Storyglossia like my 'Sufferin'

Today Storyglossia have put up one of my short stories in their (prestigious) online magazine... up there with exalted company. The piece they thought 'excellent' (Steve McDermott's word, not mine) is 'Sufferin's For Them as is Left With The Loss'. Take a wee look and see.

Aoife's Kiss - love my flash

'Aoife's Kiss' don't usually publish flash fiction within their covers, but they liked my piece called 'HER EYES STILL GREEN' - liked it so much that they have scooped it up. It is a piece based on reports made by two medieval monks on The Green Children of Wolfpit. According to the monks, two children, skin as green as moss, climbed out of a pit where the bodies of dead wolves were thrown. They spoke in a tongue no one recognised. They were taught 'English' and were eventually able to report that they came from a twilight place called St Martin's Land, where everything was bathed in a pale green light. It was thought that they came from the moon or some land of faerie.

'Aoife's Kiss' will publish my flash fiction story in their December issue.

Writing is a sort of Madness - so is not!

Read this today... caught my eye... as a lot of Kafka does just now:

"Writing sustains me. But wouldn't it be more accurate to say that it sustains this kind of life? Which does not, of course, mean that my life is any better when I don't write. On the contrary, at such times it is far worse, wholly unbearable, and inevitably ends in madness. This is, of course, only on the assumption that I am a writer even when I don't write – which is indeed the case; and a non-writing writer is, in fact, a monster courting insanity."

– Franz Kafka to Max Brod, July 5, 1922

It feels sort of right, for this writer, for me.

A little sparkle

August should be an interesting month... that was always going to be the case and already it has some sparkle. I have taken on an administrative role with Fiction Workhouse following the departure of the leading voice. Sad to see Vanessa depart, but hopefully to bigger and better things for her. She and I will continue to craft the Kafka's Aunt letters until we reach a conclusion.

Just discovered that I was placed second in The Interpreter's House short story competition with my story 'Paper Swans'. (That's the little sparkle)

Ahead lies the announcement of the winner of this year's Kelpies Prize. I get to be a writer at the Edinburgh Book Festival on the evening of 25th August where the Kelpies Prize will be awarded.

It's funny how writing can work. The things you expect to do well don't always, and the things you think a little incomplete and unpolished seem to shine... sometimes at least.

Doing some flash fiction inspired by colours at the moment, just to see where they go.

And revisiting some older, less recognised work... with new eyes and a big red pen... doing a teacher on myself.

All in the first week of the month.