Helen Sedgwick: Short Story Writer & Litro Alumna

Helen Sedgwick

Since being published in Litro, Helen Sedgwick has begun work on a collection of science-themed short stories and been shortlisted in the Imagining Scotland national short story competition.

What have you been up to since your publication in Litro?

My story “Walter” was published in Litro #105: Science; it was the first short story I’d written that focused on a scientific topic. Since then, I have begun work on a collection of science-themed short stories, which have individually been published in AlgebraSpilling InkNovel Magazine, and shortlisted in the Imagining Scotland national short story competition. I have recently been awarded a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award for this collection, which I hope to complete and publish in 2012.

Publication in Litro was my first step towards writing this science-themed collection, and I can sincerely say that it has changed the course of my writing career.

What is your earliest childhood memory?
Seeing a cow with a broken leg – it made me cry!

What makes you happy?
Just got back from a holiday in Cuba – the beaches there certainly made me happy!

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
About 5 years ago.

What are you reading at the moment?
Furnace by Wayne Price.

What advice would you give to a first time writer?
Meet other writers, talk to them, and read all the time.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Listening to Bon Jovi in the shower.

How do you relax?
Drinking cocktails with my good friends or drinking tea with a good book.

What is your favourite book?
That’s a hard question! Today I’m going to go with Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh, but it changes with my mood.

Which author is underrated or deserves to be better-known?
Zoe Strachan.

What’s the worst job you’ve had?
I could say primary school dinner lady or Costa barista but, to be honest, I quite enjoyed them.

What is the most important thing life has taught you?
To keep going, and to be a bit more patient than I was before.

What’s next? 
I’m working on a novel and a collection of short stories.

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