Author Leo Vardiashvili has been working with Wordsley Library Reading Group to create a short story for publication.
The collaboration was the result of a successful application to the West Midlands Readers’ Network.
“We applied to take part in the Readers’ Network short story project, as we’ve never participated in something like this before,” said Vicky Rowe, who leads Wordsley Library Reading Group.
“We all really enjoyed the process, sharing our ideas and suggestions with Leo, and want to thank him for his time developing these ideas with us, and creating a wonderfully atmospheric short story. It was great to see it in the finished anthology.”
Leo Vardiashvili’s debut novel ‘Hard By A Great Forest’ was published by Bloomsbury Publishing to rave reviews. He was listed as an Observer Best New Novelist for 2024, longlisted for the Ondaatje Prize 2025 and shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2024.
“As part of the West Midland Readers’ Network short story project, I was paired with the Wordsley Library book club in an unholy alliance that would produce a short story to be included in the 2026 Anthology,” said Leo.
“I say ‘unholy’ only because Wordsley book club were (ever so slightly) bloodthirsty in their requests and prompts that would guide my short story. In fact, we had to meet more than once in order to arrive at a suitably gory and creepy concept for the story.
“Joking aside, the Wordsley group was brilliant without exception – they had a finely-honed and honest taste for quality in literature, with a particular interest in eerie murder mysteries and thrillers. Those are the flavours I tried to deliver and would recommend the whole process to both writers and other book clubs alike. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I hope to do it again sometime.”
Operating under the Better brand, GLL is the not-for-profit social enterprise that runs Wordsley and twelve other libraries on behalf of Dudley Council.
“The reading group meets on the first Thursday of every month from 2.30-3.30pm and everyone was delighted to meet Leo and help develop his new short story,” said Jackie Bayliss, GLL’s Wordsley Library Manager.
“The West Midlands Readers’ Network commissions ‘New Stories for Readers’ by partnering writers with local reading groups and it’s wonderful for Wordsley to have had that experience.
“The group has space for new members if anyone would like to come along and join them and the 2026 anthology is now available to borrow from Dudley Libraries.”
For more information, visit the website, email wordsley.library@gll.org or call 01384 812765.