Jane Flett

Biography

Jane Flett lives in Edinburgh, where she writes stories about misfits, drinks too much scotch, runs an underground music venue, and dances really, really well. Past escapades have included graduating as an award-winning philosopher, loitering in a hard hat on Leith Walk for the trams and starring in underground films, but she remains primarily infatuated with writing.

In the past couple of years, Jane has read to whooping and acclaim in Berlin, Cambridge, the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Shakespeare and Co (twice). She now intends to return to New York City, gain permanent residence at the Chelsea Hotel, and become a sensation.

Currently, she is working on a collection of urban fairytales that exist somewhere between the glitter and the gutter.

Excerpt from ‘the Idea Groves'

They rush into the chippie in the woozy rum hours after 3am, the hours of Formica and kebabs. They gather armfuls of greaseproof paper, pungent and vinegary, with small, scrabbled hands. Wee anteater hipsters, foraging.

They resemble bug-eyed thyroid kids, expressions as huge as fists. Undoubtedly, their nails are dirty and feet unclean. They reek of pollen, the wallowing cherry blossoms of Hillhead Park and the West End.

No one asks their names, and no one gives them bother. Folk know better. That's the way it is with the Chipshop Darlings.

Once, the kid on dish duty tried to break their fragile poise. He gathered his suds and gestured to one of the girls, with a guttural voice and all-right-darlin air. She gaped at him, eyes widening, tears large and hot like infected wounds.

The papers rustled.

Converse scudded across the lino, doors slammed.

The shop fell silent and strangled as a dial tone, and stayed that way for a week. There were recriminations, wallops from the manager.        

No one bothered them again.

Comment

"I've been giddy since I found out I won the award. It's not just the money and the mentoring support (although I'm thrilled with what they'll allow me to do), but the confidence this has shown in my work. It's the motivation I need to make a serious go at a writing career."