Dead Man Walking

Billy Collins’ childhood on Portland Isle, Dorset, is a tapestry of idyllic moments, albeit cast against the ominous backdrop of World War II. His life takes a dramatic turn following the tragedy of Operation Tiger, leading to his forced evacuation to the isolated Yorkshire moors. Here, he spends the remainder of the war in the company of a taciturn government official, far removed from the world he knew.

At the age of 18, imbued with a sense of duty, Billy joins the Royal Engineers, embarking on a career as a bomb disposal officer. After years of service, filled with brushes with danger and meticulous snipping of wires, Billy decides it’s time to retire. However, fate has a twist in store; his final assignment takes him back to Portland Isle. Confronting his past and the fears that have shadowed him, Billy stands on the precipice of full-circle closure. This poignant tale weaves the threads of memory, duty, and destiny into a narrative that captures the essence of a life lived in the shadow of war.

Micah Carlsen grew up on the Gower Peninsula, west of Swansea and was then educated at Cheltenham College. University took him to the West Country, where he studied at Exeter and Plymouth. He has worked variously as a labourer, English and guitar tutor. Micah was a probation officer in the Devon cluster of prisons. He has lived in Swansea for the last five years with his Jack Russell and has enjoyed the support of the creative writing department at Swansea University.