Neil Randall

Neil Randall is a novelist, poet and short story writer. His debut novel A Quiet Place to Die (Wild Wolf Publishing) was voted e-thriller book of the month February 2014. His historical novels, The Holy Drinker and The Butterfly and the Wheel (both Knox Robinson) have been widely praised. His short story collection Tales of Ordinary Sadness has been made available through the English Art’s Council. Darkness Reigns at the Foot of the Lighthouse, from the collection, was short-listed for the prestigious Wasafiri New Writing Prize 2009, and another story Hands was long-listed for the RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition 2015. His short stories and poetry have also been published in Wild Wolf’s Twisted Tails, The Siren literary magazine’s Fugue, Ether Books, Beatdom, Twisted Tongue, Notes from the Underground, The Bear Review, narrator INTERNATIONAL, Squawk Back, Death Throes, Black Heart, Alfie Dog Books, Dagda Publishing, Thunderclap Press, and 1a, Horror, Sleaze, Trash and Rusty Nail.

Credentials

Neil Randall in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

1985 at school.

What do you love about short stories?

Because of the immediacy of the form.

Do you write in other forms?

Novels and poems.

What distracts you from writing?

Sleep.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Yoga, sports, film, music.

What is your favourite book?

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Who are your favourite writers?

Hubert Selby Jnr, Haruki Murakami and Paul Auster.

Where is your dream location?

St Petersburg.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Cyclists.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Read endlessly.