Verbal is a small-press publication that John edits and publishes dedicated to new fiction from outside the mainstream. Each issue includes short stories and a focus interview with a contemporary author, plus occasional artwork, lyrics and non-fiction.
Issue 11
Iain Sinclair on London, city of disappearances. Fiction: Michael Moorcock, Martin Knight, Koushik Banerjea, Garry Bushell, Kenny Moore, Kevin Tosca. Talking Books / Tali Chilson – the Jewish anarchist fiction of London’s East End. Ballard & Warner, Dickens by Craig Morriss. Lyrics: Andy Town and Steve Potts.
Issue 10
Walking through the night hills for home – Alan Warner interview. Stories by Mike Head, Stewart Home, Kenny Moore, Walter Otton, Ben Richards, Joseph Ridgwell, Kevin Tosca, Irvine Welsh. Craig Morriss’ Warner, Bruno Schulz, Gerald Kersh. Cover illustration: Wasted Words by Allan Kausch.
Issue 9
Martin Knight interview – justice, cancel culture, Barry Desmond. Craig Morriss on Kafka, Camus, Orwell, Fallada. Allan Kausch cut-up. New fiction from Garry Bushell, Michael Crowley, ian cusack, Cara Hoffman, Kevin Tosca. Paul Willetts talks Julian Maclaren-Ross. Cover photograph by Jamie Macdonald.
Issue 8
Alan Sillitoe Special. Interview and essay by Alan, poems from Ruth Fainlight, plus short stories by three writers inspired by his books – Martin Knight, Cathi Unsworth and Michael Crowley. Non-fiction from Harry Knight and Bill Sharpe, plus specially produced illustrations by the artist Craig Morriss.
Issue 7
David Peace interview – new work, the Red Riding novels, Damned Utd and the transmission process of writing. Stories from Koushik Banerjea, Gerald Kersh, Anthony Mason, Marianne Peyronnet, Ben Richards and Sally Thomas. Poetry by Russ Litten. Talking Music with Lee Wilson – Made In England.
Issue 6
Who put Bella in the witch elm? Cathi Unsworth interviewed. Suedehead poetry from Tim Wells and new fiction from Koushik Banerjea, Paul Duncan, Michael Keenaghan, Martin Knight and Joseph Ridgwell. Talking Books with Peter Mason – The Brown Dog Affair. Allan Kausch cover: Dogboy Slate.
Issue 5
Stewart Home interview – ‘Quick, clean and efficient since 1962’. Fiction from Koushik Banerjea, Robert Ciesla, Allan Kausch, Michael Keenaghan and Cathi Unsworth. Lyrics by Infa-Riot wordsmith Lee Wilson. Talking Books – Martin Knight on Battersea Girl.
Issue 4
Like Real Life – Dan Fante on his writing, his father novelist John Fante, Charles Bukowski and Hubert Selby Jr. Stories by Koushik Banerjea, Garry Bushell, Joe England, Pete Haynes, Allan Kausch, Russ Litten and Cathi Unsworth. Lyrics from JC Carroll of The Members. Mr Fair’s Magic Lantern.
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Issue 3
God Bless Punk: Irvine Welsh interview – the joys of British music and American literature, the horrors of Jimmy Savile. New fiction from Martin Knight, Michael Keenaghan, Pete Haynes, Joe England and Robert Ciesla. Poetry by Joseph Ridgwell. Mr Fair’s Magic Lantern.
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Issue 2 (Sold Out)
Special edition for a Club Ska night at the Rayners Inn, Rayners Lane, with Paul Fox of The Ruts. Six of the best albums. Six of the best books.
Issue 1 (Sold Out)
Fiction Without The Fuss – Boot Generation edition. Featuring Stewart Home, Kevin Williamson, Laura Hird, David Murphy, Brent Hodgson, Karen Eliot, Steve Goodman.