Alan Kennedy, Semi-Finalist

Alan Kennedy, Short Story Semi-Finalist, LISP 3rd Quarter 2020

Please click HERE to read the winning story.

- Can you please tell us about your daily life?

Since the lockdown started in Spain I've tried to get in a habit of writing for two hours a day but at the moment, I'm doing an intensive Basque language course which doesn't leave me with much time.

Writing short stories is what I do mostly, I don't seem to have the stamina to write novels. I spend probably 80% of my time editing my pieces, changing a word here, adding one there. At first, I thought it was laborious but now I take great pleasure in honing them down.

-  How did you come up with the idea for your LISP selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

This story isn't really autobiograpgical although my mother's four sisters did take a big hand in bringing me up. As I have lived in various places, I wanted to write about revisiting. I went on holiday to Devon when I was 8 and revisited Torquay when I was 30. This gave me the framework.

-Lastly, do you recommend the writers to give it a go on LISP?

I'm thrilled to be chosen for publication. It's always great to be recognised.