Knives, Short Stories and Supporting Your Libraries

 Rat-tat! Postman at the door with bulky parcel. I am delighted to see my copies of the Audiogo edition of my short story collection Knives.

This is the second edition, a  large print edition published by Audiogo. The book looks very smart - mainly white with touches of black. This is interesting, as the first edition, published by Iron Press, was mainly black with touches of white.

Audiogo Editiion

Both cover designs reflect the dramatic element of these stories.

In looking this collection again  I find myself surprised at  how much on the edge they seem: on the edge of society but also on the edge of darkness.

Some might say I have been influenced by three years working in prison with people who are on the margins and are consummate experts on the darker side of human experience. It’s not that simple.

Iron Press Edition

 The better truth is that I was drawn to work in prison because my own lifetime experience of living on the margins, of knowing my own edgy shadows.

Dark as these stories may appear they reflect my view of the shining recoverability of the human spirit and the qualities of stoicism, wit, humour and irony that aid survival and can bring about recovery and growth.

(I have written more extensively about this book  in 2009 here on myblog)

This new edition will also be available in libraries so please order it if you feel inspired. Using your library like this is one way to support this threatened resource.  The present day saying   ‘use it of lose it’ really does apply to libraries.  It applies to your own library. 

(I am pleased to see from the PLR record that all of my books ares still being borrowed from British libraries – last year 90,000 times. Like all writers I love my library readers out there across Britain...)

Enjoy your library

Happy reading.... W