Welcome to my blog

Welcome to The Literary Pig's blog - a safe haven for all those afflicted with
the unbearable urge to write.

Monday 3 August 2020

Sky Light Rain: a short story collection by Judy Darley

Today I am delighted to welcome Judy Darley as a guest on the Blog to talk about her short story collection Sky Light Rain (published by Valley Press) and her writing process.

Read my review at the end of this post.

British author Judy Darley describes herself as having an enduring fascination with the fallibilities of the human mind. Her short fiction and journalism has been published in the UK, New Zealand, India, US and Canada, including in The Mechanics' Institute Review 16: The Climate Issue, Spelk and SmokeLong Quarterly. She’s Flash Fiction Editor at Reflex Fiction. Judy’s second short story collection Sky Light Rain is out from Valley Press. 

Twitter: @JudyDarley

Website: SkyLightRain.com

In this collection of eerie, beautifully-crafted stories, lives are lived slightly out of sync with the ordinary world. From a man who makes sock puppets to elderly Italian craftswomen and hens at a taxidermy party, family stories are seamlessly woven with folklore, journeys and natural phenomena to examine the quirks, pain and resilience of human existence.

Framing her tales in the nebulous, shimmering concepts of sky, light and rain, Judy Darley deftly explores our relationship with the natural world and one another, reminding us that however far we travel, some connections remain unbreakable.

Sky Light Rain abounds with original imagery. It jostles with ice sculptures, seagull feathers, puppets, flowers, lost suitcases and – unsurprisingly – birds, being a collection that looks upwards into the sky. Many of the stories seem to end with the sense of a new beginning, a newly-discovered peace. This is a rich collection with a distinctive, haunting atmosphere.’
– Heather Child
‘Brave, honest, beautiful.’
– Jayne Joso

Q- Can you share how you found a publisher for the collection?

My first collection ‘Remember Me To The Bees’ came out from a micro press in 2014. I found the process of assembling the collection really satisfying and was keen to publish more of my fiction in this way. I work as a freelance journalist and was already an ardent submitter of short fiction to journals. After a publication printed one of my stories, they expressed interest in publishing a pamphlet of my tales. As the story I’d already published with them was about the sea, I put together a selection of water-based tales. 

However, the publisher then disappeared, as occasionally happens with small presses. I was keen to publish a full-length collection anyway, and the pamphlet stories amounted to a third of the volume I wanted. I set about thinking up two additional themes. 

When I settled on ‘Rain’ for the watery tales, I realised the name of my culture blog already held the components I wanted, so the title ‘Sky Light Rain’ was born.

I searched online for independent presses and came across a few possibilities. I then read a poetry review in the Guardian for Antony Dunn’s ‘Take This One To Bed’. Valley Press was the publisher. Looking at their website I saw that they also published collections of short prose. I wanted to find out more, so I contacted the publisher and asked for a copy to review. I loved how promptly and professionally they responded and the quality of the printed poetry collection that arrived. When they re-opened for submissions, I emailed my collection over. 

Around a year later we chatted via FaceTime and they told me they’d like to publish it. On a rainy afternoon a year and a half after that, I was holding the printed book in my hands and doing a happy dance.

It was a great reminder of the necessity for patience in this industry – which isn’t something that comes naturally to me at all!

Q- I particularly loved the variety in this collection, your stories weave between reality and folklore. Where do you find inspiration and are there themes/topics that you return to?

I’ve always loved reading fiction where reality and folklore intersected in unexpected ways that the protagonists took for granted. ‘Marianne Dreams’ by Catherine Storr was one of my early favourites, along with ‘Tom’s Midnight Garden’ by Philippa Pearce. Following those days, I discovered Salman Rushdie, Ben Okri and Philip Pullman, among countless others. 

The world is full of wondrous and horrifying improbabilities. When writing, I often feel I’m conjuring something magical through exploring everyday life, while my fairytales and folklore make perfect sense of the situations my characters choose or that choose them. 

I frequently write about people whose sense of reality is slightly off-kilter. My dad has semantic dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; his wavering sense of the world has influenced several stories, including ‘The Sculptor’. I love art, and find artworks prompt tales. My story ‘The Puppeteer’ sprang from a painting by artist Shirley Sharp. As a journalist, I’ve written masses of travel features and these often seep into my fiction, including in my stories ‘Woman and Birds’, ‘Two Pools of Water’, ‘Paper Flowers’, ‘Not Every Wound Can Heal’, and ‘Fin’.

Between April and July 2020, I wrote masses of Covid-19 stories as a way of managing the stress of so much uncertainty, and found myself highlighting the small, claustrophobic details of life in lockdown.

Q- The acknowledgements in this collection shows that your stories have been widely published. How do you source potential homes for your work? Can you share your process and where to find opportunities?

I’m a constant forager when it comes to finding markets for my words. I spend a fair amount of time browsing Twitter, which helps me connect to other writers and literary journals. I also look at author blogs and take note of the publications they’re being featured by. 

I publish calls for submission on my blog SkyLightRain.com, which keeps me abreast of opportunities as they arise. As a journalist, I’m used to writing to a brief. Calls for themed submissions work in a similar way for me, triggering ideas that entice me down unexpected paths. The Cabinet of Heed published two of my stories in their ‘Writing Prompts’ special. 

Journals who’ve published my work recently include Spelk, Perhappened and The Drabble. For 75-word stories, Paragraph Planet is unbeatable.

I keep a spreadsheet of every piece I send out, where it goes and the response. I can’t recommend this approach enough – it helps me to stay unemotional about the pieces that get turned down. The fact is that for every piece published, several will have been rejected. I try to think that when something comes back it just hasn’t found the right home yet. I take a good look at it, see if anything isn’t flowing or if there are substantial changes I need to tackle, and then I begin thinking about where to send it next. 

Q- All writers have their own process, can you talk us through how you create a new story or flash fiction. What triggers a new piece and how do you take it through to publication? 

I’m always on the lookout for fresh creative prompts, partly because I publish weekly ones on my blog, SkyLightRain.com. 

I might see something that lodges as a scene in my head, which I then write down to find out what it could be about. It could be an object left by the side of the road, a couple arguing on a bus, or a child watching the harbour cormorant dry its wings – anything that snags in my mind and starts a ‘What if…’ avalanche. What if that couple are arguing because of a terrible deed they witnessed? What if the cormorant is the child’s father? What if the road-side object is a clue, or if someone just believes it is? 

I might attach the scene to a thought that was already in my head and use exploration of it to examine ideas stemming from an existing myth, Covid-19, vulnerability, or the climate crisis. I might attach two of these odd observations to one another to see what new directions that takes me in. For me, writing is a process of discovery.

Occasionally a story emerges fully-formed, but at other times I need to tease it out, bit by bit. I’m trying to learn to set the first draft aside for a day or week – at least. Sometimes I get stuck when I’ve tried to pile in too much, and other times I get stuck because there isn’t enough – the complete tale is too slight and insubstantial. Time and space really help with writing revisions. I might lift out one thread and discard it, or change a point of view that isn’t working.

I have writer friends I swap stories with to learn how they read to someone who hasn’t got that whole world bubbling in their head. As much remains unwritten as written, and I need to know a tale stands up without needing additional scaffolding.

When a story is rejected, I take that as a chance to look at why. Have I unearthed the themes enough? Was I too subtle or not subtle enough? 

At this stage, I often change the title. It’s amazing what a difference this can make. As Flash Fiction Editor for Reflex Fiction, I’m keen to remind writers to put as much effort into the title as the story – it should work as hard as your first and last lines!

I’m also trying to learn that not every story needs to be finished. Some are just ways to develop an idea, before moving on to the next story. I find giving up on a story difficult.

Q- Can you tell us about your next writing project, what do you have in the pipeline? 

I’ve recently finished my second draft of a middle-grade novel about what happens after the end of human society as we know it. The protagonist and her family set out to find a safe place to start afresh. It explores my pervading concerns about the climate crisis, as well as darker aspects of human nature. Book Two is sitting in my head, but I don’t want to start work on that until I’m certain Book One works. I was lucky enough to gain a place on WriterMentor’s 2020 summer school. Working with a mentor on the opening chapters has helped me to take the full manuscript apart and put it back together again into a far better book. Luckily, as a journalist I’m no stranger to editing in response to feedback.

