen-year-old who joined the IRA in 1917 quickly developed into a key figure in his local Unit. He was a messenger. He was a drill instructor and an arms instructor. He looked after the Unit’s guns and ammunition and explosives. A quartermaster in all but name, he may well have held the rank of lieutenant colonel. And he was present during every military operation by the Unit. But what about Patrick’s alleged connection to Michael Collins? A closer examination of the records shows that for much of the war Collins was very active in North Longford, the very area in which Patrick operated. In fact, Collins’ base when he was in the area, the Longford Arms in Granard, was a short distance from Patrick’s own village. It’s highly likely, therefore, that the two men knew each other. But the Big Fella’s right-hand man? Probably not, but a close comrade at least. And there’s more. On one of her visits to Ireland, my sister met with Mum’s last remaining sibling, our Uncle Mick. He told her that Patrick was “good with his hands” and had apparently built his own motorcycle when he was a lad. He also mentioned a book he had read many years before, a biography of Michael Collins, in which he remembered seeing an entry that stated: LANE, PADRAIG LT COL IRA. Our grandfather! (Sadly, Mick passed away shortly after that conversation.) So Mum may not have been embellishing Patrick’s story after all. If his role in the IRA, his rank and his connection with Michael Collins were all as she had claimed, then her account of his capture and torture by the Black and Tans was also likely to be true. He may not have been a good husband and father, but it certainly appears that he was one of his country’s heroes. Because of our scepticism over Mum’s claims, Patrick has for long been a much maligned man in the eyes of his grandchildren in Scotland. It’s time to rectify that. It’s time to rehabilitate our grandfather. I hope I’ve begun the process of rehabilitation with my story, The Patriot Game. It’s a semi-fictional account of Patrick’s life – semi-fictional, because there are still huge gaps in our knowledge of the man, gaps that may never be filled. Over the last few weeks, the story has been published in three parts on the McStorytellers short story website. You can read Part One on the site and then follow the links to the subsequent parts. If you didn’t know already, this year marks the centenary of Ireland’s Easter Rising of 1916. Over the coming Easter weekend, the Rising will be commemorated in celebrations not only across Eire, but throughout the world. The Patriot Game is my personal way of commemorating the Rising, the brutal quelling of which led Patrick and many other young men across Ireland to take up arms against the British Army. Erin go Bragh, Patrick! Brendan Gisby February may have been a slow month elsewhere, but on McStorytellers it was a case of full steam ahead. On the McSerial front, the month saw the concluding four episodes of Annie Christie’s Kirkcudbright-based drama, To Die For, together with the opening instalment of young Jack MacRoary’s Fairtrade Adventure. There were also contributions from many regular McStorytellers. Alasdair McPherson, Brian Morrison, Glenn Muir, Angus Shoor Caan, John McGroarty and Michael C. Keith all submitted at least one story. Even Mister McStoryteller, Brendan Gisby, snuck in the first of his trinity of tales commemorating Ireland’s Easter Rising. After far too long an absence, Cally Phillips, Andrew McCallum Crawford, Keith Coleman and Pat Black all made very welcome returns to the site. And if that wasn’t enough, two wonderful writers – Tom Gillespie and Kirsty Grant – made their McStorytellers debuts. The full line-up for February is listed below. Just click on the titles to read the stories. And remember, McStorytellers is the short story website for Scotland. ______________________________________________________
The Patriot Game - Part One by Brendan Gisby Genre: Drama Word count: 1,061 Swearwords: Some strong ones. Description: It is 1961, forty years after the end of Ireland’s War of Independence. In a village in the north of County Longford, Eire, an elderly man recalls the part he played in that War. ______________________________________________________ Wee Eddie McPhee by Keith Coleman Genre: Horror/Supernatural Word count: 2,308 Swearwords: None. Description: School can be an intimidating place for a ten-year-old; even more so when something malignant lurks in the stairwell. ______________________________________________________ Virtual Trouble by Brian Morrison Genre: Drama Word count: 1,592 Swearwords: None. Description: Some mysterious goings on at the local infirmary. A man is admitted to A & E with serious wounds to his body. But how could he have sustained the injuries whilst lounging around on a sofa? ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Eight Genre: Drama Word count: 3,184 Swearwords: None. Description: I can see clearly now. ______________________________________________________ Father Brown's Last Case by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Crime/Mystery Word count: 1,602 Swearwords: None. Description: With apologies to the wraith of G K Chesterton. ______________________________________________________ Don't You Read the Papers? by Kirsty Grant Genre: Drama Word count: 3,093 Swearwords: Some strong ones. Description: When her hours at work are cut, Jeanie decides to volunteer at her local foodbank. Things are not quite as black and white as she perceived. ______________________________________________________ Atlantis by Pat Black Genre: Drama Word count: 4,438 Swearwords: A lot of strong ones. Description: Tam and Stu are having a wee soiree on the banks of a festering canal at the start of the school holidays. They're having a night on the tiles before they start their summer jobs – but first, a trip to the fabled underwater city of Atlantis... ______________________________________________________ Talking of Trips by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 700 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Two drinking buddies discuss the effects of mind-bending drugs. ______________________________________________________ The Solution by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 1,678 Swearwords: None. Description: Friendly fire? Or chemical warfare? You decide. ______________________________________________________ My Beloved Edith by Tom Gillespie Genre: Drama Word count: 1,225 Swearwords: None. Description: An old man, his memory failing, searches for the grave of his lost love. ______________________________________________________ The Square Woodie by Keith Coleman Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Word count: 2,795 Swearwords: None. Description: A surreal memory of rampaging about the hills as a young man. