Shane MacGowan tells his story

Rocker Shane MacGowan has triggered a publisher's war after beginning work on his first volume of short stories. The poetic former Pogues frontman has been approached by publishing house in the past to write books of poetry but has now found his niche in short stories. His manager Joey Cashman says, "Shane is writing like a man possessed - songs, poems, an autobiography and these short stories. He has about 20 in his head, but he won't be signing up for a deal with anyone until he has written more. From what I've seen they're all like Charles Bukowski mini-stories - an extension of his song lyrics if you like."