Hi Mark. You’ve been a great help to us in the run up to release. I really appreciated your edits in the anthology. Working with people like yourself really sums up the love in the writing community. I also want to thank you for taking part in this interview and even more so for contributing to our cause. Can you tell us a little a bit more about yourself?
I had a long break from writing and then started again in 2019. Since then, I’ve had a number of short stories published and a short novel, ‘Coo’. I’m currently finishing up the first draft of a novel. Anyway, it’s been good to get writing back in my life. I missed it.
Foodbanks have become a part of our life. What started as a means to support those in financial difficulty has now turned into a long-term lifeline for many. Do you think that we will ever be free of them, or do you believe they will be here to stay?
The scandal is they’ve been normalised. In my ignorance, I used to assume they were just for the homeless, but that’s not the case at all. You have nurses using them – people with full-time jobs who can’t afford to buy food. I really struggle to get my head around that when the UK is one of the top ten largest economies. Personally, I think there will continue to be a war against social welfare and support, which is going to make it harder on those with low-incomes, especially in a time of inflation and higher interest rates.
So yes, they’re here to stay.
Do you think it is down to the volunteers and fellow man to keep food banks going or should the government be doing more to intervene?
Poverty in the UK is something like 14 million and 29% of those are kids. It’s always much worse under the Tories, but I’m not convinced whoever is in government is going to address such a systemic problem. Fundamentally, you’re talking about the flow of capital and the redistribution of wealth. The vast majority of people in the UK don’t want to know about such things. They’re happy floating in their bubbles of greed and selfishness.
Should government intervene – yes. Should businesses stop virtue signalling and actually do something – yes. Should journalists report it – of course. Will it happen – no. At best, you’ll get token gestures. Like Bukowski said in one of his letters: socialism is a great idea, there just aren’t enough human beings around to make it happen.
That’s not to say there aren’t decent human beings. The men and women who volunteer and create some kind of safety net do make a difference.
The most disturbing thing at present is how we’re demonising the poor and the most vulnerable. It’s ugly and it’s cruel. It’s why books like your anthology and the charity it’s supporting, FIND, are important.
Here at Urban Pigs Press we believe that the indie writing scene is an incredible place of support. From fellow writers to zines and indie presses. Who is your favourite writer in the indie community and why?
Peter Bennett’s novel ‘Liberties’ is one of the best things I’ve read in the past couple of years. Drew Gummerson should be famous – looking forward to his next novel, ‘Saltburn’. Sean McNulty’s ‘House of Elder’ ought to be published so indie publishers need to sort that out. Rob True’s ‘In the Shadow of the Phosphorous Dawn’ is blinding. I enjoyed so much from the Hunger collection, especially Ann Hayton’s ‘A Dead Dog’s Eye’ and Jude Potts’ ‘Marginalia; or If This Is Supposed To Be Levelling Up The Tories Need a New Spirit Level’, so I’d be keen to read more by them. Jacko Pook’s ‘Digested’ is an absolute belter.
Tell us about your latest work? Do you have any books you would like our readers to know about?
If you ever fancy reading about an alcoholic turning into a pigeon, then check out my novella, ‘Coo’, which is published by Alien Buddha Press – I did a reading a couple of weeks ago and at least three people laughed, so that felt like a result (they weren’t friends either). I’ll finish the first draft of the novel I’m working on this month – ‘Torture Origami’ is a small section from it. As ever, there’ll be a shedload of editing, but that’s something I’m learning to enjoy.
How did you first hear about Urban Pigs Press?
I’d followed James Jenkins as we’d both been published before by the same press. So, I followed him on ‘X’ and saw the post. I liked the illustration for Urban Pigs as well.
Good luck with it.
Thanks again, Mark. ‘They’re happy floating in their bubbles of greed and selfishness.’ is such an unfortunate truth. I’ve really enjoyed reading your answers and that Bukowski quote is spot on. I’m looking forward to readers discovering your talents and now they can read ‘Torture Origami’ in the Hunger anthology. Please keep us posted about the novel. Credit goes to Cody Sexton for our illustrations on the site. He’s definitely worth checking out.
Read ‘Torture Origami’ now in the Hunger anthology.
Mark Burrow has published a novella, Coo, which is about an alcoholic transforming into a pigeon in a world where people are turning into birds (Alien Buddha Press). His short stories have appeared in a range of titles, such as Bubble, Literally Stories, Cerasus, Flight of the Dragonfly and Paragraph Planet. He is currently close to finishing the first draft of a novel, which will include Torture Origami. He lives in Brighton in the UK and can be found on social @markburrow20 and @markburrow.bsky.social.
Now available!
We at Urban Pigs Press are buzzing to announce the release of our charity anthology ‘Hunger – In aid of FIND – Families in Need‘. This has been an incredible journey for us and one that has taught us many new things. Aside from the publishing process, we’ve been incredibly blessed to discover some of the best voices in writing. Each one of these brilliant authors have given up their time and talent to contribute towards this great cause. If you have been keeping up with our interviews, then you will know that we really have brought together some of the best souls around.
Readers can expect a deep array of writing styles and content, ranging from horror, crime, realism and more, the Hunger anthology is sure to stir your emotions. This is exactly what we set out to do as the real issue of hunger is not a comfortable topic.
Both of us would like to say huge heartfelt thankyou to everyone who has been involved in this project and of course, those who wish to buy the book and help support this fantastic cause.
We look forward to keeping everyone updated with the progress and success of the anthology. We’re hoping to be able to make our first donation of the profits to FIND in a couple of weeks and will share this with you also.
Urban Pigs Press presents a collection of 23 stories by 23 different authors inspired by the prompt HUNGER. From gritty crime, realism, horror and everything in between. All profits will go directly to FIND – Families in Need to help tackle the global issue of hunger.
A collection of stories that are as close to the bone in literary class as they are in their scathing analysis of a broken society.
-Stephen J. Golds
Author of Say Goodbye When I’m Gone
Part social commentary, part linguistic showcase, the authors of Hunger share such thought-provoking stories of a feeling that no-one is alienated from.
Some will leave you angry, some will leave you grateful and some will leave you with questions.
I would say it was a joy to read but more accurately, I am a more rounded-person for reading it.
You’re about to go on a journey. Where to? You will know when you get there.
– Rob Jelly
Featuring the talents of Sophia Adamowicz, LG Thomson, Jacko Pook, Mathew Gostelow, Paige Johnson, Matthew McGuirk, Virginia Betts, Marek Z. Turner, David Cook, Neda Aria, Eddie Generous, Ann Hayton, Russell Thayer, James Jenkins, Bam Barrow, Sebastian Vice, Cassie Premo Steele, A.J. Stanton, Mark Burrow, Tabitha Bast, Rob Walton, Tom Leins and Jude Potts. Front cover by Jo Andrews (Mojo Art) and inlay by Cody Sexton (Anxiety Press). Foreword by Andrew Marsh of Dial Lane Books.
For more information or to further support our chosen charity, please visit the link below.
Urban Pigs Press 
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