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!

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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!