Flash Fiction: Upon Discovering That Cows Can Swim by Santino Prinzi

Poetry & Lit

Upon Discovering that Cows Can Swim

You’re on a boat on Lake Nicaragua. A tour. Your reflection in the water is murky, like a shadowy chartreuse twin staring up from beneath the surface. You want to touch her, your twin, but you don’t. You’re always refraining. That’s when you hear their breathing, and you’re not the only one. Others on the boat have spotted the cows grazing on floating foliage. You look up to see another cow swimming down the creek. She looks majestic, graceful, her horns sharp and glistening. You want to fashion a wreath from wildflowers and crown her. The captain conducting the tour says cows are his favourite animal and he rubs his stomach. You spy the stomach hanging from beneath his t-shirt, that reddish-pink of flesh peeping from polyester. There’s nothing friendly about this. The others laugh at his jokes while you contemplate veganism. The swimming…

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This Alone Could Save Us is OUT NOW!

My new flash fiction collection This Alone Could Save Us has officially been published this week by Ad Hoc Fiction! The collection explores the theme of how well we handle change, as well as how our expectations of others don’t always match with the reality.

You can purchase This Alone Could Save Us from the Ad Hoc Fiction Bookshop by following clicking HERE. You can also purchase the book on Amazon, on Kindle, and on Kobo.

The manuscript itself was finalised at the end of January 2020, and the world has changed in unimaginable ways since then…

Nonetheless, it was great to be able to celebrate the launch of This Alone Could Save Us via an online Zoom launch, the sort of which we’re very much used to now!

I wasn’t sure what was more nerve-racking: reading to a room full of people or reading alone in a room to a screen of little faces staring at me with their mics on mute. On the plus side, these online events mean that so many people can attend events that they may not be able to do so otherwise. As well as the UK, people from the US, Belgium, and Ireland (and maybe other places?) were able to come along! When we are eventually allowed to do events out in the wild again, I hope events will become a kind of digital-physical hybrid.

It was great fun being able to read new stories from this collection, including some of my favourite published and unpublished stories, including Curving the Pointy Edges which was published in SmokeLong Quarterly at the end of last year.

It was also special because I was lucky enough to have some guest readers to help me launch the book: Kathy Fish, Meg Pokrass, Vanessa Gebbie, and Diane Simmons. These are all writers I greatly admire, and they were so kind enough to not only provide advance praise for the book but to also find the time to come to this launch. Their stories were absolutely stunning!

On publication day itself, my publisher surprised me with a socially-distanced visit along with a book-cover cake! I wasn’t expecting this at all, but I have always wanted to see my book on a cake! Unfortunately, the cake was so delicious that it didn’t last very long!

To round off, I would share a A HUGE THANK YOU to the following people: Kathy Fish, Meg Pokrass, Vanessa Gebbie, Diane Simmons, Angela Readman, and Robert Scotellaro for providing kind words for the back of the book; Stuart Buck for the incredible cover artwork; everyone who attended the launch, has purchased the book, and who has shared and helped me celebrate these stories; and to Jude Higgins and John at Ad Hoc Fiction, without whom this book wouldn’t exist!

 

You can purchase This Alone Could Save Us from the Ad Hoc Fiction Bookshop by following clicking HERE. You can also purchase the book on Amazon, on Kindle, and on Kobo.

‘This Alone Could Save Us’ Available to Preorder Now with Free Worldwide Shipping!

My new flash fiction collection This Alone Could Save Us is now available to preorder directly from the publisher, Ad Hoc Fiction, with FREE worldwide shipping!

I’m in love with the cover artwork by Stuart Buck, and I would highly recommend you check out his art and poetry. Thank you so much!

I’d also like to thank Kathy Fish, Robert Scotellaro, Meg Pokrass, Diane Simmons, Vanessa Gebbie, and Angela Readman for providing such wonderful words about the collection, which you can read below.

To pre-order the book, just click the book cover below! You can also add the book to your Goodreads shelf it that’s your thing by clicking here!

