Published Stories

From "The Given Note" by Seamus Heaney, illustrated by Julian Peters, the pencil drawing shows Seamus Heaney playing a fiddle on dark and stormy night, and the line reads "He got this air out of the night"

This is an extract from "The Given Note" by Irish poet Seamus Heaney, from a beautifully illustrated version by Montreal artist Julian Peters. I love this poem, especially in this illustrated version that combines the influences of my two homeplaces, just as my own writing does. The poem continues:
 

Strange noises were heard
By others who followed, bits of a tune
Coming in on loud weather
 

I hope readers will find a few bits of a tune in the loud weather of my stories.

 

Deconstruction

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Awarded the 2025 Cúirt New Writing Prize and published online (with free access). In her comments, the judge Wendy Erskine wrote: “Complex relationship with a lightness of touch, I loved this story with its brilliantly judged dialogue. Who knew that an IKEA furniture forum could be mined for such gold?” 

 

 

The Leftovers of Sugaring Season

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in Agnes and True.

 

 

Discord at the Concerto

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published in print and online (purchase required) in Blank Spaces, vol 10, issue 1 - September 2025

 

 

Marcus of Montreal

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published in print and online (purchase required) in The New Quarterly, issue 175 - Summer 2025.

 

 

Last Respects at Maggie O'Malley's Wake

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in Necessary Fiction.

 

 

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published in print in issue #61 of Crannóg Magazine. 

 

 

Dead End Manifesto

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in The Galway Review. 

 

 

Homing

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in issue #27 of Sky Island Journal. 

 

 

Memento Mori

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in issue #27 of Sky Island Journal. 

 

 

Rebels

by Laurence Lumsden

 

Published online (with free access) in The River.