Backwards and Forwards (With Links!)

It struck me recently that, things having become busy towards the back end of the year, I haven't mentioned a couple of recent publications here to date.

First off, I was extremely pleased to have a couple of short poems published as a result of my participation in Three Line Thursday this year- first off, twice over in Light Lines, an anthology full of superb, compact three line poems stemming from photo prompts posted throughout the year due to an unexpected win at the competition website one week and, secondly, in Flash Fiction Magazine due to a "Special Challenge" win for the week.

I was also lucky enough to secure a second win over at Angry Hourglass for the year, which I hadn't
really expected.

Even more surprisingly, I managed to secure a win over at Flash! Friday during the final week's contest - a competition I had always genuinely thought placing for would prove a feat impossible, having seen the superb standard of entries for week after week.

It was also lovely to be blind placed as winner by Dragon Team 8, with one half of the judging team (unknowing prior to having e-mailed the results in) being a fellow Poised Pen member !

Given my win was the last for the competition prior to Flashversary and, sadly, the competition's closure, Rebekah was kind enough to waive the word restriction for first time winners and allow me to expand on the interview questions posed.  If you so wish, you can read the final interview here .

I'm really proud to have my Winner's Page on the website alongside such talented writers!

Finally, I have also been working on three flash fiction stories which will be published as part of the Flashdogs ' third anthology (Volume Three), in due course.

(Image Credit goes to the very talented Tam Rogers ).

FlashDogs Volume Two "Solstice : Light" and "Dark"

I'm extremely pleased to confirm that the Twitter formed FlashDogs have recently launched their second flash fiction anthology - released as two themed books "Solstice: Light" and "Solstice: Dark", with all royalities from sales donated to The Book Bus, who help aid literacy via reading schemes in Zambia, Malawi and Ecuador.

The superb artwork (seen above) stems from the multitalented Tam Rogers.


Together, the anthologies consist of 143 stories created by 48 authors - three of whom stem from my local writing group, The Poised Pen.  I'm honoured to feature alongside the work there and to have four of my stories included.

Feel free to sample the varied stories (each up to 1000 words only) capable of being created courtesy of four separate photo prompts and explore alternate dimensions, alien threats, the land of fairy, magic and heartache in aid of a very worthy cause:-

Solstice: Light Print  Solstice: Light Ebook (UK)

Solstice: Dark Print  Solstice: Dark Ebook (UK)

Solstice: Light Print  Solstice: Light Ebook (US)

Solstice: Dark Print  Solstice: Dark Ebook (US)

NFFD "Flash Flood" (Wifely Wisdom)

Yesterday being National Flash Fiction Day's "flash flood" in celebration of all things flash fiction related, my story "Wifely Wisdom" went live over at the site.  Feel free to check both it - and the numerous other entries - out!

Publication Announcement (Wifely Wisdom)

I'm pleased to confirm that my flash fiction piece "Wifely Wisdom" will be featured as part of the forthcoming National Flash-Fiction "flash flood" on 27th June.  My story will be appearing between 9-10 pm BST.  There will be a steady stream (couldn't resist!) appearing throughout the day, so feel free to check all of the entries there out!

Publication Announcement - Sorrow's Baptised

A very quick update here at the blog to mention that my story "Sorrow's Baptised" has now gone live at Sirens Call (direct download link here, free access) if you care to take a look.  I'm really pleased to be included in the eZine again!

Magical Word Worlds - Five Hundred Words of Magic Release

Following on from the previous blog post, the Luminous Creatures anthology "Five Hundred Words of Magic", featuring my stories "Their Guardian Generals" and "Colourful Talents" ("Colorful Talents" in the epub), which arose from artist photo prompts for the final two weeks of the Winter of Whimsy and Wyrdness competition has now been released and is available to purchase via Amazon - US here and UK here.

Payhip (for epub formats as well as .mobi free is available here)

The anthology features flash fiction featuring "fantasy realms dark and light" courtesy of a number of authors (myself included), for those who are interested in reading some short speculative fiction.  Pleasingly, it also features the work of two of my writing group The Poised Pen too.  I've already downloaded my copy!