With This Alone Could Save Us, Santino Prinzi has fashioned a collection of small, smart fictions that read large. Here is work undergirded by innovation, incisive wit, and a keen ability to navigate terrain that is personal, and at once universal to us all.’

–– Robert Scotellaro, author of Nothing Is Ever One Thing

‘Santino Prinzi is a word-wizard of the heart—a writer who fearlessly excavates uncomfortable secrets. In This Alone Could Save Us, Prinzi’s first full collection of flash fiction, human nature is the subject, gentle surrealism the medium. Bizarre yet real, funny and crazily sad—it’s mesmerizing to watch Prinzi’s vulnerable characters work to free themselves from life’s stickiest webs. Subversive, haunting, beautiful—a must-have collection!’

–– Meg Pokrass, author of Alligators At Night and Series Co-Editor, Best Microfiction 2020

‘This Alone Could Save Us is a richly varied collection of flash fiction. In these compact gems, Santino Prinzi makes exquisite use of magic and the surreal, but also the quiet, evocative gestures of ordinary life. You will find the deliciously unexpected within these pages, along with moments of breath-taking stillness. Highly recommended.’

–– Kathy Fish, Wild Life: Collected Works from 2003-2018

‘Tender, poetic, and wonderfully surreal, Prinzi understands that stories can save us. Powerful flash fiction that lights up the page, this is the book we all need right now. It is one for the ages. This stunning collection will stay with you for years.’

–– Angela Readman, author of Something Like Breathing and Don’t Try This At Home

‘In This Alone Could Save Us, Santino Prinzi demonstrates his enormous talent for drawing readers into his stories, often surprising them with surrealistic touches that appear totally believable and natural. The flash fictions in this impressive collection are widely varied, but each story is unmistakably Prinzi.’

–– Diane Simmons, author of Finding a Way

‘Exceptionally engaging, closely observed and thought-provoking, this collection shows us a flash master at work as he explores the fault lines that crack open under our feet at moments of unplanned change. Seen through his eyes, the familiar becomes strange, solid becomes unsteady, and even the moon loses its faith in humanity, so moves on. Sometimes sad, sometimes playful, always memorable.’

–– Vanessa Gebbie, author of The Cowards Tale and five short fiction collections.

 

New Flash Fiction Collection Forthcoming and More News!

Hello!

I’ve had lots of exciting news lately which I am thrilled to be able to finally share with everyone!

Firstly, I have a new, full-length collection of flash fiction forthcoming from Ad Hoc Fiction. This Alone Could Save Us will be in published in 2020. I’ve been working on this book for a little while now and there will be a mix of published and brand new material. I can’t wait to be able to share it with you all! They’ll be more news about the collection soon.

Secondly, my flash fiction Towels was shortlisted in the Bath Flash Fiction Award!

Finally, and speaking of the Bath Flash Fiction Award, I’m honoured to have been invited to judge the February 2020 round of the Bath Flash Fiction Award! This is such a wonderful competition with a brilliant community around it, so it is a real privilege to be involved in this way.

To find out a little bit more about This Alone Could Save Us and what type of stories I’m looking for in the Bath Flash Fiction Award, please check out this interview! 

Thanks for reading!

Hey! It’s been a while…

I last posted news on this website around 16/17 months ago. That’s a long time, but that time as sped past quickly.

A lot has happened since then, including a new job, a new home, and – of course – new writing. I suppose this is why I’ve been so quiet here, but I’ll be trying my best to get back to keeping this place updated with fresh news!

I’m not going to bore you every detail, but here are few highlights…

 

• Flash Fiction Festival – there have been not one, but TWO flash fiction festivals since I last updated (WHATTTT) and they were absolutely brilliant! We had flash fiction writers from all over the world delivering workshops and reading stories. I find the three day weekend, usually in June, hugely inspirational. If you’re a flash fiction fan, I cannot recommend it enough, so check out their website for more information. I was honoured to have been asked to run a workshop at each festival, and I love teaching flash fiction so much.

