Former Sunderland student publishes selection of short stories
An established author with strong links to Sunderland has published his fifth novel.
Phil Blacksmith, who spent a decade living in Sunderland where he studied at Bede Grammar School for Boys, has published a selection of short stories titled Asylum for the Hypersane and Tales from the Margin.
Phil, who now lives in North Yorkshire, said: “The first half of the book should appeal to fans of Franz Kafka.
"It is neither an imitation nor a pastiche of him but does explicitly take his various stories as inspiration and echoes his mood.
"Kafka was not a great writer but did catch the Zeitgeist of his era, when increasing bureaucracy was making life feel more impersonal and absurd.”
The book contains a selection of new and old stories, including a number “that have been lying around in a drawer”.
Phil’s book is now available to buy on Amazon and at Waterstones.