Peter Kalu
Poet, Short-story writer
About
My short stories range in style from the realist to the surreal to the carnivalesque and can be found in anthologies including Collision (Comma Press, 2023), Glimpse (Peepal Tree, 2023), Lancashire Stories (Lancashire Libraries, 2023), Closure (Peepal Tree, 2015), Seaside Special (Bluemoose, 2018) and A Country to Call Home (Unbound, 2018). Writing novels is another passion. Most recently, my alternative reality novel One Drop (Andersen Press) was published in 2022, and I was part of a team of three who created the story architecture for a role-playing game (RPG), Simulacrum Funk,showcased at the International Black Speculative Writing Festival in London, 2–4 February 2024. I also write Twine digital stories. Poetry is another craft I practice. My published poems include: ‘The Negro Speaks of Blood Transfusions’ in Filigree (Peepal Tree, 2018); ‘How You Wear Your Hat’ in The Hat You Wear (Comma Press, 2012); ‘The Poet’s Song’ in Out of Bounds (Bloodaxe, 2012); ‘Manchester’, published as a wall poster, by Urbis Museum, Manchester 2010; ‘Old Radicals’, in Red (Peepal Tree, 2010); ‘No Trace’ monologues for Lychee Lounge, Green Room Manchester, October 2003; ‘Rekindled’ monologues for Manchester Museum, June 2003; Mongrel Moon by Mongrel Press, November 1996; ‘The Poet’s Song’ in Kiss, (Crocus Press, 1994). I write occasional book and art reviews that can be found at www.peterkalu.com