Publishing Pending..

Checking in here briefly to note a couple of pending publications in the offing as a result of recent submissions and writing online.

My story "Sorrow's Baptised" will feature in the December edition of The Sirens Call eZine later this month.

Additionally, I have two stories due for publication mid January as a result of the Luminous Creatures "Winter of Whimsy and Wyrdness" competition, which has been running over the past seven weeks.  The first is an expanded version of my story "Their Guardian Generals" (originally featured at the website here).  The other is called "Colourful Talents" and will feature in the forthcoming chapbook which is a collection of competition entries representing the work of some very talented authors.  Very pleasing news and I'm really flattered to have my work alongside theirs!

Flash Dogs Anthology - Volume One

The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted a couple of mentions for the Flash Dogs on this blog already.  Anyone following me on Twitter will have seen several more along the way!

Briefly put, the Flash Dogs are a group of flash fiction writers from all across the globe who formed organically into a community via a number of flash fiction contests and regular interaction on Twitter.  As someone who's been running with the pack for a little while now, I'm privileged to be part of such a supportive bunch and improve my writing in their company.

Having grown significantly already on Twitter since forming, the first Flash Dogs project is due for release very shortly in the form of the first anthology in e-book format on 13th December 2014.  The profits for anthology sales will go to the global charity, IBBY, The International Board on Books for Young People, a non-profit organisation representing an international network of people committed to bringing books and children together.

The anthology will be available on Amazon for Kindle at £1.53 - for which you will receive one hundred and ten diverse stories written by 34 authors, the vast majority of whom have only met online.

 
Credit for the cover displayed above goes to the very talented @tamrogers.


An incredible amount of work has also been undertaken by several of the authors involved in the anthology as part of the Flash Dogs HQ - these being Mark King and David Shakes, in addition to Emily June Street's attention to detail as part of the editing process and Tamara Rogers' fabulous artwork.

Added to which, the very generous Natalie Bowers recently donated her prize of book promotion to the anthology's cause as part of it's launch.  Very kind indeed!


Once you've downloaded the book and enjoyed the contents, please come follow us on Twitter. #FlashDogs

http://theflashdogs.com/

Doing My Little Happy Dance (Publication Announcements)

So, I received an e-mail this afternoon confirming that my story "Appearances and Disappearances" would be featuring in the forthcoming October Paper Swans Press iPamphlet (due out tomorrow).  Very pleasing news!

Also - "In Creeps The Night" (with my story "Dealbreaker" in it) is officially out now - I've downloaded my copy already!

Ahem! Ahem! (Publication Announcements)

So, I received an e-mail the other day confirming that my story "Fight The Fear" will feature in the October issue of The Opening Line Literary 'Zine.  Really good news.

Additionally, I'm aware that the publication date for "In Creeps The Night" has been set as 30th September 2014 for anyone who fancies getting into the Halloween spirit early this year!

Getting Closer.. (In Creeps The Night)

Couldn't resist sharing the cover reveal for the forthcoming anthology "In Creeps The Night", which will feature my story "Dealbreaker" here.  I'm really looking forward to reading it, given I'm lucky enough to know a couple of the other authors who will feature.  For those who appreciate horror-themed flash fiction, the anthology will be available on 30th September (in time for Halloween!) in both paperback and as an eBook.

Ahem! (Publication Announcement)

I received an e-mail the other evening confirming that my story "Dealbreaker" will feature in J.A.Mes Press's Halloween themed anthology "In Creeps The Night" for which 100% of the book sales benefit the Mothers Without Borders charity.  Further announcement related to the publication date to follow in due course for those who are interested in having a read!

Journey's End (1000 Words)

I received confirmation by e-mail today that my short story submitted to 1000words is up on their website, having been accepted by them.  Check it out here, including the photo which prompted the story.  Really nice to know it was appreciated enough to publish.

For those interested, 1000words began as a project in response to photographs published on a Pinterest board, with a number published as a result.  The website remains open to submissions, with flash fiction accepted on an ad hoc basis i.e. as and when accepted.

Hope people enjoy the story!