Picture a Scottish storyteller who turned Glasgow’s gritty streets into a playground of dark comedy and surreal humor—meet Chris McQueer! Hailing from the East End of Glasgow, this award-winning author has taken the literary world by storm with his raw, unfiltered voice and knack for finding hilarity in the absurd. His collections, Hings and HWFG, written in vibrant Glaswegian Scots, capture the heart of working-class Scotland, earning him comparisons to Irvine Welsh and Limmy while carving out a wholly unique space in contemporary fiction.
McQueer’s rise from odd jobs to literary stardom is as captivating as his stories. With a style that’s equal parts cheeky and profound, he’s brought readers who rarely crack open a book into the fold, proving that literature can be as lively as a night out in Glasgow.
The Making of Chris McQueer
Born and raised in Glasgow’s East End, Chris McQueer grew up surrounded by the vibrant, no-nonsense culture that would later define his work. After leaving school at 16, he juggled a string of eclectic jobs—Subway “Sandwich Artist,” sports shop trainer seller, and even crime scene cleaner. These experiences, especially the quirky characters he met while selling trainers, fueled his imagination. Inspired by the likes of Irvine Welsh and Billy Connolly, McQueer started scribbling stories, initially keeping them secret until his girlfriend, Vanessa, encouraged him to share them on Twitter. That decision changed everything, as his raw, funny tales quickly gained a cult following, leading to a book deal with 404 Ink.
Chris McQueer’s Unforgettable Stories
McQueer’s debut, Hings (2017), is a collection of 25 short stories that blend surrealism with the everyday struggles of working-class Scots. From a moth with mind-control ambitions to a shed turned nightclub, the stories are laugh-out-loud funny yet poignant, earning the Best Short Story Collection at the 2018 Saboteur Awards. Its success allowed McQueer to write full-time, and he followed up with HWFG (2018), a darker, weirder set of tales written specifically for publication. Standout stories like “Big Angie Goes to Craig Tara” showcase his knack for unforgettable characters.
In 2025, McQueer released his debut novel, Hermit, a powerful exploration of incel culture through the lives of 19-year-old Jamie and his mother, Fiona. Told in their alternating voices, the novel balances dark humor with empathy, tackling toxic masculinity and isolation with nuance. McQueer’s work, often compared to “Charlie Brooker on Buckfast,” uses Glaswegian dialect to ground its surreal twists, making it both accessible and profoundly local.
His stories have also leapt off the page. In 2019, three Hings stories were adapted into short films for BBC iPlayer, with McQueer narrating. He’s also written plays, performed spoken word across Scotland, and hosted documentaries like Noteworthy with Chris McQueer, celebrating unsung Scottish heroes.
Why Chris McQueer Matters
Chris McQueer’s impact lies in his ability to make literature feel alive and inclusive. His use of Glaswegian Scots celebrates a dialect often sidelined, giving voice to a community rarely seen in mainstream fiction. By blending humor with hard-hitting themes like class, loneliness, and toxic masculinity, he’s reached readers who might never pick up a book, earning praise from fans and critics alike. His 2019 Herald Scottish Culture Award for Outstanding Literature underscores his influence, while his workshops with students, prisoners, and youth groups show his commitment to inspiring others.
McQueer’s work is a love letter to Scotland’s working class, wrapped in a package of wit and heart. As he continues to write, perform, and push boundaries, his legacy as a fresh, fearless voice in Scottish literature is only growing.
- Born: Glasgow, Scotland
- Key Works: Hings (2017), HWFG (2018), Hermit (2025)
- Awards: 2018 Saboteur Award for Best Short Story Collection, 2019 Herald Scottish Culture Award for Outstanding Literature
Snag Hings or Hermit and dive into Chris McQueer’s wild, witty world of Scottish storytelling—you won’t be disappointed!