I’m also beginning the slow, satisfying process of assembling my third short story collection, identifying themes to stitch the whole thing together. 

Q - Where can we buy a copy of Sky Light Rain?

Sky Light Rain is available from Valley Press.

I’m publishing an insight series into the collection over the next few weeks. To find out about the inspiration behind each individual tale, visit my blog.

Thanks so much for inviting me to take part, and for your thought-provoking questions!

My Review:

Sky Light Rain by Judy Darley (Valley Press) is a collection of short and flash stories, and follows her debut collection Remember Me to the Bees (2013). This collection consists of three parts: Sky, Light and Rain, which explore nature and our relationship with the world around us. I loved how the stories weave between reality, very recognisable contemporary settings, and folklore where the world isn’t quite what we expect.

 The settings continually change, allowing us glimpses into the lives of people all across the globe and time. The characters are rich and varied, all with distinct voices and stories to tell. Sometimes the story seems familiar and then it distorts, the characters are not what they seem, they may have stepped out of folklore but still share the same heartfelt struggles and desires as us.

 This is a beautifully written collection where each story compels you to keep reading. The mix of short stories and flash fiction is perfectly balanced, the flash pieces are a burst of emotion, making you gasp, before you immerse back into the longer stories and their intriguing characters. 



41 comments:

  1. This sounds a lovely collection, Tracy - thank you for sharing. I hope all is well with you in the middle of the current craziness:)).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got my already programmed and blanked ATM card to withdraw the maximum of $1,000 daily for a maximum of 20 days. I am so happy about this because i got mine last week and I have used it to get $20,000. Mike Fisher Hackers is giving out the card just to help the poor and needy though it is illegal but it is something nice and he is not like other scam pretending to have the blank ATM cards. And no one gets caught when using the card. get yours from Mike Fisher Hackers today! *email cyberhackingcompany@gmail.com


      Delete
  2. Thanks, Sarah. Hope you and you're loved ones are all safe and well. I've embraced my inner hermit and am heads down writing something new x

    ReplyDelete

  3. Assignment Help in Perth

    Get high quality, well prepared, well-framed, and well structured, five-star quality, and 100 % plagiarism-free assignments from Best Assignment Experts. We are now available to provide Assignment Help in perth. Our experts, professor, and writers are proficient to offer high-quality assignment writing assistance.

    ReplyDelete
  4. QuickBooks Error H505 usually occurs while launching a QuickBooks company file. Check out blog for detailed information and get it resolved.
    Download QuickBooks File Doctor | how to merge vendors in QuickBooks

    ReplyDelete
  5. QuickBooks Online Payroll Setup is little bit tricky process. In this blog, we have mentioned easy step by step guide to set up payroll in QuickBooks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. QuickBooks Desktop Support - If your QB Desktop Does Not Start, then try intelligent tricks suggested by QuickBooks Desktop Support Number.

    ReplyDelete
  7. QuickBooks Conversion Tool permits you to convert the QB file from another program. You must require to install and register QuickBooks before run the tool.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Are you experiencing QuickBooks Unrecoverable Error? No need to worry, check various causes and solutions for how to troubleshoot the same.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Writing academic documents is a task most students prefer to leave up to the subject matter experts. For these are time-consuming and requires a lot of research. Students are also given a lot of time to find Online Essay Help malaysia We can help them with paper help too. This is the main reason why most students search for my assignment help over the internet and choose only the most proficient and trusted academic writing experts.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Is your system showing QuickBooks Error 1328 again and again? No worries. Read the instructive blog and look for the best solutions to fix the same error.