 

• National Flash Fiction Day – I have officially taken over the reigns from National Flash Fiction Day’s founder Calum Kerr, but there’s no way I could do it alone. With my fellow mighty Co-Directors Diane Simmons and Ingrid Jendrzejewski, we published a brilliant anthology of flashes on the theme of doors co-edited by Joanna Campbell, as well as hosted a full day of workshops and readings in Coventry, a new city for us! Unfortunately, I was unwell and couldn’t attend the event, but I heard it was a roaring success. More news on National Flash Fiction Day 2020 soon, but keep an eye on the website for the latest news, including submissions to next year’s anthology and micro fiction competition and events on the big day itself.

 

• Best Small Fictions 2019 – even though I have signed a contract and the book is being published in two months, I still can’t quite believe that one of my stories has been selected to appear in the Best Small Fictions 2019 anthology. The story that was chosen is called Upon Discovering that Cows Can Swim and it was originally published in The Jellyfish Review. Though the anthology will be published in November, if you can’t wait until then, you can read the story here.
  

 

• Curving the Pointy Edges – I found out yesterday that my flash fiction Curving the Pointy Edges will be published by an absolute dream journal of mine: SmokeLong Quarterly. I can’t believe I just typed that! I love this journal so much and it’s such an honour to finally be a part of it in this way. I’d really like to thank SmokeLong’s editor, Christopher Allen, and the rest of his team, whose feedback really helped this story blossom. I can’t wait to share this one with you all!

 

• Writing – I’ve had other pieces published in various places since I last posted an update, including in FlashBack Fiction, Spelk, MoonPark Review, 100 Word Story, Ellipsis Zine, Flash Boulevard, and Ghost Parachute. I’d like to thank all of these editors and all the other editors who have accepted my work for their support. If you’d like to read any of them, as well as find out about more forthcoming work, check out the publications page. I’ve spent a lot of time reading and writing new material, some of which I hope to be able to share soon. I’m also entertaining working on something longer, but shhhhh!

 

• Something Secret I’m Very Excited About But Cannot Tell You About Yet…

 

• ANOTHER Secret Thing I’m Very Excited About But Cannot Tell You About Yet…

 

Thanks for reading! That’s all for now…more soon!

A Whole Lotta Flash!

Jellyfish Review

At the end of May, my flash fiction Upon Discovering that Cows Can Swim was published by Jellyfish Review, who are one of my dream literary journals. The work they publish is always so spot on, so it’s an absolute honour to be a part of their family. Thank you to everyone who has already read this flash and sent me such kind words in response.

You can read Upon Discovering that Cows Can Swim here.

There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This

Friday 1st June officially marked the publication of my new flash fiction pamphlet from V-Press! I’m thrilled that the pamphlet is now out there for everyone to read. So much hard work has gone into it, and I want to thank V-Press for all of their advice, support, and work to make this pamphlet the best it can be.

The short fiction in There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This by Santino Prinzi is very human and very heart-provoking.

“Hilarious, playful, profound and fierce, these stories ring with wonder at the messy world of sex and love. Prinzi’s fiction is addictive because of their unflinching sensuality and sharp attention to emotional detail.” Meg Pokrass

“In There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This, Santino Prinzi looks for the big truths in everyday moments. From coming out to falling out, each of these stories is a nuanced study of human nature – full of insight and wit.” Christopher Allen

You can order a copy of There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This here.

Ripening: National Flash-Fiction Day Anthology 2018

This year’s National Flash Fiction Day Anthology is very close to being sent to print! I love the cover design, but I love the flash fiction that Alison Powell and I have selected more! We really can’t wait to share this anthology with all of you.

We’ll be launching the anthology this year on the evening of National Flash Fiction Day, Saturday 16th June, at Bedminster Library in Bristol with a reading! I’ll be reading my flash, along with Alison Powell, Calum Kerr, Diane Simmons, F J Morris, Gemma Govier, Grace Palmer, Ingrid Jendrzejewski, Jude Higgins, Judy Darley, K M Elkes, Kevlin Henney, and Sal Page.

