Creative Writing lecturer on his award-winning novels and short stories

What can you tell us about the short story that has recently been published in Best British Short Stories 2025?   

It’s the second time I've been featured in Best British Short Stories, which is a real privilege. The first was one I wrote while I was writer in residence for Falmouth University back in 2016, based on a caving experience in the Mendips. This second story I originally wrote for a collection called Twelve Stories for Twelve Sections, which also features stories by Falmouth lecturers Luke Thompson and Clare Howdle.  

My story, The Incidents, is a new take on a changeling folk tale. It’s about a young girl, Blue, who discovers she can control aspects to the natural world and that animals interact with her in a way they don't with other people. It's quite a weird, unsettling story in a way. 

It was inspired by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty around Fowey here in Cornwall. It’s an area full of natural and social history and it’s also where Daphne du Maurier lived, which was important for the story, as it’s set in the 1940s and the main character is a fan of du Maurier’s work.   

Blue lives very much in her own world and imagines meeting du Maurier and them becoming brilliant friends. There are lots of references to du Maurier’s stories in there, for example The Birds. At the time of writing, I’d been asked to record an episode of Open Book for Radio Four about du Maurier, so she was very much already in my head, which helped to influence the tone of the story.

Your most recent book, The Heart of the Woods, was recently given an Award for Excellence by The Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. How has it been to see your work celebrated in this way?  

It’s definitely not the reason you write books, though it’s really lovely when you get recognition from people and organisations whose opinions you value. I’ve been very lucky - my first novel was nominated for the Man Booker, which was insane, and my first non-fiction book won the Roger Deakin Award from the Society of Authors, then now there is this one. It’s like getting the support of your peers and them giving it a ‘stamp of approval'.   

What is it that makes Falmouth a special place for creative writers, both as an institution and as a place?   

The landscapes around Falmouth and Cornwall more generally have inspired writers and artists for centuries, and that hasn't changed. It's an amazing place to be and to feel motivated and from which to take inspiration.   

Another real joy about Falmouth University is the courses are taught by people who are active in their disciplines and that makes it a really exciting place to teach. There’s an amazing richness of expertise, from Luke Thompson, a world-renowned publisher leading our MA in Professional Writing and award-winning children’s writer Craig Barr-Green, to the BBC comedy producer, Simon Nicholls and that’s just in the writing department.