Maximilian Sam, the alter ego of Voices columnist Chris Evans, has stories appearing in a new anthology, Not Marriage Material, coming out on Valentine’s Day (14 February).

The anthology, collected by Sue Bavey, brings together stories and poetry from 20 authors to celebrate the ones who got away and the ones we were lucky enough to get away from.

These relationships may not have ended in marriage, but they have provided us with entertaining, and, sometimes, scary stories.

As the book description says: “There are plenty more fish in the sea. You’ll find the right one when you least expect it.”

How often have we all heard those lines? Sometimes we fall in love with people who are not right for us. Or are exactly right, but the timing or circumstances when we meet them are all wrong. For many of us, it’s just a bump in the road as we eventually find our perfect partner. Others are just not marriage material and never settle down.

Chris said: “It’s very special having any story published in a global anthology. To have more than one feels almost crazy. I’m still not sure whether I should be overjoyed or concerned others have clearly decided I’m not marriage material.”

You can pre-order the electronic version of Not Marriage Material collected by S. Bavey from Amazon with the paperback launching 14 February.