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Athelstone posted an update 2 years, 11 months ago
One More Year!
Probably daft, bearing in mind we have maybe 10 to 15 members who are even close to regular, and perhaps half a dozen who are. I need to raise about £150 this month to keep the site going. It will keep going; it’s just a case of finding as much as I can. SO… please see the donations group for details. Simple as that. -
Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 11 months ago
The Mausoleum
… The star broke down as wife Stephanie’s casket was taken into the mausoleum. The stone masterpiece, testament to their love, could have been fashioned by Wren …’
Justin Mallory’s architect had also been proud of the secret panel to facilitate re-entry: stone-clad, freed by hidden lock and latch. Justin pocketed the key. He swiped…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – July 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years, 11 months ago
Hi Janette – as discussed, it’s gone. Feel free to post again when ready.
Ath.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
I knew from the minute I started reading these that judging would be a tricky business…
Thanks all for entering! I love that you each took a perfectly mundane experience – like sitting in traffic – and gave me a fabulous peek into the headspace of your characters.
Ath, straight in there with your character reference of the man in the siler GT. T…[Read more]
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Thank you, Sea, for such a good challenge. Congratulations @Libby – a worthy win.
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
What is this? I turn my back for TWO days and I’m inundated!! ????
Please bear with me. Worked a fifteen hour shift today (with the same tomorrow). I promise to come back with a winner by Monday at the absolute latest x
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Car
Look at that bloke. Arm out of the window, cigarette in hand. Marks and Sparks polo shirt that his wife bought him. Revving the engine every five seconds; counting down the time until death. And he got the silver car, the GT model. He chose that. He calls it “my car”. But if anybody asks, “We chose it. Me and my lady.”
How old do you reckon?…[Read more]
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years ago
Hand Signals
Molly matched the testy huff coming from the seat to her left, though neither were on account of the tailback as school runs jostled with motorway traffic on the approach to the roundabout. ‘For God’s sake, Jake. You’ll appreciate one day why I put school first, holidays with your father second.’
She ignored his mouthed words;…[Read more]
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Janette posted an update 3 years ago
Apologies for the absence. I have been writing and reading disturbingly little while I’ve wrestled with other things, mainly concerning health and other shit that saps far too much energy, not to mention confidence. Anyway, I had a gentle nudge (thanks, @sandradavies) to perhaps ease myself in with an entry into the Den comp. It’s been ages, so…[Read more]
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And great to see you here. Janette. Hope you are on the mend.
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It’s a long, varied road, but I feel I’m going the right way along it, thanks Ath. I’m learning that I need to keep in touch with the outside world.
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Lovely to read your story @janette . Good luck with your recovery <3
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Thank you, Libby. I loved your story too.
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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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Drama and complications, John? Nothing you won’t overcome, I’m sure. Great news about the books, and loving the website.
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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]
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Daedalus started the topic HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in the forum Competitions, Open calls and Writing Opportunities 3 years, 1 month 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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Seagreen started the topic Monthly comp – June 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
You’re sitting in traffic. Tell me about the car and the person (people) in the car next to you.
400 words
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
Pleasantly surprised by this, especially given the company ☺️
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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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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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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly comp – May 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 1 month ago
UNTITLED (321 words)
On Thursday, I wrote a letter. Not to send, you understand, since it wasn’t really to someone, and not to keep either, because once I had written it, and re-read it in that way that people do when they are shocked by their candour, I felt embarrassed by it. Embarrassed by the uncontrolled rage and disappointment that I had…[Read more]
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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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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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Thanks for keeping this place going Ath. I’ve made a transfer to your account.