In late 2010 an anthology of Australian fiction was published called Nth Degree: New Australian Writing (Arcade Custom). I was pleased to have contributed a short story called ‘After The Swill’, which is an extract from the early chapters of a big historical novel I have been writing for some years called Murphy and the Baker.
‘After The Swill’ is a story of sly grog and communists in Balmain, a working-class stronghold of Sydney, Australia, in 1931. This is the first appearance in print of Handsome Max Sweeney, narrator of the novel.
I’ve republished the story at my website www.matthewasprey.com. You can read it in the following formats, the full-screen ISSUU Reader or PDF.
I truly enjoyed this tale, Matthew. How far along is the novel?
best wishes,
Ron McKinney
I’m just polishing the last chapters. When and how the book becomes available I can’t say. The novel is set (mostly) in Sydney between 1931 and 1947, with a frame story in the late fifties.
Glad you enjoyed the story, Ron. All the best.
I have also been polishing my aggregated stuff. If you’ve followed the plight of my wife, who is back in hospital, you may like to know that the doctors have finally discovered that she has a hypothyroid condition and have begun to treat it. I’m tired of the bachelor life since I had to surrender my dogs to the Pound. It’s so quiet I’ve begun listening to Pop Up music videos just to fill the silence with noise. OM
Hope things look brighter soon, Ron.