Linda M Bayley’s short story, Dry Season, was a big hit with readers last month for our ‘Revolt’ series. She popped by the ‘pigpen’ for a quick chat about her submission, what she’s been reading, and a certain novella-in-flash she’s been working on.

So, Linda, your story has a belter of an opening line: ‘Ethan Preston, Jimmy Preston’s oldest boy, is sixteen and stays away from the house as much as he can.’ It reels you in as a reader from the off. Can you tell me where the idea for the story came from?

Dry Season was born in the Autumn 2023 ‘Writing Battle’. My prompts were Ride or Die, a moral dilemma, and rowing. Somehow those prompts combined to give me two good sons and a really nasty father.

Did you ever think about expanding the story into something bigger?

No, I don’t think so. 2,500 words is about as long as I go for a single piece; any longer than that and I get lost. And I think I’ve explored these characters as far as I want to.

We’ll be having more call outs later in the year. What theme would you pick for the next window?

I’ve seen a lot of calls lately for writers to resist and revolt. I think that given the way the world is going lately, if it’s not the world you want your children to grow up in, you have a duty to resist and revolt. But I’d love to see something gentler as a theme: the kindness of strangers, maybe. Compassion. Empathy. Resisting with love rather than anger.

Difficult question, I know, but can you choose a novel or short story you’ve read in the last couple of years that’s really stayed with you?

If I only get to pick one, it’s The Endless Vessel, by Charles Soule.  It was relentlessly original, and I didn’t want it to end. LJ Pemberton’s Still Alive is a close second for the urgency of the language.

What writing projects do you have on for 2026?

I’m continuing on my novella-in-flash journey, with the help of my friends at SmokeLong Fitness! I can’t say too much about it right now though. If you are among the few who know my characters, you know why they won’t let me go.

Thanks, Linda. I’ve been lucky enough to read the novella-in-flash and it is a brilliant read.

Here’s the link to Dry Season if you missed it last month: https://urbanpigspress.co.uk/2026/01/20/dry-season-linda-m-bayley/

I’d also heartily recommend checking out The Golden Hours, published by our indie pals at Frazzled Lit https://www.frazzledlit.com/p/the-golden-hours?hide_intro_popup=true.