There are four people in the Bennet family photograph, but there are five stories to tell. SHIRLEY’S STORY: This picture was taken on the day the beautiful lady came. I saw her come round the side of the house. She was waving and saying, ‘Cooee’. No-one else noticed her at first - they were all … Continue reading THE PHOTOGRAPH by Jill Forrest (2nd place, Jan24)
Author: Cranked Anvil
January 2024 – Long List
We're very busy here at Cranked Anvil at the moment! Both our short story and flash fiction competitions are now fully open again, after a break last year. Entries for both competitions are flowing in, and reading and judging is ongoing! Not only that, we're also in the middle of an ANTHOLOGY SALE! It was … Continue reading January 2024 – Long List
HALF PRICE special offer on our print anthology!
It was #WorldBookDay this month, and we've decided to celebrate by offering our short story anthology for a HALF PRICE SPECIAL OFFER! The original cover price was £12 per copy, plus £4.50 p&p. We still have some copies left in Cranked Anvil HQ, and for the month of March we're having a World Book Day … Continue reading HALF PRICE special offer on our print anthology!
November 2023 – Flash shortlist and winners
After a year's break, our writing competitions are back! And we had some fantastic entries for our first flash competition, making it - as ever - very difficult to decide. But our judges have finally managed to do so, and we're delighted to announce the winners and shortlist today. So – congratulations to the following … Continue reading November 2023 – Flash shortlist and winners
THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)
I was on my way home from school and it spooked me when he ducked behind a hedge as I turned to cross the road. Then, when I stopped to read the text from Mum - Can you get milk, please? - he walked past and turned into Parsley Close, so I relaxed and shook … Continue reading THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)
THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)
The Hat Woman (as she became known) chose the counter in the far corner of the bank where the squinting CCTV could only produce a distorted picture of the tall, or possibly average height, figure in an orange coat that might have been yellow or maybe a greenish brown with gold buttons. As she pulled … Continue reading THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)
November 2023 – Flash Long List
After a year-long wait, our Flash Fiction competition has finally returned! And we've had a bumper crop of entries this quarter, which have delighted, amused and thoroughly entertained our judges. So you'll be pleased to know we'll be continuing our competitions for the forseeable future!... BUT - if you're entering, PLEASE read the rules of … Continue reading November 2023 – Flash Long List
FUEL anthology donates another £750 to charity
Just over a year ago we reported on our collaboration with Manchester-based writer and editor of the Shortstops UK website and twitter, Tania Hershman, on her anthology of short stories entitled FUEL, in aid of fuel poverty organisations. It was published in February, and by May this year Tania had made the first donation from … Continue reading FUEL anthology donates another £750 to charity
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