Short Stories

Peter has written several short stories over the years, some published in anthologies, some in other places. We’ve started to collect these stories and will publish some of them here.

The Legends of St Thick

These short snippets about a very stupid but revered holy man were first published in Hundreds and Hundreds (Puffin 1984), an anthology Peter edited in celebration of the NSPCC’s 100th anniversary. They still make him laugh…

Barker

This story was first published in Guardian Angels (Viking 1987). Fifteen previous winners of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award were asked to write a story on the theme of a guardian angel. Peter’s funny and charming story about a very unusual guardian was the result.

In the Mermaid Tavern: The Sea Witch

Originally written as part of a preface for a new edition of Water: Tales of the Elemental Spirits which Peter wrote with Robin McKinley, this beguiling story was eventually not needed in the printed book.