Hello...
I'm Clive Gilson, a.k.a.The Story Guy, a writer, editor and folklorist leading the Tales From The World’s Firesides project.
Born in 1962 to a home full of football boots and ballroom dancing shoes, I read History at Leeds University, and then rode the first IT wave while freelancing as a journalist and treading the boards on small stages across the south of England.
My fiction spans novels such as Songs of Bliss and A Solitude of Stars, and the short story collections; The Mechanic’s Curse, The Insomniac Booth, and Melodies in Black Ink.
Since 2018 I have served as Managing Editor of Tales From The World’s Firesides, a global project that has published more than 30 collections of folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends.
Today I write tales steeped in folklore, memory and deep transformation; craft first, heart always.
Join the +100,000 readers and listeners who enjoy my weekly stories on:
My latest fiction...
26 Songs. 26 Stories. Infinite Echoes.
Music has the power to transport us, to spark memories, stir emotions, and tell stories beyond the lyrics. In this unique collection, twenty-six original short stories take inspiration from some of the greatest songs ever written, weaving tales of love and loss, hope and heartbreak, mystery and magic.
From whispered ballads to anthems that demand to be heard, each story transforms melody into narrative, crafting unforgettable characters and moments shaped by the rhythms of life. Whether you find yourself lost in a haunting melody, swept up in the euphoria of a chorus, or caught in the tension of a single note, these stories promise to resonate long after the final page.
A must-read for lovers of music and storytelling alike, because behind every great song, there's a story waiting to be told.
In the works...
What's coming up over the next few weeks and months?
Acts Of Faith
A brand new novel telling a timely tale of suspense and political intrigue loosely based on the Lebanese hostage crisis in the 1980's...
Proud Jenny Jay
A beautiful new collection of short stories that tell tales of Corvid myths and legends in British history and in contemporary settings...
What's new by the fireside in 2025?
Tales from Central America and Tales From South America are vibrant, culturally rich collections of myths, legends, and folktales drawn from across the southern and central Americas. Curated and carefully retold by a lifelong storyteller and writer of magical and speculative fiction, these books bring together voices from rainforests, mangroves, hills, and harbours-from Mexico to Chile and Argentina.
These stories reflect the region's layered heritage-Indigenous, European, and beyond-offering everything from trickster tales and ghost stories to creation myths and spiritual legends. With sensitivity and respect, the author reinterprets historical sources and oral traditions, adding cultural context while preserving the original voices wherever possible.
Released Summer 2025
Horse Tails and Pig Tails gathers folktales, myths, and legends where horses and pigs take centre stage, from rainforests and mangroves to high hills and deserts. You will meet tricksters and guardians, faithful helpers and troublesome spirits; stories that carry work, wit, friendship, and folly across borders and time.
Each tale is retold with care by a lifelong storyteller. Short notes follow, giving source and setting. The aim is steady and clear, to honour the voice of the tradition while making space for new readers.
Above all, the collections invite you to hear how different cultures speak to the same human themes. Courage and patience; hunger and hospitality; the long road back to kindness as we walk along old paths with fresh eyes.
