I was delighted that one of my short stories was selected for inclusion in More Raw Material, an anthology of work inspired by Alan Sillitoe. It’s a great honour to feature in such a stellar line-up.

After publication, the editors interviewed each of the contributors, so I thought I’d share my answers with you.

Why or how did you start writing?

My sister, Lou, has profound and complex disabilities. Although her vocabulary is fairly limited, she has a playful relationship with language, savouring its musicality. Her quirky turns of phrase ask me to hear the world afresh. And so, I started to write in an attempt to give voice to stories that have been silenced until now.

What’s your favourite work by Alan Sillitoe?

I first came across ‘The Fishing-boat Picture’ in the Penguin Book of Modern Short Stories, and I found its exploration of a quiet life incredibly moving. There’s something very generous-spirited in this story, and expansive too: an entire adult life captured in a few pages – a life of solitude and small pleasures.

Why was it so important to be in More Raw Material?

Since privileged lives get over-represented in British fiction, anthologies like More Raw Material are so important. It’s a great honour to see my story alongside other work, all inspired by Alan Sillitoe’s commitment to voicing marginalised lives.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

Read!

You can purchase a copy of More Raw Material here.