    ReplyDelete
  11. QuickBooks Error 6073 can be easily resolved by applying one of the relevant fixes via the article. For any query, contact our support team.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The user may face QuickBooks Error 6190 and 816 while trying to open the company file. Use QuickBooks File doctor tool to deal with QB error code 6190 816.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Go through the following post to troubleshot QuickBooks Error 15270. You may receive the same issue due to a corrupted Windows Program or Internet Explorer

    ReplyDelete
  14. How you could resolve QuickBooks Error 1402? To get an answer, you are recommended to follow this instructive article and troubleshoot the same error code.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Intuit does not support old versions of firewall and antivirus software. To use multi-user QuickBooks setup, the user has to QuickBooks Configure Firewall Ports while setting up Multi-Users.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gaining gradual knowledge is possible as you know the valid art to achieve the most suitable result. That’s why I stay tuned with your blog to know what is going in the upcoming market. For getting the most suitable answer in your academic paradise, you can go through assertive service of Assignment Help Service USA. We will provide you on time solution

    ReplyDelete
  17. When looking to book accommodation for the holiday, whether to book a beach house or a hotel is one of the most difficult decisions to make. a beach house often provides a high level of luxury.
    costa rica beach rental, costa rica beach house rentals

    ReplyDelete
  18. An insect repellent protects you from pest bites by keeping insects away from your body. According to Trillium Health Solutions, purchasing an accredited insect repellant is a wise idea.
    natural Lyme disease treatment , Lyme disease diet

    ReplyDelete
  19. Digital signages are an asset because you can use them for the advantage of your company or organisation for a long time. Their worth does not deteriorate with time.
    gas station price signs , led gas station canopy lights

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think the admin of this site is in fact working hard.Thanks for ones marvelous posting! 카지노사이트프로

    ReplyDelete
  21. This article is very detailed And i am happy reading this!! 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  22. Our Law Assignment Help services are offered at an outlay cost that will benefit all students. When you use our law assignments, you will get 100% genuine, exciting material that will capture your instructors' attention. Students can ease and improve their academic skills by completing an online law assignment. Our law assignment service, ensures that your law assignment is completed as quickly as possible, improving your understanding of law assignments.

    ReplyDelete
  23. W-2 forms have an integral role in QuickBooks w2 . It consists of a social security report, Medicare taxes report, tax statement, and Employee’s salary paid report. This form is circulated by the Employee & IRS at the closing of a financial year

    ReplyDelete
  24. Assignments in Computer Science might be challenging at times. Our knowledgeable experts computer assignment assistance, computer science instructor, and computer science experts provide the best Computer Science Assignment Help for your Technology field study. They can be trusted to deliver the most accurate solutions to any of their essential assignments for college students.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It plays a significant role in the lives of the people. Jobs like accounting, finance, banking, etc., are all related to mathematics. One must have a robust Mathematical background for recruitment in such fields. It helps in analytical thinking. A math-related problem could be solved by collecting, disassembling, and interconnecting the dataMy Assignment Help provides information regarding mathematics growing field(s).

    We also offer below Service:

    Microeconomics Homework Help Online

    Microeconomics Assignment Help

    Online Nursing Assignment Help

    Nursing Assignment Help

    ReplyDelete
  26. Congratulations on your article, it was very helpful and successful. a1bd9e8bfcca513fc29d9c8ed72bb872
    website kurma
    website kurma
    numara onay

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you for your explanation, very good content. a709f1717dc8cb252958121dcb04acb6
    define dedektörü

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for your article. 3891b79ac47532729ad1f64e7ea267d6
    evde iş imkanı

    ReplyDelete
  29. How to tackle with Fix QuickBooks Error Code 6175 , most of the 6000 series errors are related to the company file and appear when you try to access the company file in QuickBooks Awesome blog!! Thank for providing excellent information. if you have any issues with Fix QuickBooks Error 6175 you can go through the detailed steps mentioned in this article. +1(855)-738-0359 and get instant solutions within no time possible

    ReplyDelete
  30. When you attempt to instal QuickBooks desktop on the machine, this problem is frequently encountered. This issue can also occur when installing or updating software. Want to get over Error 1618 QuickBooks without putting in any effort on implementing the tedious troubleshooting methods! If yes, feel free to speak to our QuickBooks experts at the toll-free number +1-855-738-0359.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you very much for providing this with us. Check kwasu ijmb jupeb admission list

    ReplyDelete