An Isle of Man journalist has been caught making things up.

A short story by Paul Speller is to be released online by an international publisher today (Friday).

The Curious Child appears in e-magazine Dimension6. It is the haunting tale of how a family’s move to a new home turns sour, with horrifying consequences.

Dimension6 publishes the ’best new stories from established authors and fresh voices’ in speculative fiction. Part of the Coeur de Lion publishing stable in Australia, the magazine features work from international authors, as well as those based Down Under.

Paul is better known in the island as a freelance journalist and often contributes to Isle of Man Newspapers’ political coverage.

The new edition of Dimension6, including The Curious Child, is free to download and can be found at https://coeurdelion.com.au/dimension6/

In addition, an omnibus of all this year’s Dimension6 stories will be released by the end of the year and will be available through Amazon and other distributors.

This is not Paul’s first foray into fiction. His debut short story, Baby Blue Eyes, was published in Writing Magazine, after winning a competition.

That story is due to be introduced to a new audience later this year, after Paul - who was a member of the judging panel at the Manx Litfest Short Story Slam - reached a deal for it to be re-published online.