Author of Glasgow and Scots-Noir
Published Short Fiction
by JS Apsley
Set in Glasgow, a woman becomes infatuated with the Salvador Dali painting "Christ of St John of the Cross". This, JS Apsley's debut fiction submission, won the Ringwood Publishing Short Story Prize 2024.
Status: published on 9 January 2025.
At the height of lockdown, a weary police officer interviews a strange man with the most incredible story. He has seen something alive ... alive and almost invisible, hanging from the Finnieston Crane. "The Shape at Finnieston Crane" is a science fiction short story set in Glasgow.
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Status: Published in online magazine Underside Stories, on 1 May 2025.
The Burned Man
Sophia is worried about her husband. He's distracted and distant. Then, he tells her about the burned man. "The Burned Man" is a thriller/horror short story about powerful vengeance.
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Status: Published by Trashlight Press on 7 August 2025.
See a performance of the story by Val Cole on Youtube =>.
Another One of the Missing
Our new neighbour sat in his garden for hours, reading his strange lists. Just what was he doing? "Another One of the Missing" is short suburban crime story.​
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Gleamers
Henry's new job is too good to be true; but he is prideful and blind to the strange signs around him. "Gleamers" is a modern twist on the classic vampire story, set in Glasgow.
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Status: Published by Suburban Witchcraft, Issue 9 on 15 June 2025.
The Last Free Wolf in Scotland
An impressionable young man falls under the spell of a re-wilder with dark, ulterior motives. "The Last Free Wolf in Scotland" is a thriller short story.​
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The Shore at the End of the Black Lake
"I feel myself propel along the waters of the black lake. I peer back for one last look at my obsidian messenger, but is gone. They are all gone".
"The Shore at the End of the Black Lake" is an experimental science fiction short story.
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Status: published in Bewildering Stories, 16 June 2025.
The Secret of Glasgow's Gold
Churchill moved a stash of bullion below George Square, during the war. We were sure we'd be the ones to find it. "The Secret of Glasgow's Gold" is comic, character driven short story.​
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Status: Published by Litbreak Magazine, published 17 June 2025.
Under Exam Conditions
All the Dead Beasts
An application for a mysterious government job leads a young graduate to a strange exam, and even stranger interview.​
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Status: published online by California based Muleskinner Journal on 28 June 2025, and features in Issue 14 "Handle and Spout", published 1 July 2025.
A club owner sends his PR into a former meat factory, seeking inspiration for a new speakeasy. "All the Dead Beasts" is a horror/supernatural short story.​
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Status: published by Flash Phantoms on 1 July 2025
Auld Sneaky
Retreating to deal with loss, a couple discover a small fishing village in Scotland is hiding a dark secret. "Auld Sneaky" is a horror short story.​
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Status: published in Tales of the Unreal Vol VII, 2 August 2025.
The Last Conversation
Two lonely strangers share a very human connection, just as humanity is about to end. "The Last Conversation" is a near-future speculative dystopian short story.​
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Status: accepted for publication by US literary journal The Pointed Circle based in Oregon. It will be published Summer 2025.
Government Business
Something strange is going on at the Dixon Blazes, the ironworks which has been closed down for decades. Old Henry watches from behind his netted curtains, wondering what it could be about ...​
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Status: published in MiniMAG Issue 161, on 1 August 2025.
The Last Letter of Papa Pat
A woman discovers a hidden letter addressed to her from her deceased grandfather. "The Last Letter of Papa Pat" is a hybrid prose/epistolary reflection on loss and childhood memory.​
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Status: Published by MiniMAG Literature & Art Magazine, on 29 August 2025
In a dystopian world where a perpetual sandstorm rages, the community of Threeships send Scavengers to search for ... anything. But this time, one has a dreadful secret. "Dustworld" is a science fiction crime story.​
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Status: Published on 1 August 2025 by Corner Bar Magazine, Volume 10 Issue 7.
An old man at a football match is surrounded by fans who come just to hear how colourful his insults can be. "Home and Away" is a short narrative fiction piece exploring dementia and the use of dialect in dialogue.​
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Status: will be published by Causeway / Cabhsair: A Magazine of Irish and Scottish Writing, to be launched by Aberdeen University on 1 October 2025.
Dustworld
Home and Away
Let the River Speak
A man considers ending his life - but then the river speaks.​
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Status: published by Lowlife Lit Press on 26 April 2025
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We Choose to Dare
A micro fiction piece exploring mortality.
