In early 2020, before the Covid pandemic led to the first lockdown in the UK, I started work on a short story inspired by what the media showed us was happening in other countries. This story, At the Hotel Swinburne, was about a married couple holidaying in Switzerland. What happened exposed the cracks in their relationship.
I worked on the story and sent it out to various magazines and competitions, without success, although I received some favourable feedback and encouragement from some. I revised the story, sent it out again, tweaked it some more, sent it out again, and so forth. I believed in this story, even if no-one else seemed to do so.
And then someone did! Stephen Moran, who selects and edits the Short Story of the Month for the Willesden Herald online, said he really liked my story. He asked for some minor edits, which I was happy to make. And he accepted the story as his May 2024 Story of the Month. I am very happy that it has found a home and that you can read it too.
Here’s where you can find it – https://newshortstories.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/story-of-the-month-may-2024
Do leave a comment if you have one!
Kandersteg, in the Swiss Alps
Cath Barton 