Stephen McGivern StoriesSongsPeople

When I got back Harsvold was by the window, typing. It was best not to disturb him. Between my bags at the hydrangeas someone had left a plumped sack of petals, meant as a pillow. It could only have been Espen I thought. I lay amidst the scents and watched the motionless sun. Was it … Continue reading "Sommarøy Part 3"

Sommarøy Pt.2 I flew from Glasgow to Oslo before transferring onto a cramped Cessna. After thirty minutes, I could see Sommarøy below in bleached sunlight. The pilot didn’t speak much English. He walked with me along the tarmac to a small outbuilding. Above the doorway a sign read- Sommarøy Flypassen. He took off his hat … Continue reading "Part 2 – Sommarøy"

Sommarøy Part 1 It was on my Graduation day that I discovered Sommarøy. Calderwood told me there was a Careers Fair after our Conferment. I said I would go with him. We met in the University Cloisters 10 minutes or so after the ceremony. We were the only graduates without family guests. ‘This is all … Continue reading "Part 1 of Sommarøy"

It has been several months since I blogged and podcasted. I have recently moved house and finally recovered my equipment from a pyramid of cardboard boxes. For the last year I have been working on and off on a new short story about the coastal village of Sommarøy in Norway. The village was in the … Continue reading "Sommarøy"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the seventh and final story below but you can also listen on … Continue reading "Sunday is a day of Less"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the sixth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "Stay Away Saturday"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the fifth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "Friday is for Dreamers"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the fourth story below but you can also listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "Shake Hands It’s Thursday"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the third story below but you can also listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "On Wednesday a Cure was found"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the second story below but you can also listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "Tuesday’s Sermon"

I decided to challenge myself to write a short story each day for a week on the theme of infection. Each story is no longer than 500 words and 4 minutes in length. Some are serious others less so. Find the text of the first story below but also you can listen on my podcast. … Continue reading "Seven Fevers"

Part 1 of a spoken word and music memoir for my mother, a woman I loved and eventually understood. Thanks to all the great musicians I worked with. Some I knew and others I contacted. They all gave their time and talents to what what must’ve sounded an odd project. Music for the project can … Continue reading "Lilian of the Estates"

This episode features a story about the power of the dreams we have each night. Thanks to Stefan, Alana, Sham, Eva and Ruth for their great reading of the story. I am also joined by Sarah and Tina (pictured) who are collaborating with me on a big musical project – more of that for future … Continue reading "There is nothing straightforward in a dream"

Do you believe in coincidence? Perhaps you shouldn’t. I am helped in this episode by Allan, Marie, Stefan and Alana. The story they read has caused a lot of discussion amongst readers. I hope you enjoy it! Paperback and Kindle editions of the story and others can be found here. Music used in this episode … Continue reading "Someone will Remember Us I say, Even in Another Time"

Lots of music and discussion in this episode. The centrepiece is a very powerful reading of the story, Untitled. A mother lies dead in her room. Each of her three sons respond differently to her passing. Thanks to Eva for her moving narration with the assistance of David and Stefan. The poetry quoted in the … Continue reading "Untitled"

What do we want from a career? Is there such a thing as the perfect applicant? As well as lots of music, this week’s episode features discussion from Steven and Zahra who helped with the reading of my story, Application. A headteacher is seeking a new depute. Will she choose the right applicant? Songs – … Continue reading "Application"

This week’s episode features David and Keith playing some skiffle and talking about music. They also contribute to the reading of my story Fez which is about the selfishness which sometimes spoils a friendship. Fez along with my other short stories can be found on Amazon here. Listen to more of my music on Soundcloud. … Continue reading "Fez"

If you can’t feel pain, can you feel love? Today’s episode features Alana and Stefan reading my short story, Ino. They also discuss their recent elopement wedding day. Featured song for this podcast is The World is a Wedding. I pinched the song title from Delmore Schwartz, the great American short story writer. Check out … Continue reading "Ino"

This episode contains some Electronica, Kafka, Brueghel and reflections on my childhood and the terrors of society. I am joined by the very talented Arran Fitzpatrick who reads my story, At A Corner and plays trumpet on Hunters in the Snow and additional keyboard on Are You Talking to Me? My collected short stories can … Continue reading "At a Corner"

The strange, impossible ways a hospital heals even in death. This week’s episode features a dramatised reading of my story Heliades. It is narrated by Marie Weir, assisted by Eva, Sham and Ruth. Discussion, History and Us, is provided by Marie and Eva. Tina Roscoe sings No Kind Words Violin, Keys and Drums by Adam … Continue reading "Heliades"