Author Archives: Ian Cundell

Darkness amid the light

Readers of the fiction of Iain Banks, or his science fiction alter ego Iain M Banks, will have been left wondering whether to laugh or cry at the characteristically bleak humour in his personal statement announcing his terminal cancer yesterday: … Continue reading

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A splash of Ink (colour: Red)

Every so often somebody wanders into Verulam Writers’ Circle Towers (aka St Michael’s Church Hall) reads something and leaves you unable to think anything other than “Blimey, that was good”. So it was, a few years ago, when Julie Mayhew … Continue reading

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Flash fiction – The Parapet

I popped my head above the makeshift parapet, and searing, shocking pain exploded in my right eye. Continue reading

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Jimmy Savile, the 1970s, and getting away with it

Some thoughts on the most grotesque story of recent times and the scum that got away. Jimmy Savile: a decade on trial - the views, of course, are mine but I will be moderately surprised is anyone at VWC disagrees (and … Continue reading

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The last giant leap

Not to do with writing, as such, but if this fella’s life can’t inspire you then you are probably not open to inspiration.

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This monster is no metaphor

My friend and colleague David Chippendale committed suicide on 7 March. Many knew he was in a bad way, but sadly none realised how close to the edge he was. His loss prompted me to come clean about my own … Continue reading

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Get Writing 2012 winners now online

You can now read the Get Writing 2012 Competition Cup winning stories at the National Short Story Week website. Our thanks to marvellous folk at National Short Story Week and especially Ian Skillicorn.

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Get Writing Stop Press!

STOP PRESS: Michael Rowley, newly appointed editorial director for SF and fantasy at Ebury Press, Random House, is the latest addition to the exciting programme for Get Writing! Writers take note: as the former SF and fantasy specialist buyer at … Continue reading

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“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life”

One way or another creative people owe a huge debt to Steve Jobs, who died yesterday. Anybody who takes no inspiration from his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address is probably not amenable to inspiration. If you have not see it it, then … Continue reading

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The Archangel and the White Hart: now gone global

It is very exciting indeed to discover that our Anthology is on Amazon, so it seems pretty sensible to summarise the ways in which you can get your copy and what they mean to VWC and its members. As I … Continue reading

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