Please join me in congratulating my close friend and writing buddy on her debut short story collection, Havoc Shore. This book is particularly close to my heart as I was fortunate to witness each story evolve. Maureen Cullen is not only a novelist and poet, but a short story queen with numerous wins and publications in various magazines and anthologies. I’m honoured to have a poetry conversation with Maureen in Sherry and Sparkly (The Hedgehog Poetry Press).
Havoc Shore is where it all began for Kathleen Gallagher from Maureen’s debut novel Kitten Heels. Another highly recommended read.
About Havoc Shore
Spanning generations, Havoc Shore captures the voices of a shipbuilding town through its years of industry, struggle, and change. From 1954 to the present day, these 21 interwoven stories follow families bound by place, hardship, and resilience – navigating the tides of economic uncertainty, social upheaval, and personal triumph.
The McLean siblings each carry their own version of a life-altering event, revealing the fractures and fierce loyalties within a working-class family.
Isa McMenamin, mother of seven, stands her ground against bureaucracy, proving that sheer determination can shift the course of a community.
Dolly Deighan, daughter of an Italian immigrant once branded an outsider, stakes her claim to a future she never thought possible.
Throughout, neighbours, friends, and rivals cross paths in moments of humour, heartbreak, and quiet defiance.
Told in the Scots dialect of its people, Havoc Shore is a richly textured portrait of a community shaped by poverty, emigration, and survival. Against the backdrop of shifting politics and changing times, these are stories of love and loss, resilience and resistance — from voices that demand to be heard.
Keeps the reader turning the page.
Havoc Shore is the perfect choice for any short story reader. From the first paragraph of every story, Maureen Cullen captures her audience by going straight in with the action. Each narrative has the perfect sentence structure, and powerful imagery.
The author portrays female protagonists as strong, independent women, and she isn’t afraid to touch on sensitive topics such as domestic abuse, alcoholism and juvenile delinquency. If I had to choose a favourite tale, and that is difficult because each one is a winner, it would be the chilling ghost story, ‘The Boy on the Bridge.’
I highly recommend Havoc Shore short story collection and believe that every bookshelf should possess a copy.
Order your paperback copy from Ringwood Publishing now.
Kindle version will follow shortly.
Patricia M Osborne 
Thank you, Tricia. Couldn’t have done it without your support and encouragement especially over the last two years. xx
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You’re a tower of strength to me too, Maureen. So wonderful to work with you, but even better to have you as my friend.
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