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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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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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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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Daedalus replied to the topic Motor Racing's Blackest Day: Le Mans, 1955 in the forum Blogs 3 years, 2 months 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, 2 months 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, 3 months ago
Thanks Richard
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Daedalus replied to the topic Story in new collection in the forum Podium 3 years, 3 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, 3 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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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 3 months ago
Dream of an electrician
The day that Colin first fell asleep in his van was as cold and unfriendly as a garden privy in the small hours of a winter’s night. Two long shifts, back-to-back, rewiring the mayoral offices in the town centre, saw him close to exhaustion. He had taken his supermarket sandwich down to the seafront and, with the windows c…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – March 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 3 months ago
Well, my vote is another month. If you’re up for it that is. If you’re OK with that, I’ll post an entry in the next few days.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Close to Home in the forum Blogs 3 years, 4 months ago
What a fabulous place. The film suggests a strong sense of community. Do you feel part of it as an “incomer”?
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Athelstone replied to the topic The book trade and older readers in the forum Coffee Shop 3 years, 4 months ago
Not sure I’m representative, even though I am also (considerably) beyond 45. I don’t read as much as I did when I was, say, in my late-teens or early twenties. Then I could easily clear 3 or 4 books a week, sometimes 1 a day. I read pretty much every day. At the moment I am reading a book by somebody I know to provide a review. I have a vast pile…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 4 months ago
Best part of 4 days to vote, but that’s it. Still nothing conclusive.
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Athelstone posted an update 3 years, 4 months ago
Just over a week to go. Votes are coming in. We have leaders, but everything could change.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 4 months ago
Great story Alex!
Thanks for the prompt @Seagreen. Gave me a chance to work out the back-story for one the main antagonists in my WIP.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 4 months ago
Ted
The things that made Ted happy got a bit broken when he was little. After a while he grew accustomed to the fact that things wouldn’t go well for him, mainly because they often ended in bruises, or even the occasional broken bone. Nevertheless, in spite of everything, he grew strong. He soon discovered that if he didn’t want to go hungry he…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 4 months ago
OOPS, sorry, bad Ath posting as Admin!!!
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – January 2023 in the forum Monthly Competition 3 years, 5 months ago
Sorry chaps, a bit late.
Seagreen, a fabulous little poem that sums up so many early Januarys for me.
Alex, you conjure the odious, or indeed, odorous boss so well. What a very nice twist.
Who to pick? If only because my month started exactly this way, well done Seagreen.
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And great to see you here. Janette. Hope you are on the mend.
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.
Lovely to read your story @janette . Good luck with your recovery <3
Thank you, Libby. I loved your story too.