In this podcast I am going to read “Ursula”, a short story included in my new collection, “An Irregular Piece of Sky”, which should be published later this year.
One of my favourite things to do is to create people. Many of my stories are pen portraits of people placed in particular situations or with specific histories, occasionally told in the first person. “Ursula” is one such story.
As a male writer I think it important to try an adopt a female voice from time-to-time. Not only does this seem to me to be a true test of one’s skill, but it also is a way to demonstrate - or prove - that you understand people. Hopefully Ursula’s monologue does both of those things.