This September I was honoured to be shortlisted for the Writers and Artists Working Class Writer’s Prize 2022.

From hundreds of entries my collection of short stories ‘On the Bodies of Strangers’ was shortlisted to six.

Our lives, our experiences and the people we encounter leave behind indelible marks. On the Bodies of Strangers is a collection of stories about marked lives and marked flesh. The stories in this collection are linked by a single thread: the tattoos of their protagonists, traces of experiences and meaning etched onto their skin.

These are stories about the chaos of ordinary lives, about people who are flawed, complicated, but always deeply human. From domestic abuse to unexpected friendship, mixing horror and hope, intimacies and lies, On the Bodies of Strangers explores the many ways we mark each other and ourselves as we deal with the complexities of human behaviour.

This competition is both a celebration of stories as a mode of communication, and a reminder of how vital it is that everyone can share their ideas and experiences via the written word. To be considered for this prize, all entrants must:

- Consider yourself from a working class background - Be over 18 and living in the UK or ROI - Not have a publishing contract or agent - Submit a piece of unpublished writing

Writers and Artists or W&A offers the best industry advice for writers & artists in the UK. They provide expert advice articles and inspirational author interviews, competitions, prizes, a lively online community and editorial services for every stage of your writing journey.

Thank you to the panel for their kind consideration and shortlisting my collection of stories.