As a break from poetry, I often write short stories, usually very, very short. These include a man inadvertently making his way back to the wrong village in 17th Century rural Oxfordshire, a recently-deceased atheist having a tête-à-tête with God and a man struggling to square up to his reflection in the reception area of a large global business. I am planning to draw some of these stories together into a collection over the course of 2012. Watch this space.
Sample story, "Pascal's Wager", based on the idea that it's strategically advantageous to believe in God. If you're right, you go to heaven when you die, because God rewards faith. If you're wrong, there's no downside. The notion is attributed to French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662. Scroll down to read the story.
Video extracts, including Mollie Baxter performing one of my stories, "Keeping Light," dramatised by Blackpool playwright David Riley.
