Fulfilling writing ambition

Andy Kirby is a WN subscriber based in Leeds who’s recently gained recognition for his writing on The Green Story. The Green Story is an ongoing book that requires entrants to submit contributions for the next chapter each month. In May that contribution was Andy’s.

This latest success cements what has so far been a good year for Andy. He has also recently been runner up in the Huddersfield Literature Festival Creative Writing Competition and had stories accepted by Champagne Shiver, Necrology, The Second Hand, Sein und Werden and Nemonymous 8. He puts his recent success down to an increase in writing confidence but also praises WN for providing leads.

‘WN allows me to keep my finger on the writing pulse. Without my monthly round-up of industry news, leads and general information, I wouldn’t have found out about many of these publications, let alone sent them my stories.

‘Really, it’s all down to perseverance, gaining confidence and finding the right style for my work. 2007 was a year full of rejections, but I kept plugging away at my craft and now I’m reaping the rewards.’
As well as writing short stories Andy has completed a novel, The Magpie Trap, which is a contemporary story set in Leeds that looks at the emotional costs of living in modern times and the emptiness of ‘the relentless pursuit of money’.

Andy currently works in PR and marketing but has wanted to be a writer since the young age of five when he completed his first novel The Temple of Jerosca, which garnered a rave review by a South Wales librarian. Now he is finally fulfilling his ambitions and also has a professional and comprehensive website showcasing his writing. He’s showing no signs of slowing down.

‘At the moment, I have my sticky fingers in many pies... I’m redrafting portions of The Magpie Trap, writing new short stories and also working on what, I think, will be my second novel.’
Details: website: www.andykirbythewriter.20m.com