Paul Alkazraji > Recent Status Updates

A review: The Migrant

'I also thoroughly appreciate that our main character is not only a pastor, but he puts his living faith, hope and trust in a God of love and redemption. This is more than a battle between good versus evil; it's a study in lives struggling with integrity—making choices from the heart, and connecting with others as if your life depends on it.'

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ten years ago this spring, I set off on a road trip to Athens to write a novel about a young Albanian man missing there in migration… Here are a few tasters on my blog.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Ten years ago this spring, I set off on a road trip to Athens to write a novel about a young Albanian man missing there in migration… Here are a few tasters on my blog.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Chatting on Trans World Radio about choice in life’s supermarket, fiction writing, redemption stories and my latest work ‘Beni’s Game’…

https://audiomack.com/paul-alkazraji/...

'Loja e Benit' nga Paul Alkazraji.

Një tregim e shkurtër e vendosur në Aeroportin Ndërkombëtar të Tiranës.

Lexoni 'Loja e Benit' në shqip online këtu:
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Shkarkoni 'Loja e Benit' pdf në shqip këtu:
https://mega.nz/file/N28VGAzC#MwaUb8H...

The latest readers’ reviews for my short story 'Beni's Game'.

---

‘Skilfully crafted’ Val Fraser, Digital Editor of Sorted Magazine

’had my focus completely’ katieluvstoread

‘A well written, engaging story that keeps you on the edge of your seat!’ Cosykindler

‘international literary fiction is within his skill set’ onewriterswords

‘5 stars’ tealeavesandbookleaves

My book📚@ bedtime📷© ‘The Migrant’. 8 nights of tweets on the link.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Film Clip for 'Beni's Game'.

‘Beni’s Game’ is a short story about a small boat crossing to the UK, and a deportation flight back to Albania. Three people are waiting for Beni at the airport; two of them are armed; one has a matter to settle with him.

https://www.goodreads.com/videos/2137...

'Beni's Game'. A short story... (The film short.) 🎞️
Watch it here:
https://x.com/paul_alkazraji/status/1...

Very happy with this new comment on my short story ‘Beni’s Game’. 🙂

‘This was a super quick read being a short story of around 10 pages - but honestly this was such a great read...'

https://www.facebook.com/paul.alkazra...

'Beni's Game'.
A short story set at Tirana International Airport.

Read it online or download a larger-print pdf from the link at the end (free).

https://goodreads.com/author_blog_pos...

When Beni is deported on a flight back to Albania, three people are waiting for him.

‘The hooded man spun around and raised the long, thin blade of a knife. From the holster under his jacket, Luan drew out his pistol.’

‘Beni’s Game.’ A short story. Published this Friday.
#Tirana #tiranaairport #albania #migration

https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji/st...

‘Beni’s Game’: a short story about a small boat crossing to the UK. Published next week. Details to follow here.

‘He turned his hands upwards and stared at them. They were shaking, and he shivered. He remembered how cold they had been that evening – freezing – so surprising for last August. The sea spray had stung his cheeks. A great, grey wall of foaming water had risen above them...'

#Tirana #tiranaairport

My first piece of fiction since ‘The Migrant’, a short story set at Tirana International Airport entitled ‘Beni’s Game’, will be published soon. Hope you might enjoy it!🙂Details to follow here.

‘Well, Beni left for England about a year ago, but I don’t remember seeing him since he was...’ Jude considered. ‘Maybe fourteen?'

#Tirana #tiranaairport #albania #migration

And a further 'tweet' from 'The Migrant'.

'On roofs along the motorway side, there were glinting water tanks like giant silver flu-relief capsules. A miniature Orthodox church like a white wedding cake looked as if it had been bought off the shelf and lowered into a garden on a winch.'

https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji

'Alban grabbed his friend’s arm and dragged him over the edge as two shots cracked out and echoed along the ravine…’

Chapter 1 of ‘The Migrant’ can be read here.
https://instantapostle.com/2019/02/22...

My book📚 @ bedtime🕰️© ‘The Migrant’ 8/8

It was so ancient here and unlike his own church back in Shënvogël. There were gold mosaic and silver-plated icons of the saints watching him, and a smell of spices and resin seemed to seep out of the woodwork.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

My book📚@ bedtime🕰️© ‘The Migrant’ 7/8

When the blow came on his right eye, it was the hardest he’d felt since the school playground. It smashed his glasses and knocked him to the floor. ‘Get up – budalla,’ the man shouted. As Jude rose, he could see his fingers shaking through a haze of water and white stars.

Catch the bedtime tweets here just for this week. https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji

My book📚@ bedtime🕰️© ‘The Migrant’ 6/8

She sat motionless as if imprisoned by the raincoat. Then she glanced behind him. Jude felt the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He turned around slowly.

https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji/

My book📚@ bedtime © ‘The Migrant’ 5/8

He looked up the floors above the Acheron Hostel sign as it spewed out sparks. His breathing became rapid and shallow as hope blackened to ash. We are too late, thought Jude. We tried all we could to reach you – and we failed you.

Catch the bedtime tweets here just for this week. https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji

My book📚@ bedtime 🕰️© ‘The Migrant’ 4/8

He turned the options over like white-hot embers in his mind, feeling his brain would combust. He did not know which way to roll out of the heat: in both directions he would still be on fire.

Catch the bedtime tweets here just for this week. https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji

My book📚@ bedtime 🕰© ‘The Migrant’ 3/8

He turned and slid into a time-worn trough in the rock, and looked at his Nikes: split, dusty and fake. Wasn’t Nike supposed to be the Greek goddess of victory, he thought. She was no goddess at all.

My book📚@ bedtime 🕰© ‘The Migrant’ 1/8

There was a hum of conversation and clatter of plates being stacked, and the smell of grilled pork and sweet retsina in the air – and there was something else.

Likes and RTs entered for a chance to win a copy.
https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji

Time they reopened this restaurant. The views are still as good across the city of Tirana.

'The window glass was cold as Jude touched his nose to its surface. He looked north over the centre of Tirana and drank in the thrill of the panorama. From a restaurant in the Sky Tower he could see...

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1114...

Albania. A lone man walks to...? Great street photography on my twitter account. Click below.
https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji/st...

On roofs along the motorway side, there were glinting water tanks like giant silver flu-relief capsules. A miniature Orthodox church like a white wedding cake looked as if it had been bought off the shelf and lowered into a garden on a winch.
'The Migrant'.
https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji/st...

Not so keen on my antagonist but 'happy to report that The Migrant hits the 'pace' just right in my opinion' says
Crossing The Pond reviews.
https://crossingthepond.reviews/2023/...

Thank you to Lynsey for posting this short excerpt from 'The Migrant' on her blog Books by Bindu! From Chapter 16. The fight on the Acropolis.

https://www.booksbybindu.com/home/The...

Many thanks to Maressa Mortimer for this thoughtful and positive review of ‘The Silencer’ on her blog.
‘The author has done a great job with this story. This story is full of suspense, and there is a constant threat in the air...’
https://vicarioushome.com/the-silence...

An in-depth chat with Ruth O'Reilly-Smith in the UCB2 studio this afternoon covered cross-channel migration by Albanians, ‘The Migrant’ novel, and why the future once seemed like choosing a cereal brand from a supermarket shelf... Coming soon on @UCBMedia
https://twitter.com/paul_alkazraji/st...