New fiction set in London''s Royal Parks by eight acclaimed short story writers

"I stepped out of the city and into the park. It was as simple as that." Ali Smith

The Royal Parks published eight short stories, one for each of its London parks, on Thursday 7 May 2009.

The series has been commissioned from eight prize-winning writers, as follows:

Taking inspiration from each park, the writers have all approached the project in very different ways, creating tales wide-ranging in style, perspective and historical setting.

Park Stories Editor, Rowan Routh, said:

"This series is a great way to celebrate both the literary heritage of the parks and the short story. There's a kinship between parks and short fiction - both confined things but no less for being so. They're perfectly matched to be enjoyed together!"

Each story has been published in an individual booklet, ideal to read on a bench or picnic-blanket. They are available to buy from www.parkstories.org.uk, points of sale within the parks, and from selected book shops across London, priced £2. The series is also sold as a boxed set of eight, priced £16.

Media enquiries:

For further information please contact:

The Royal Parks
Katy Murray, 020 7298 2128 kmurray@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

Lucy Skipper, 020 7298 2145 lskipper@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk

or

Notes to Editors

• The Park Stories booklets have been designed by Strange Attractor Press www.strangeattractor.co.uk and printed in England on 100% recycled paper.
• Park Stories was devised and is edited by Rowan Routh, formerly of Rogers, Coleridge & White Literary Agency.
• The Royal Parks have ignited the imaginations of writers through the centuries including Chaucer, The Earl of Rochester, Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, JM Barrie, Joseph Conrad, Henry James, Patrick Hamilton, and Sylvia Plath.

The Royal Parks: Bushy Park, The Green Park, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill, Richmond Park and St James's Park.

For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk