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New Writing Anthology
New Writing Anthology
New Writing Anthology
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Close Encounters

The pieces of writing included in this section are eerie, haunting and disturbing, preying on the idea of the unknown. Unexplored corners of our lives, surprising circumstances and menacing creatures all feature in ways that tease and tantalise the reader, drawing them further and further into the depths of the story. Writing across genres (short story, poetry and memoir) the work profiled is dazzling, evocative and poignant.

 

Eoghan Walls's stunning poem, 'The Naming of the Rat', lyrically places the notion of rats within a historical context and explores why they were put on earth. Witty and exhilarating, Walls presents a moving account of the rat and its place on earth.

 

Notions of reality and imagination mingle in Chris Wormersley's thrilling story, 'The Shed'. A hard- core drinker has to come to terms with something lurking in his shed. Whether the thing is real or supposed, the feeling of terror underlying the story is convincing and disturbing.

  

During the 1980s Michel Faber found himself unexpectedly homeless and living on the streets of London. Faber experiences hunger, sleeplessness, dirt, poverty and fear as he attempts to protect himself during his experiences. During this period he reaches a pivotal moment which is to have influence over him for the rest of his life as outlined in 'Me and Dave and Mount Olympus'.

 

Eoghan Walls

Eoghan Walls, born and raised in Derry, was educated at University College, Dublin, and is undertaking a PhD at the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry in Belfast. He has spent the last years teaching in Rwanda, Germany and Northern Ireland, and was shortlisted for a 2004 Eric Gregory Award.

Photograph: Eoghan Walls

 

Michel Faber

Michel Faber was born in Holland, raised in Australia and now lives in the Scottish Highlands. His short story collections are Some Rain Must Fall and The Fahrenheit Twins. His novels include Under The Skin and The Crimson Petal and the White. He loves Krautrock and doesn't own a television.

Photograph: Michel Faber

 

Chris Womersley

Chris Womersley was born in Melbourne, Australia where he currently lives and works as a journalist for The Age newspaper. He has had short stories and poetry published in numerous journals and is finishing his first novel, entitled Among the Dead.

Photograph: Roslyn Oades

 

Illustration © Maurizio Marmorato
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Link to writing

Me and Dave and Mount Olympus * Me and Dave and Mount Olympus

Poetry by Eoghan Walls * Poetry by Eoghan Walls

The Shed by Chris Womersley * The Shed by Chris Womersley


Glossary for 'Me and Dave and Mount Olympus' * Glossary for 'Me and Dave and Mount Olympus'

Glossary for 'The Naming of the Rat' * Glossary for 'The Naming of the Rat'

Glossary for 'The Shed' * Glossary for 'The Shed'

Link to teachers notes

Teachers' notes for Close Encounters * Teachers' notes for Close Encounters

Link to readers notes

Readers' notes for Close Encounters * Readers' notes for Close Encounters

Link to author interviews

Interview with Michel Faber * Interview with Michel Faber

 

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