Stephen

My Short Story EPILOGUE(Whispers of Wickedness issue 12) nominated for 2006 BSFA 2006 award
My name is Stephen Melling. I'm a horror writer from the North of England...(rest of those seated in tense little circle politely applaud and I sit back down, red-faced and starting to sweat) When I say horror writer I sort of tilt my head and pull a face because horror isn't quite what I write, but if I had to choose a genre I suppose horror would be it; speculative/dark/strange/offbeat fiction come into the equation somewhere I'm sure.
I've had over a dozen stories published, the first by Gary Fry in Fusing Horizons(;), and I'm waiting on a novel I've been writing...well, forever it seems. The writing comes very easily, but the quality stuff is as elusive as a slippery snake in a great big bag full of slippery things. Just gotta keep plunging my hand in there until I grab something worthwhile. Thing is, some of that stuff bites!
Anyway, best thing in my life's my family. I've a lovely wife and two wonderful children. They keep me sane while I drive them mad...or it could well be the other way around.
To wax philosophical...life is good because it's here. To quote my window cleaner on why he goes skiiing at every opportunity: "You gotta do it while you're alive, 'cause you're dead a long time." aye, oreet.
Hey, love and be loved!
Stephen-