Merry Christmas! Enjoy my festive story 'A Christmas Revelation". See you next year!

CafeLit: Greek Tragedy

If you are looking for a story to enjoy whilst you sip your coffee, head over to CafeLit. You can find my story "Greek Tragedy" here.

Ice Competition: Wishing for Warmth

Wishing for Warmth

He picked again at layers of ice forming on a thin, blue, nylon sleeping bag, still pungent from its previous owner. His recent acquisition offered his only protection from the beautifully, cruel whiteness of this Christmas Eve. Snowflakes clustered around him. He made his Christmas Wish: a new home.

Flash Flood Friday 12th October, 2012

Flash Flood

A new story every fifteen minutes! Enjoy the ever changing variety.

My story, "Life Changing Tips" was published at 10.30am this morning, you can read it here.

Thanks to all the editors whose constant updating of the page, and tumultous tweeting has kept us all enthralled all day.

Flash Flood Second Issue Friday 12th October, 2012

Issue 2 is coming...

Just got my email to tell me that my story "Life Changing Tips" will be published at about 10.40am as part of the Flash Flood!!

 

There's still time to enter, but only a few hours......Details below.

 

"Welcome to FlashFlood an international flash-fiction journal created by you and edited by a team of volunteer editors on behalf of National Flash-Fiction Day. We're pleased to launch a second issue for your enjoyment, to appear next Friday - 12th October.

The aim is simple, wherever you are in the world, we want your best flash-fictions. The word limit is 500 words, but that's the only rule. Any subject, any genre, any style, any perspective, anything as long as it's flash.

Submissions close at the 23.59, 10th October (BST), so don't delay.

The stories will be posted regularly throughout the day on Friday 12th October, providing you with a constant diet of brand new flash-fictions to fill your day.

Please paste your story into the body of your email and send it to flashfloodjournal@gmail.com. (A maximum of 3 pieces per author, please.)

We can't wait to read your work!"

Behind the Curtain Flash Fiction Contest: The Director

Source: tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest

The Director

 

The wooden door had curiously beckoned me as confused, I sought sanctuary. It was ajar, and yielded to my fragility. Welcome relief washed over me as I had entered this once loved home.

No musky red velvet here, no soft fabric to caress away the nerves, no-one here but me.  Stiff, crumbling wood, no more than splinters clinging together, is keeping out the shadows. Hardness is everywhere, in the crumbling stone beneath my feet, in my heart. The stone shards heighten my pain, almost piercing my soul as they stab at the soles of my ballet shoes. Somehow I feel protected, though unfamiliar creatures agitate my sleep and tiptoe through my mind. The iron grille on the window reminds me of where he should be. But instead it’s me that is confined, punished, isolated, damaged.

He always had the pick of the girls with their flowing legs and attractive arms, their poised facades and harmonized expressions. I yearned for my dissimilar dullness to repel him, but feared my turn would come. His fierce breath had ensnared me and his meandering words had tricked me. The performance over, the public shut out, applause still faintly rumbling beyond the curtain, he had made his move. We were offstage in the wings, usually a comforting haven from my theatrical anxiety. The reassuring smell of the performance still lingered as my most anticipated, yet dreaded encounter began.

They had all told me to close my eyes and dream of my place in the front row; that his sinister intentions would subside and pass to another. But I couldn’t do it, I just couldn’t. I could feel the scream coming, first creeping slowly and then rushing out of me, repelling his hands, his wickedness. I ran away propelled by my own noise: away from the swashing velvet and cracked floorboards; away from the heat and repetitive applause; away from all I knew.

The cart I found, and its elderly driver had travelled only 20 miles from the scene of my rebellion. I hoped it was far enough. My silk pumps had carried me a little further down the dirk track until my dilapidated discovery. This was my home today. I did not know how I was going to eat or find clothes that would not give away my secrets. I did know that I felt safer now that I was not behind the curtain.

Once Upon A Time A Collection of Unexpected Fairytales

As part of National Flash Fiction Day on 16th May, 2012, Susi Holliday and Anna Meade ran a wonderful competition, a 350 word flash fiction with the theme of Unexpected Fairytales. I happened upon the competition on Anna's blog Yearning for Wonderland and thought I'd give it a go. Then Susi announced she was so impressed with the entries that she was going to publish an anthology of them. There was much excited discussion amongst the entrants who then waited patiently whilst Susi battled with the nitty gritty of the publication process. Her woes and ultimate triumph are shared by her here Worth the Wait?

Anyway it certainly was worth the wait as last week the antholgy finally appeared on Amazon.co.uk

All proceeds are going to the National Literacy Trust in the UK. Here is an extract from Susi's blog about literacy and the work of the Trust.

One in six people in the UK struggle with their literacy (that means that their skills are below that expected of the average 11 year old)

One in three children in the UK don’t own a book of their own

42% of UK firms are dissatisfied with school leavers use of English.

12% of employers provided remedial literacy training for graduates.

22% of men and 30% of women with literacy below entry level 2 live in nonworking households.

Men who improve their literacy rates see their likelihood of being on state benefits reduced from 19% to 6%.

Men and women with the poorest literacy or numeracy skills were the least likely to have voted in the 1987 and 1997 general elections.

Individuals with low literacy levels are more likely to live in overcrowded housing with reduced access to technology.

A literate family is less likely to experience divorce, as divorce rates amongst those with high literacy are low, and significantly lower than those with poor literacy.

The trust do a hell of a lot to help with these issues, for both children and adults – you can read more about the projects here. But like all great charities, they rely on donations to help them achieve their goals.

Did you know that:

• £7 could give a child a free book and motivate them to read through an inspiriational event.
• £10 could support a reading session for three families, helping them gain the skills they need to support their children’s literacy.
• £20 could allow two disadvantaged teenagers to improve their communication skills in preparation for working life.

So if you would like to read this intriguing antholgy then click below and purchase a copy for the unbelievable price of just £3.10. Find me right at the end of the book on p.95. Remember you are never too old for Fairytales, especially of the Unexpected!

Costa Book Awards - Short Stories

Costa Book Awards - Short Stories

WORDS A DAY: The Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize 2012

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Yearning for Wonderland: Once Upon a Time Writing Contest: Sarah Barry

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