...is a new short story published online and in magazine format by the nice people at Litro. Like all good things, there is a background to the tale. Originally it was called Hand In Glove and was one of three shorts I was asked to write for the 'Fiction Inspired By' series that Serpent's Tail were publishing (six books of short fiction 'inspired by' song titles from various cult bands). Hand In Glove was originally accepted for a compilation called Paint A Vulgar Picture based on song titles by The Smiths. However the first book in the 'Fiction Inspired By' series, Perverted By Language, got a critical mauling (though not my contribution I should add) and a new editor came in to oversee the project who decided that HIG wasn't right for inclusion anymore. Like all good artists faced with a setback, I seethed, I raged, I cursed a world that places the ignorant and the dimwitted into positions of influence. And then I wrote a new ending, gave the story a new title - et voila. You can read the result here.
Happy new year.