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Status: Published by Loft Books (Issue VII) on 21 August 2025
A retired policeman takes a final trip to the River Clyde, and is haunted by his past. A supernatural tale of regret.​
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Status: Published by the Orange Rose Lit Magazine on 22 August 2025
A micro fiction piece. A woman promises vengeance on her attacker - in this life or the next.​
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I'll Always have my Boys
Imprints
The Black Water Adventure
Two girls find a strange alien fish behind the janitor's hut at school - and are drawn into an adventure where a mysterious vat of black water is a portal to another world . . .​
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Published on 6 October 2025 in specialist children's/young person's speculative magazine "Spaceports & Spidersilk"
Jenny Greenteeth
After the third body is found down by the river, the city is ready to believe in dark fairy tales. "Jenny Greenteeth" is a crime/fantasy short story set in Glasgow.​
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Status: to be performed on North American horror podcast "Tales to Terrify", expected Autumn 2025.
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Come with me, the unknown protagonist, as I venture into the bowels of a sinking ship, searching for someone I know I must save. "Salvage" is a near-future dystopian science fiction short story.
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Status: accepted for publication by speculative / science fiction journal The Colored Lens, from Fort Worth, Texas. The story will appear in the Autumn 2025 issue.
Needle's Eye
"The Night Crew": that's what the guys on the backshift called themselves as they lark around after hours. But then the boss asks them to clear the basement, and they find something down there, in the dark. Something ... awful. "The Night Crew" is a pulp horror short story.
Status: to be published by Lowlife Lit Press - Winter 2025 .​
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The Thunderbird of Ailsa Craig
Salvage
The Night Crew
Sandy Bane
A rock band plays an exclusive gig in remote Scottish woods for a MC called The Offspring, led by the imposing biker Sandy Bane ... and get more than they bargained for.​
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Status: to be published by horror/weird fiction magazine Mobius blvd, an imprint of Hobb's End Books, expected late 2025.
God of Soil - Trilogy
A grieving mother and daughter take a trip to the Scottish island of Ailsa Craig, and find the unexpected.
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Status: accepted for publication by The Brussels Review, Winter 2025.
At the end of a dark hollow, an ancient beast lies hungry, but is soon to be fed. God of Soil is a horror genre trilogy of short stories:-
God of Soil; God of Soil II - The Dweller Rises; and God of Soil III - The Pact.
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Status: The trilogy will be published by specialist horror magazine Lovecraftiana, an imprint of Rogue Planet Press. Back issues of Lovecraftiana are available on Amazon.
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The trilogy will be published as follows:-
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God of Soil - Walpurgisnacht Issue (April 2026)
God of Soil II: The Dweller Rises - Lammas Eve Issue (August 2026)
God of Soil III: The Pact - Halloween Issue (October 2026)
Though the tide was high, he was drawn to the Needle's Eye, and before he reached it, he knew he would walk through, not knowing what may be on the other side. "The Needles' Eye is supernatural short story.​
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Status: accepted for publication by Creation Magazine, a US journal based in Tampa Bay, Florida. To be published Winter 2025, details to be confirmed.
Mister Coincidence
An evening with friends proves to be one amazing coincidence after another for shy Dominic, hurtling him out of his shell ... to disaster.​
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Status: Will be published by Shlock! in June 2026.
Jim and I met some characters in our time. None more so than Howard Hill. After all, he was the man who had taught Errol Flynn how to use a bow and arrow. So what was he doing in a Glasgow pub? "The Last Days of Howard Hill" is a comic, character driven fiction short story.
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Status: under consideration for publication, more details to follow.
The Last Days of Howard Hill
A man paralysed with fear over his own death visits a fortune teller, Margot Morgana, who claims she can take his fear away. "Margot Morgana" is a dark thriller short story.​
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Status: will be published by Flora Fiction around Halloween 2025
An old man shares a long-held secret with his son about a gift given to him by a German soldier whilst he was a prisoner-of-war guard.​
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Status: under consideration for publication, more details to follow.
Margot Morgana
Prisoners, both
Desperate for the Flesh
A woman ascends to the top flight of a condemned high-rise building looking for a man who claims to have a message from her deceased husband.​
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Status: to be published by Witch House Magazine on 26 October 2025.
A Tourist at Murran Bay
The locals at Murran Bay are plagued by a mysterious humming noise, which seems to be emanating from the long abandoned Angel Isle, across the bay ...​
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Status: under consideration for publication, more details to follow.
The Glasgow Ghoul
Terror stalks the Glasgow "shows" in 1990, the year of the City of Culture, and a teenage boy is found dead.​
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Status: to be published by Fiction on the Web on 27 October 2025.
Gudeman's Land
A couple from London go adventuring in a remote Scottish island, where they cross into the land of the mysterious Mr Gudeman.​
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Status: under consideration for publication, more details to follow.
