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Story of a Heel
Todd McEwen
‘ My stunningly crummy apartment–there were big holes in the walls and I lay awake nights worrying about how they got there’.
Doing the Work
Doing the Work
‘I think there should be a National Service of Hospitality. The best way to see the true face of humanity is to serve it a plate of chips.’
Camilla Grudova on bad-mannered customers.
Doing the Work
‘Anyone who has ever worked night shifts will understand the vertiginous feeling that comes with staring down the day from the wrong end.’
A.K. Blakemore on working nights.
Doing the Work
‘I was constantly reading job ads, trying to find my holy grail – a job I could stand to do, and someone foolish enough to hire me.’
Sandra Newman on learning how to play professional blackjack.
Doing the Work
‘I loved being a receptionist. What I loved about it was playing the part of being a receptionist.’
Emily Berry on being a temporary office worker.
Doing the Work
‘Every part of you would swell, including your eyeballs, and no matter how much water you drank, you were always dehydrated.’
Junot Díaz on working for a steel mill.
Todd McEwen
Todd McEwen was born in California in 1953 and graduated from Columbia University in New York in 1975. He worked in broadcasting, theatre and the rare book trade before settling in Scotland in 1981. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, novelist Lucy Ellman. Several of his stories have been published by Granta magazine. This is his fourth novel. Todd McEwen was born in California in 1953 and graduated from Columbia University in New York in 1975. He worked in broadcasting, theatre and the rare book trade before settling in Scotland in 1981. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife, novelist Lucy Ellman. Several of his stories have been published by Granta magazine. This is his fourth novel.
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