My flash in the anthology is very dear to me. It’s called Nonni, which is Italian for grandparents, and is in loving memory of my nonno who sadly passed away in April this year.

You can find out more about the launch event and other National Flash Fiction Day activities, including FREE workshops, by visiting their website HERE.

More news about the publication date and where you can buy the anthology from coming soon.

News: Where Have You Been Hiding, Tino?

It feels like forever and a day since I wrote an update with any news. I’ve been very busy, I can promise you, and as always life sometimes gets in the way. Here’s a round up of all of the exciting bits and pieces I’ve been involved in:

There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This

It’s finally here! Copies of my new flash fiction pamphlet, published by V-Press, have arrived and they look beautiful! I’m so excited to share these stories with everyone.

The short fiction in There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This by Santino Prinzi is very human and very heart-provoking.

“Hilarious, playful, profound and fierce, these stories ring with wonder at the messy world of sex and love. Prinzi’s fiction is addictive because of their unflinching sensuality and sharp attention to emotional detail.” Meg Pokrass

“In There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This, Santino Prinzi looks for the big truths in everyday moments. From coming out to falling out, each of these stories is a nuanced study of human nature – full of insight and wit.” Christopher Allen

There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This will be published on Friday 1st June 2018, and is available to pre-order from V-Press now.

National Flash Fiction Day 2018 Anthology

Since the end of March I have been reading and selecting submissions for the forthcoming National Flash Fiction Day anthology with my wonderful co-editor, Alison Powell. This year’s theme was FOOD, and we have some delicious stories to share with you when the anthology is published in June. You can find more information via the National Flash Fiction Day blog page by clicking this link here. We will be launching the anthology in Bristol on National Flash Fiction Day, Saturday 16th June 2018. More information to be confirmed at a later date.

Flash Fiction Festival 2018

The flash fiction festival ball is well and truly rolling, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the party again this year. There will be lots of fantastic readings and writing workshops for writers to take part in, as well as tasty food… I’ll be running a workshop on Experimental Flash Fiction, as well as appearing on a V-Press panel about flash fiction pamphlets. You can find out more about the whole festival and book via their website.

Recent and Forthcoming Publications

I’ve recently had a handful of flash fiction published since the old year came to an end and the new year began. Firstly, And While There are Billions of Friendships There’s Only One Like Yours was published in Flash – I love you!, a flash fiction anthology from Paper Swans, in December 2017. The book is available to purchase here.

In January, I had a prose poem / flash / thingamajig published by the wonderful Ink Sweat and Tears called When Stranded on an Iceberg. It was shortlisted for their January Pick of the Month! You can read it here.

Also in January I had a very tiny story published in Short on Sugar, High on Honey, an anthology of love stories that are between seven and thirteen words long. It’s a beautiful pocket book edited by Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka and published by Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press. It’s available to purchase here.

And a fun little revenge flash called Il Vino di Merda was published by Litro as a part of their #FlashFriday series in March. You can read it here.

I haven’t got many forthcoming publications because I’ve been very busy preparing my new pamphlet for publication instead of writing, but I’m absolutely ecstatic to share that I have a flash fiction being published by Jellyfish Review on May 28th! It has a rather unusual title: Upon Discovering that Cows Can Swim. It was actually inspired in part at my own amazement of discovering that cows can swim. I don’t know why it never occurred to me before, it just didn’t.

That’s all for now! Thanks for reading! 

Exciting Updates and News!

While walking in the early morning snow to work yesterday morning, I realised that I haven’t posted here for a while. Here’s a news round-up of all the wonderful writerly things that have been happening recently.

New Flash Fiction Pamphlet to be Published in 2018

I’m beyond thrilled that I’ll have a new flash fiction pamphlet published by V-Press next year! We’re currently in the editing stages so that we can make the pamphlet the very best it can be, and I’m so excited to see it grow and take shape. The stories really mean a lot to me. The pamphlet will be called There’s Something Macrocosmic About All of This.

Pushcart Nomination

For the first time ever, I’ve been nominated for the Pushcart Prize! My zombie-larvae tree romance flash fiction, a flash that I thought would never find a home, was nominated by The Airgonaut. You can read “These Are the Rules of Our Canopy Shyness and Life” here.

