It’s the third of my blog posts on Haverin, the GSFWC anniversary anthology. This time the plan is to talk about how much I like it and what it contains. Which could be dangerous, considering there are 43 stories and we all know how well the questions “Who is your favourite child?” goes. It is with that caveat that I will now plow on to talk about how great this book is and why you should buy it.
Engage ‘Proud Dad Mode’
Obviously the first thing we have to talk about is the first thing anyone sees, the cover.
We are extremely lucky to have amongst the excess of talent in the GSFWC the one, and only, Jenni Coutts. Not only does she have a story in here, but she is an award winning artist (including one between me drafting and publishing this!) and has created us this cover. She also did the cover for Gallus which gives us some continuity, but this is sufficiently different to stand on its own.
I particularly like the little additions hidden amongst the greenery. There are numerous objects and creatures here which relate to some of the stories contained within and once you have read it, you will be able to go back to the cover to spot them. Is your favourite story represented somewhere?
Now, lovely as the cover is, what is inside?
Well, glad you asked. There are forty-three stories, thirty-nine of which are brand new. We have tales of insects, both nice and nasty. Artificial beings with varying degrees of self-control. Science both mad and silly. Musings on the nature of writing, writers and their groups. Fantasies inspired by the myths of multiple places in Europe and Asia. Glasgow in the past, present and future. City shattering events and minor nighttime scuffles. Difficult relatives and found families. Young people, old people and even some dead. Knitting, weaving and maybe some frisbee action.
It is often said that an anthology has something for everyone but this one, with over forty stories to choose from, very much does.
But who are the people who are in it?
Well, they are people who have been members across the forty years the Circle has been in existence. Some from the very start, including our founder Duncan Lunan and the writer of our foreword, Elsie WK Donald. Some who came for a while and have now moved on to greater things and a goodly number who still attend to this day. The only thing they have in common is an occasional link to Glasgow and having attended the Circle at some point. Other than that they come from all over the world and help to bring the multiple points of view that make the Circle work well.
Here is the complete list, in the order they appear. Some names you’ll have heard of, some you’ll already read with enthusiasm and some, we are sure, you will one day get to tell your friends that you read them before they were famous.
Now, in a wee self-aggrandising comment at the end, let me note that my story in this, “Bee Knights at the Unseelie Court” is my thirtieth published short story. I am surprised every time one of my ramblings gets into print and to get to thirty is amazing. And if it had not been for the Circle, it is very unlikely I’d even have got to one.
Yes, here, I had a solid chance of getting in, but my fellow editors would have told me off if I hadn’t put in some effort and I’m very happy with what I produced. I hope you like it too, along with all the other stories.
Now to the mercenary bit, the links to buy it.
If you are in Glasgow on the 21st of October you can come along to our Waterstones launch in Sauchiehall Street: https://www.waterstones.com/events/celebrating-40-years-of-the-gsfwc/glasgow-sauchiehall-street
Otherwise you can purchase either paperback or ebook from the dreaded Amazon here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haverin-years-Glasgow-Writers-Circle/dp/1066703205/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0
I am investigating making it available on non-Amazon platforms but, thanks to the joys of modern capitalism, this is not as straightforward as I’d hoped. When I get it configured I’ll update this and, no doubt, shout about it.
Thanks for reading my little haver, now please pick up a copy of this book and give it a read. And then find your favourite author in it and tell them. They’ll love you for it.
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