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John T posted an update 3 years ago
Sorry for my prolonged absence from here. What with writing a new novel and proofreading two other, as well as all the drama and complications of choosing to self-publish, all my writing energy has been directed in less sociable pursuits. But, I have news. My first book should be published within a month or so, when the wonderful Leigh Forbes has…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
‘O dolce mano’ another opera
Coming out of the theatre, in the carpark, beeping the car unlocked, you say ‘If we’re dropping Judy off, she’d be best in the front –‘
Because it’s SO difficult to get out of the back seat? Nevertheless, I say nothing. It was Judy – a work colleague –that offered him the tickets. I bought the third on seeing the…[Read more] -
Daedalus started the topic HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 3 years ago
The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition is now open for entries. Up to 3,500 words, set 35 or more years ago, exploring every aspect of historical fiction.
Deadline 1 July
Full details and how to enter: https://historicalwriters.org/awards/ddshwass-award-2023/
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Thanks, Daeds. I’m trying to get a story ready in time. Are you going to enter?
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I was thinking of entering one I’d already written, thought I’d missed the deadline but I haven’t, so I might go for it. How’s yours coming along?
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@daedalus
Mine is becoming a more interesting story than I’d thought it was but it needs more time so I’m not going to enter. Good luck with yours if you do enter.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Wow! They were all classy little pieces of writing. Seagreen, I really enjoyed that. Well done.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Well done Sea, for an intriguing tale, and thank you Kate for a topic that had me seeking a tale I KNEW I’d written on this theme, then, not finding it, having to concoct something else. Thanks also for all the other entries; I still haven’t solved the anagram.
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Kate replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Thank you all for a fabulous batch of stories.
Seagreen – you had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was in that letter.
Sandra – such a lovely heart warming tale.
Athelstone – I love that kind hearted Brenda got the reassurance she needed.
Alex – oh! Such a tale of mystery and deceit. Thus feels like the basis for a longer story.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
The Unmarked Letter
It’s a circular, sitting there on the mat. Or is it? It doesn’t look like the sort of envelope they use. And they usually say To the Householder or something like that. When Arthur was alive, he’d say, ‘That’s me. The householder,’ as though I didn’t count. This one has nothing on it.
Right, that’s Edith at the door. I’d b…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
There’ll be kites [497 words]
It isn’t often that seeing an envelope on one’s doormat transports one back some forty years through time.
Took me long enough – the wrestling of the key in the lock ever more painful thanks to the curse of arthritis; the nudging open of the door with my shoulder just enough to know I’d be able to push it wide en…[Read more] -
Kate replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Any takers for the monthly competition? A week to go.
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Daedalus replied to the topic Motor Racing's Blackest Day: Le Mans, 1955 in the forum Blogs 3 years, 1 month ago
Fantastic blog Richard, as ever. A difficult one for me to read, as I’ve always found reading about this incident, its sheer violence and the scale of the death toll, deeply troubling. That the sport I love, and a race I love, and a driver I have always been a fan of (Hawthorn) could have been (in whatever way) responsible for such slaughter is d…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Motor Racing's Blackest Day: Le Mans, 1955 in the forum Blogs 3 years, 1 month ago
Quite awful accident, Richard. I sought out some of the video and still-images after reading your blog, and I have to say that Hawthorn does look, physically, like the villain of the piece. Whether he was the actual villain or not, his face relaxes into a rather smug expression that does him no favours. I was reminded of the comedian Rob Beckett,…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 2 months ago
That Pixie gets everywhere. Well done Kate!
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Kate started the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 2 months ago
You arrive home to find an unmarked envelope on your door mat. Who is it from? What does it contain?
Let me know in less than 500 words.
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Kate replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 2 months ago
Thanks, Alex. It was fun to give Pixie and Gabe an outing! I’ll have a think about a theme for the coming month.
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Kate replied to the topic Story in new collection in the forum Podium 3 years, 2 months ago
Congratulations Daedalus!
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 2 months ago
Well deserved win Kate, not only for the entrancing fairy story but for the impetus reading it gave me. And thank you Alex for the competition theme – the sort of challenge which stretches and inspires.
@ Athelstone – would it be possible to put that red reminder banner up more regularly? I confess I’d forgotten about the monthly comp and was…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic Story in new collection in the forum Podium 3 years, 2 months ago
Thanks Richard
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Daedalus replied to the topic Story in new collection in the forum Podium 3 years, 2 months ago
Kindle out now, paperback in a couple of weeks
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Daedalus started the topic Story in new collection in the forum Podium 3 years, 2 months ago
Hi all, just to let you know I have a story in the new collection ‘Action this Day’ – a set of WW2 short stories
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Wow, congratulations, @daedalus! Looking forward to reading this 🙂
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 2 months ago
Tickled pink
Let me say straight away, it wasn’t what you – or any of my workmates – would think. Soon as I got over my … anger, I suppose, and looked at her, saw her, I heard my wife say, clear as if she was beside me, and we’d passed her in the street, “Asking for it!” She didn’t always bother to lower her voice, and inevitably I’d look to see…[Read more]
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Drama and complications, John? Nothing you won’t overcome, I’m sure. Great news about the books, and loving the website.
Cheers, Athelstone. Since I wrote that, ‘a month or so’ now looks optimistic, at least for the ebook version. Amazon are giving Leigh less freedom to format the book, and what looks perfect on Apple Books or Kobo looks a mess on Kindle. We need two different ebook versions to work around the limited options they now give. The paperback version is…[Read more]