Anthologies

I’ve recently been published in FOUR new anthologies. Yes, four!

My flash ‘His Cat is Wrapped in a Bloody Towel Behind the Shed, Dead’ is featured in Flash Fiction Festival One, an anthology of flash produced during workshops at this year’s Flash Fiction Festival, the first of its kind in the UK. I was honoured to be a part of the team and to be able to bring National Flash Fiction Day to the festival with Calum Kerr. Thank you, Jude Higgins, Meg Pokrass,  and the rest of the festival team for organising such a stellar event. Roll on next year!

Two of my flashes were longlisted in the Bath Flash Fiction Award this year and have now been published in The Lobsters Run Free: Bath Flash Fiction Volume Two. You can find my flashes ‘Veganuary’ and ‘You Lost Something in Your Earthquake that You’ll Never Get Back’ in the anthology. The latter was written during a Kathy Fish Fast Flash Workshop, which I highly recommend.

Possibly one of my favourite stories that I’ve ever written, ‘Plastic’ was recently published in Stories for Homes Volume Two. I’m immensely proud of this one, but I’m honoured to be included because this charity anthology is helping raise money for Shelter, a charity that helps homeless people. You can purchase it in paperback and on Kindle here, and I would LOVE you to support this very worthy cause.

Finally, three of my flashes were published in Wired: Flash Fiction from the Worcestershire Literary Festival 2017. You can read these three flashes there: ‘Interviews with Prospective Postmen’, ‘Actually, Love Actually‘, and ‘What the Coffee Promised’.

Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine

The April 2017 issue of Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine (Issue 10.1) has finally been published after an unforeseen delay. It features not only one of my flashes called ‘Getting the Gang Back Together’, but there is also a favourable review for Dots and other flashes of perception by the wonderful Jane Roberts. It has always been a dream of mine to have a flash published in this fantastic, highly-esteemed journal, but to have a flash and a review is beyond incredible. I shall also have another story in their upcoming issue 10.2 called ‘Where We Aren’t’, as well as a review I have written for a stunning flash collection.

Masters Degree

Last, but certainly not least, I can finally confirm that I have passed by Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Bristol.

 

Hopefully there’ll be more good news before the year is done, which I hope so because writing for me has been pretty slow recently. This is partly due to wanting to concentrate on certain projects, wanting to take time to read lots, and an idea that’s forming in my mind that isn’t ready for me to put down on the page but is occupying my mind so much. It’s all exciting, though. Thank you for reading, and thank you to anyone and everyone who has ever supported my writing. You’re all stars!

Fresh Flashes!

Hello everyone!

A few flashes of mine have been published recently! Many people have read and shared their love for these stories over the last few weeks, and I appreciate it so much, so thank you! In case you’ve missed them, here are the details below!

“Colour Tasting” was published by Ellipsis Zine and is about a stray collie dog called Moxie. Ellipsis Zine are a very new magazine, but they’re absolutely killing it with the fiction they’ve published so far! Read my story here.

“These Are the Rules of Our Canopy Shyness and Life” was published by The Airgonaut and is about talking trees and forbidden love. I thought this one would never find a home because it is so unusual, but people have loved it! You can read it here.

“Marrakech” was published in Issue 7 of (b)OINK and is about a couple visiting the medina in the bustling city. This is possibly one of my favourite flashes I’ve written so far. Very happy it is out there in the world! You can read the story here.

“Moderation” was published by Spelk Fiction. You’ll never look at little old ladies feeding ducks at a pond in the same way again! It was inspired the pond and ducks you see in this image, which I often walk past. You can read this story here.

Thank you to all the editors and teams behind the scenes who read and loved these stories enough to give them a home with their magazine! I hope you all enjoy reading them if you haven’t already!

 

Some More Updates!

Hello, everyone!

