Eliza Gearty is a writer, scriptwriter, theatre reviewer and singer based in Glasgow. We are delighted to bring you her debut novella.
The book follows the story of Emma; who works as a door to door charity worker for a year. On this journey, we meet the people she works with and those behind the doors she knocks on. It's a tale of self-discovery, personal hardship and finding her place, in a polarised society.
Disturb Enough People’s Peace and You Will Learn a Lot About Life
During that year, I talked to all sorts of people.
Smiling immigrants with their kids translating.
Joiners and decorators who take a break to talk to you.
Shopkeepers who keep you at the door to argue about the Government.
Quizzical professors who want to catch you out, but in a friendly way, and who go back inside to say to their partner, ‘Nice young person, there.’
Ex-drug addicts who have no money but want to donate anyway.
Paranoid rich people with cameras outside their house and high tech doorbells that alert them even when they’re not at home.
People with mental health problems, sitting at home being neglected.
Lonely people.
Lovely people.
Rude people.
Old folk who roll their eyes at you.
Old folk who tell you heartbreaking stories.
Old folk who invite you in just to talk for the first time in three days.
Kids who follow you from house to house, giggling.
Kids who throw shit at you cos you won’t give them a fag.
Kids caring for other kids.
People who are too busy.
People who say they’re too busy.
People who look at you like they want to spray something at you, like if they said ‘go away’ you wouldn’t understand their language.
Women holding babies (they always donate).
Men holding babies (they always say it’s a bad time).
People who think your job is embarrassing (it’s not).
People who think you’re a saint for doing your job (you’re not).
Teenagers who look after their kid-siblings.
University students in huge fancy flats who are afraid of ending up like you.
Millionaires who used to sleep in their cars.
Slumming trust fund kids building bedrooms out of boxes.
Generous benefit-scroungers.
Stingy bankers.
People who can’t say the word, ‘Money.’
““On the Doors is packed with characters who feel like they’ve been observed under a microscope by the writer. It’s funny, beautifully written and makes every nook and cranny of Glasgow come alive, absolutely crawling with life and patter.””