Retire? Me?

When does a writer retire?

When do we stop feeling the urge, the need, to express ourselves?

Possibly never.

And so it is that I'm happy to have my small successes through the year. 

Recent publications

In Spring 2025, I was delighted that my short story 'Flight' was published in the Aberdeen-based literary magazine Pushing Out The Boat. 'Flight' is a story about a doctor who grew up and studied in Scotland, but who left for Africa shortly after qualifying, in part because he faced ostracisation for being gay. I originally conceived this story decades ago, and the memory part of it is set in the 1980s and 1990s. In 'Flight', the character Bird returns to his old family home in Scotland and processes his loss and gains. I really appreciate POTB publishing it.

Forthcoming in October is another publication in an Aberdeen-based magazine. This time it's a poem in Causeway/Cabhsair. More about that later. Suffice to say that I'm really pleased to have my poem 'Arbitrary' included there.

Also forthcoming in October is my poem 'The Storm Woke Us' in the Linen Press anthology Look Away Now.  

Huge news for me is that my poetry pamphlet submission entitled 'One Half of the Sky is Clear' has been shortlisted for the Wigtown Poetry Prize Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize 2025. Results on 3rd October.

My thanks to the publishers and editors. And as for retiring - nah, keep on keeping on.