Outstared by a Bullfrog

by Alex Burrett

Generally, when God appears, the response is predictable: witnesses drop to their knees, bow their heads and avert their eyes. Well if you’re lying on your back when The Almighty shows up, you can’t drop to your knees. And that's just the start of it.

115 pages, ebook

First published December 26, 2012

About the author

My first collection of short fiction, ‘My Goat Ate Its Own Legs’, was published in the UK in 2008 by Beautiful Books. In 2009 it was published in the US and Canada by Harper Perennial. In 2015 it was published in translation in France by Aux Forges de Vulcain.

I write to reflect on what it means, for me, to be human. It is my hope that others will find my reflections entertaining and engaging… thought provoking, even. This is what I get from my favourite books and comics such as The Outsider / L'Étranger, Candide, The Wasp Factory, Animal Farm, anything by Kafka, Anna Karenina, Lucifer etc.

Poetry is very dear to me: reading it and writing it. In September 2021, I challenged myself to write a sonnet every day for a year: lovessonnets.com.

My writing explores the human condition:

The Titans, a novel that examines the relationship between truth and megalomania.

Axel is Free (sequel to The Titans), an existential supernatural novel with a psychopathic protagonist who possibly wants to change.

Outstared by a Bullfrog, a novel that challenges the fallacy of an omnipotent god.

A damaged boy, a second collection of short fiction covering multiple themes.

Fedw, a collection of poetry about being human that covers several poetic genres.

Gothic Reflections, a Gothic novella that reflects on the human treatment of animals.

The Year My Tears Failed, five short stories and five poems about human struggles.

Rewarding Behaviour, a non-fiction proposal for a more rewarding monetary system.

Reviews

[Bethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex's stories stay with you long after you finish the last page. His writing reminds me of Ted Hughes in its mixture of magic and innocence. Bullfrog is rude and naughty its a bit like getting to over hear lads chatting in a pub when they don't know girls are listening. The story has a touch of Adhd about it and you sometimes wish for more focus on one thing but are never disappoined by the turns it take. There is magic in Alex's mind and I love to get a glimpse.

[Melissa Powell Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

Great book, fun and unexpected story, sometimes a little dark. I will be looking for more books from this author.