Denise Hayes

Denise Hayes is a freelance writer who for many years taught English and Creative Writing at Newman University, Birmingham, UK. Denise has been telling stories since she was in infant school and now she has finally abandoned her students is looking forward to putting many more of her ideas on paper. She is inspired by facts, jokes and her favourite authors J.G. Ballard, Jorge Luis Borges and Philip K Dick. She has published poems in New Poetry, Hearing Voices and Mslexia, flash fiction in the prize-winning Salt anthology Overheard: Stories to Read Aloud and short stories in the Fantastic Books science fiction anthology Fusion. She is currently working on a novel for young adults. Denise runs the Twitter project @Gregueria1 which focuses on succinct witty aphorisms in the manner of the Spanish writer Ramon. Denise lives in Worcestershire quite close to the Severn but has so far managed to keep her feet dry! She has two grown children - Dan and Katie - and shares a delinquent Patterdale terrier, Wilfie, with her friend and cottage-mate, Nicky.

Credentials

Denise Hayes in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

About 5 years old in Leeds - under my bedclothes with a torch.

What do you love about short stories?

The challenge of creating a whole world in a textual tardis!

Do you write in other forms?

Yes – poetry, various attic-stored novels, memoirs.

What distracts you from writing?

E-mails, perfidious procrastination, my Patterdale, Wilfie.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Walks in the country, drawing, sewing.

What is your favourite book?

Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges.

Who are your favourite writers?

Phiip K Dick, Luis Borges and J.G. Ballard.

Where is your dream location?

Australia.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

The expression 'D'you know what?'.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Read and read and read.