Liars' League

Selkie by Arike Oke

Selkie MP3

Read by Eilidh Nairn

I’d just taken the lid from the saucepan to stir the fish stewing in there when MacGregor began knocking at my kitchen door. The door had been rattling on and off with the high wind all evening, but this knocking was persistent and panicked, as if he were using both fists to pound on the poor rain sodden wood. I lifted the plank from the door. I would’ve opened it just a crack but the weather pushed the door open all the way. MacGregor fair fell in a wave of heavy rain and gust. I shoved the door shut and re-planked it.

 

 

Gerald the Absolute Swine by Geoffrey Heptonstall

Gerald the Absolute Swine MP3

Read by Paul Clarke

It was the cloche hat that caught his eye. Adjusting his large yellow bow tie with mauve spots, Gerald turned to call out to the cloche hat. ‘Care for a spin?’ he said. ‘The name’s Gerald and I’m afraid I’m an absolute swine, but I can guarantee giving a girl like you a jolly good time that she’ll live to regret. Don’t bother telling me your name. I won’t remember it, and, anyway, the less I know about you the better. It’s your rather delicious body I’m after.’

 

Lag by Jim Cogan

Lag MP3

Read by David Mildon

Fry stripped naked while the two of them watched, then got dressed again in the clothes they’d brought on a tray: boxer shorts, socks prised from a lovers’ clinch, black jeans that had been almost new on the day he’d arrived. The shirt was just as he’d left it, lightly folded to minimise creasing. Its freezing fibres billowed round his frame, caricaturing the weight he’d lost. He found his watch shivering in the toe of his left shoe, which rested with its mate atop his bomber jacket.

 

The Power of Love by Alan Graham

The Power of Love MP3

Read by Tony Bell

I had not been working long at my new job when I first saw her.  I could try and pretend to be cool about it, but from that moment, I knew my heart belonged to this dark-haired angel, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And I resolved that this time I would ride through all obstacles, tackle any hardships until my love was returned.

 

Fairest of them All by Lisa Stout

Fairest of them All MP3

Read by Greg Page

As a wizard I try not to involve myself in relationships. Magic is too unpredictable. One minute you’re enchanting a pumpkin and the next the nation is at war because the Prince slighted some neighbouring Princess to marry a chambermaid. Not my finest moment but highly educational. Unless you are my goddaughter don’t go expecting favours. 

 

OUR NEXT EVENT FOR VALENTINE'S: Beautiful & Damned, Tuesday 10th February

The stories have been chosen, and damned beautiful they are too. We have enchanters and (sexual) electricity, seal spirits and Satanists, bounders, tarts and prisoners and really an awful lot of Loveheart sweeties in store for you at our Valentine's(ish)-themed event this coming Tuesday 10th February ...

WINNING STORIES FOR BEAUTIFUL & DAMNED

FAIREST OF THEM ALL by Lisa Stout *NEW AUTHOR*

GERALD THE ABSOLUTE SWINE by Geffrey Heptonstall *NEW AUTHOR* 

SELKIE by Arike Oke

THE POWER OF LOVE by Alan Graham

GER SHEEN AND THE SATANISTS by David McGrath (First Prize in the Bare Fiction contest)

LAG by Jim Cogan

Oh, and there's free books too - and unfeasibly hard questions - in the world-infamous interval book quiz. So see you there, basically: doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start and it's still a mere fiver on the door, making us probably the cheapest night of cultural fun in London.

For more details see below or click on the Facebook event here. If you reckon you'll be coming PLEASE join the event, it really helps us plan for numbers and it will make the venue happy ...

Tickets cost £5 on the door (cash only, no advance booking) and seating is unreserved - so it's a good idea to get there a bit ahead of time if you want a good table.

The venue is downstairs at:
The Phoenix
37 Cavendish Square 
London 
W1G 0PP

(The Phoenix is 5 minutes' walk from Oxford Circus tube station, which is on the Victoria, Bakerloo and Central lines)

Map here