I’ve been so terrible for posting news as and when it comes, as I used to do, but I have been busy focussing on finishing my MA. The dissertation has been completed, bound, and is staring at me from my desk, tempting me to tweak just…one…more…thing…!!! I have high hopes for it, but what will be will be.

Firstly, some exciting news that I’m sure many of you may already know. I’m the new Senior Editor of New Flash Fiction Review. I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of this flash magazine who have published stunning flash fiction writers (including the likes of Lydia Davis!) and to be working with Meg Pokrass and Pamela Painter. Here we are pictured below at the end of the Flash Fiction Festival. Submissions are currently open until September 12th. Check New Flash Fiction Review out and send us something incredible.

(L-R): Me, Pamela Painter, and Meg Pokrass. We’re having a well deserved sit down after the busy Flash Festival.

I’m also now an Associate Editor for Vestal Review, who I have been a First Reader with for almost a year. Our current reading period is from now until the end of November, so send us something we can’t refuse.

Last time I posted an update, the new National Flash Fiction Day Anthology, which I was co-editing with Meg Pokrass, was about to be published. Well, it’s now available in to purchase in paperback and on Kindle. It’s called Sleep is a Beautiful Colour and features incredible authors, including: Calum Kerr, Robert Shapard, Pamela Painter, Bobbie Ann Mason, Claudia Smith, Robert Scotellaro, Stuart Dybek, Etgar Keret, Meg Pokrass, Angela Readman, Danielle McLaughlin, Robert Lopez, and so many more! Based on the theme of Life As Your Know It, every flash in this anthology offers something striking, unusual, unique, and powerful. You will not be disappointed!

I’ve also had a few more publications and acceptances:

I have four flashes forthcoming in flash fiction magazines that I’m really excited about and haven’t blogged about! Each of these magazines, some old and some new, have been absolutely killing it with the flash they publish. Thank you to all of the editorial staff of these magazines who keep publishing such awesome work. I’m so happy to be a part of them:

‘Colour Tasting’ will be published in Ellipsis Zine very soon (Friday 25th August).

‘Marrakech’ will be published by the off-the-wall (b)OINK zine in September and is possibly one of my favourite flashes I’ve ever written (mainly because of the fun I had writing it).

‘These Are the Rules of Canopy Shyness and Life’ is one of those stories I thought would never find a home because it’s really a bit mental and odd, but thankfully The Airgonaut loved it and will be publishing it in their September issue.

‘Moderation’ will be published in September by Spelk. 

And as if that’s not enough…

‘They Dropped the Bomb’ was published by Paragraph Planet on Sunday 25th June, while at the Flash Fiction Festival in Bath. It’s inspired in some ways by my family, and in others by where the world is likely to end up… You can read it below:

My micro ‘The Broom of Sisyphus’ won National Flash Fiction Day New Zealand’s Micro Madness. You can read it here.

My prose poem ‘In the Light, I See…’ was published by Unbroken Journal, who I love. read it here.

A new anthology called Short on Sugar, High on Honey, which features stories about love that are between 7 and 13 words in length, is going to be published and will feature one of my stories. The anthology has been edited by Mark Budman and Tom Hazuka, and will be published by Flash: The International Short-Short Story Press.

And three more stories of mine will also be published in the 2017 Worcester LitFest Flash Fiction Anthology. The anthology is usually published in November in paperback and kindle, and will include ‘Actually, Love Actually’, ‘What the Coffee Promised’, and ‘Interviews with Prospective Postmen’.

If you’re in Bath on Friday 29th September, you can catch me reading some stories at St. James Wine Vaults in Bath for Jude Higgins’ launch of her pamphlet The Chemist’s House. It’s a great collection. The event is free so do come along! More details here.

I think that’s it… I’m hoping to return to more regular posting of news rather than piling everything into one post every couple of months. As I have now finished the MA, I’m currently planning on relaxing (hence the lovely butterfly picture I took on a recent walk), applying for jobs, thinking about PhD proposals, and getting some writing done! I have a few newer pieces out in the world for consideration, and I’ll be taking part in a Kathy Fish workshop in September, which I’m so looking forward to!

Thanks for reading!