Stuck in Covid

I've got eleven days to write, edit, polish and submit a short story to a very prestigious short story competition, the Manchester Fiction Prize. Well, I've got something written, but I'm not sure it can actually be called a short story - it's currently a jumble of words with the Covid pandemic as its central …

A few places to find me this week

Every so often, several things converge - by happy accident rather than design - and this week is one of them! Grace and Serenity has received this incredible 5* review from the Book Reviewing Mum. I'm absolutely overwhelmed by it! Anne Goodwin has also reviewed it on her Annecdotal websiteI've been interviewed by author Camilla …

To write a novel, don’t write a short story instead!

  This month, I have mostly been side-tracked by the Commonwealth Writers Short Story Prize, which is a huge international competition that I've entered for the past couple of years. Normally, I've had a story that I can refresh for this, and send off without too much fuss. But this year I had nothing. At …

The nature of short stories

Some bloggers excel at sharing with guests who bring their extensive knowledge with them, while others dive into the deep and meaningful, with carefully researched quotes to back up their argument. When I decided to start a blog, I had no contacts, no author friends at all - I was a complete writing loner - …

Just a quick update, while I wait…

It's been almost four weeks since I finished my novel and sent it to my beta readers. I've had one come back, and one giving intriguing updates. As hard as it is, I haven't looked at those first comments, and I haven't opened the ms at all in that time. I'm quite proud of myself …

M.B. Feeney: an interview

Welcome to another interview with one of the authors featured in the Where Words Fail Music Speaks anthology. You can find the anthology on Amazon, on Kindle and in paperback. I hope you're enjoying the series so far. I'm meeting lots of new writers, which is really cool. Today, please welcome M.B. Feeney to my blog! …

Clare Dugmore: an interview

Welcome to another interview with one of the authors featured in the Where Words Fail Music Speaks anthology. Have you bought your copy yet? How many of the authors have you read before? You can find the anthology on Amazon, on Kindle and in paperback.   Today, I'd like to welcome Clare Dugmore to my blog... …

The anthology launches!

I'm excited to be taking part in the release blitz for the Where Words Fail, Music Speaks Anthology, which is out now! Where Words Fail, Music Speaks is a collection of short stories and poetry by writers from all walks of life. Each story is based on the titles of 90s Britpop songs, including Come …

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks – Cover Reveal

Yes, I know, I'm late to this particular party - a cover reveal for an anthology I'm going to be included in! I had Tuesday's post for Theresa Milstein scheduled weeks in advance, the only post currently scheduled for the rest of the year! It's a bit like that story/urban myth/utter truth that the first …

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

Two lovely author friends - Kyra Lennon and Clare Dugmore - are editing an anthology, Where Words Fail, Music Speaks, in aid of research into cluster headaches, a debilitating condition suffered by more people than you'd think. Kyra knows at least a couple of people who suffer which inspired her to create the anthology. And one …