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Seven Genre: Drama Word count: 3,330 Swearwords: None. Description: The camera never lies. ______________________________________________________ The Steal by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 4,765 Swearwords: A couple of strong ones. Description: The sorry tale of the theft of a priceless Degas painting from the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. There are four main players in this drama – two thieves and two security guards. They share only a small scattering of brain cells between them. As you can imagine, mayhem ensues. ______________________________________________________ Cupid's Arrow by Michael C. Keith Genre: Humour Word count: 929 Swearwords: Some mild ones. Description: Old customers make an unfortunate miscalculation. ______________________________________________________ Ask Archie by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 998 Swearwords: None. Description: I promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth… or you can just ask ma wee pal Archie. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Six Genre: Drama Word count: 3,335 Swearwords: None. Description: Colourblind. ______________________________________________________ They Made The Effort by Andrew McCallum Crawford Genre: Drama Word count: 1,966 Swearwords: None. Description: In the middle of the night in the dark of winter, two people get ready for their journeys. ______________________________________________________ Beautiful Souls by John McGroarty Genre: Humour Word count: 4,443 Swearwords: None. Description: A young bestselling American author seeks her uncle's help with a sockpuppet. ______________________________________________________ The Inter-Club Talent Contest by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 1,265 Swearwords: None. Description: Just another night at the Ardrossan Dockers' Social Club? No chance! It is the inter-club talent competition night, and a couple of Welsh superstar vocalists appear to have gate-crashed the event. ______________________________________________________ Ri new fulla by Angus Shoor Caan Genre: Drama Word count: 801 Swearwords: One strong one only. Description: Chinge is gonnae come. ______________________________________________________ Wha's feart o' the library? by Cally Phillips Genre: Drama Word count: 2,985 Swearwords: None Description: A monster lurks behind the children's bookshelves. ______________________________________________________ Save the Rhino by Glenn Muir Genre: Memoir Word count: 665 Swearwords: None Description: A letter arrives from a well-known celebrity seeking a donation to a worthy cause. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Five Genre: Drama Word count: 3,650 Swearwords: None. Description: The Longest Day. ______________________________________________________ Not A One-Horse Town by Brian Morrison Genre: Humour Word count: 1,877 Swearwords: A couple of mild ones. Description: The Dark Stranger's cowboy adventures at the Saltcoats Labour Club continue. The elaborate floor show has him at a loss for words. ______________________________________________________ A Timely Intervention by Alasdair McPherson Genre: Fantasy/Sci-fi Word count: 3,378 Swearwords: None. Description: A time travel romance. ______________________________________________________ For those of you who have been missing the Bard of DrumTumshie, the toast of TattyBogle, you'll be pleased to know that Jack MacRoary is back. From Monday 29th February (Sunday night if you eat your cereal at the back end of the day) Jack will be taking you on a FairTrade Adventure in 14 daily episodes, stretching right out through Fair Trade Fortnight. Where can you find him? At McStorytellers - just click to the McSerial link HERE and go direct to Jack's FairTrade Adventure. You can catch up on his earlier McSerials too! Want to find out more about FairTrade and FairTrade Fortnight. Just click HERE dudes! There were McStories galore on McStorytellers during the Summer of 2015, followed by a virtual McStoryfest in the Autumn. And, like a seasonal swollen river, the flow of stories continued unabated throughout the Winter months of December and January. Here’s a round-up for those two months. 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. ______________________________________________________ Running On Eggshells by Andrew Velzian Genre: Drama Word count: 1,255 Swearwords: None. Description: When nothing can be made right again. ______________________________________________________ All There Is by John McGroarty Genre: Drama Word count: 1,984 Swearwords: None. Description: When the usual diversionary tactics fail. ______________________________________________________ Up The Indians! by Brendan Gisby Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,336 Swearwords: None. Description: Learning to support the underdog. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ Dad Leaves by Michael C. Keith Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,134 Swearwords: None. Description: A father makes his own bad luck. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Three Genre: Drama Word count: 3,027 Swearwords: None. Description: A night to remember. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ David of Seafield by Glenn Muir Genre: Memoir Word count: 1,447 Swearwords: None Description: Memories of a much loved pooch. ______________________________________________________ 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”. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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? ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode Two Genre: Drama Word count: 3,202 Swearwords: None. Description: Follow the Light. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ The Motorcycle Trip - Part Two by Lee Carrick Genre: Drama Word count: 957 Swearwords: None. Description: The unfortunate incident of the trapped exotic bird. ______________________________________________________ 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.) ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ Annie Christie's To Die For: Episode One Genre: Drama Word count: 3,684 Swearwords: None. Description: The calm before the Sturm und Drang. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________ Not Prescribed by Michael C. Keith Genre: Drama Word count: 1,061 Swearwords: None. Description: Life can be a real pill. ______________________________________________________ |
The McRenegadesWe're a bunch of Scottish writers who have some things in common. We write for pleasure, not money. We eschew fame and success. And we don't aspire to be mainstream or traditional. We're literary renegades. We're the McRenegades. Categories
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