AN author from Tavistock has been shortlisted for an international writing award for his collection of short stories.

Tom Vowler is among 12 writers nominated for the Scott prize, an international annual award for a first collection, for his works in They May Not Mean to But they Do.

From the shortlist of 12, up to four winners will be announced this month, receiving a book deal and publication by independent publisher, Salt, in the UK, the USA and Australia.

Tom, 38, originally from North Devon but who now lives in Westbridge Cottages, said: 'This is an exciting opportunity, as short stories are often neglected, especially in the UK.

'My collection began life as a dissertation on my creative writing MA, which I studied for at the University of Plymouth.

'The inspiration for the collection came from reading William Trevor, for me one of the world's greatest short story writers.'

Shortly after completing his MA, Tom received a £5,000 grant from the Arts Council to write a novel, a story he set largely on Dartmoor. He even moved to Tavistock to be closer to the place which help to provide inspiration.

'The setting was an easy choice — my love affair with the moor making research a joy, especially the chapters that take place in public houses!

'I was fascinated with the idea of someone, a woman in this case, moving to the heart of the moor to escape a brutal past, to hide in its beauty and wilderness.

'She begins again, forging a life for herself as a potter, starting a family. But a cruel coincidence a decade later brings the past to her doorstep and the fight to save herself and her family from devastation begins.'

In order to get the grant, Tom had to show how the project would benefit the community or new writers in some way, so he created a blog oldenoughnovel.blogspot.com to document the process, giving advice on various aspects of writing fiction.

To date it has had more than 8,000 visitors in its first year.

'Which was the harder to write — the novel or the collection?

'In many ways, writing a strong short story is tougher, to have a big impact on the reader in 5,000 words isn't easy. But when it's done well, it's the form I love the most.

'As for writing, you obviously need more stamina for the longer version. And you better make it good — I always remember being told, "Write a bad short story and you've wasted two weeks; write a bad novel, you've wasted two years".'