Here it is: the shortlist and three winners of our April 2021 Short Story competition. There was a fantastic range of stories this quarter, covering so many different themes, styles and genres. The judging was, as usual, very difficult, and the shortlist was probably closer than it has ever been. However, we’re delighted to announce … Continue reading April 2021 – shortlist and winners
Author: Cranked Anvil
SHINDIG by Letty Butler (1st place, Apr21)
Ursula is in her usual fireside spot languishing in her own flesh, whilst reading an old Argos catalogue aloud to Boggo. He can’t hear her because he’s in the galley doing something revolting. She squints at the silver clock and wishes she could tell the time - she wants to know how long it will … Continue reading SHINDIG by Letty Butler (1st place, Apr21)
THROUGH THE RUSTING GATE by Rosie Morris (2nd place, Apr21)
Jake’s mammy always wove the most wondrous tales, carrying him on the magic carpet of her imagination to kaleidoscopic worlds far beyond the everyday. Through her, he became an intrepid explorer, roaming enchanted lands, befriending fantastical creatures, performing the bravest of deeds. She made him an intergalactic adventurer: he discovered planets, soared through space and … Continue reading THROUGH THE RUSTING GATE by Rosie Morris (2nd place, Apr21)
THE COUNTER by Chris Cottom (3rd place, Apr21)
You love clacking the abacus beads across their frame, counting off the nights until Father Christmas comes. You like the red ones best, the top row. The enemy are the blue ones, next row down. You play French and English, dead soldiers to the right, last-man-standing always a red-blooded Englishman. You envy Griffin when he … Continue reading THE COUNTER by Chris Cottom (3rd place, Apr21)
Author Profile – GWENDA MAJOR
Gwenda's story Spitting Image was placed third in one of our earliest competitions. You can read it on our website here, as well as in our first print anthology. Gwenda was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and educated at Durham and Manchester Universities. She now lives in the Lake District in the UK. Her passions are … Continue reading Author Profile – GWENDA MAJOR
On The Shelf – CAROLE GARRETT
Carole’s short story New Baby made our shortlist in April 2020 and was included in our first short story print anthology. She describes herself as “a 49 year old want-to-be writer. Married to a long-suffering husband for far longer than she thought she would be.” This is her choice of her five 'must-have' books. "All … Continue reading On The Shelf – CAROLE GARRETT
Work starts on our Flash Fiction print anthology
It's a busy time at Cranked Anvil HQ at the moment. Both our Short Story and Flash Fiction competitions are in full swing; entries are flying into our inbox, and judges are reading piles and piles of manuscripts... It's just how we like it! And now we've started work in earnest on our next print … Continue reading Work starts on our Flash Fiction print anthology
Author Profile – JOHN BIGLANDS
John is a writer of speculative fiction. His scribblings are usually born in the early hours of the morning when the mystical mind-hamsters tickle his brain until he gets up and tells them stories. He doesn’t really mind. He likes how quiet it is in the mornings, and the hamsters are really quite sweet. He … Continue reading Author Profile – JOHN BIGLANDS
