Short story competition – enter 4 stories for the fee of only 3

It's fair to say that most people are finding that they've got more time on their hands in the current climate, with Covid-19 confining people to their homes for much longer than they would normally spend there. We know that professional writers - those who earn their living by writing, in whatever genre or capacity … Continue reading Short story competition – enter 4 stories for the fee of only 3

January 2020 – Shortlist and winners

Our competition grows bigger every quarter, and the judges have had their toughest time yet chosing from the longlist of entries. After much deliberation, though, the shortlist and three placed stories have now been selected. Congratulations to: 1st: Nicki Parkins - Turnstone 2nd: Joe Bedford - The House Always Wins 3rd: Sherry Morris - Never … Continue reading January 2020 – Shortlist and winners

TURNSTONE by Nicki Parkins (1st place Jan20)

I brought the stone home from the beach. I often do that. There are so many beautiful stones and I end up bringing home too many. Then I have to perform triage and take most of them back to the beach, where I drop them among other beautiful stones and fight the urge to take … Continue reading TURNSTONE by Nicki Parkins (1st place Jan20)

THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS by Joe Bedford (2nd place Jan20)

The banknotes were transported in several large cases to the Bank of England. From them, a dozen batches were picked for inspection. Staff in rubber gloves examined the print, the watermark and the motion thread. From one inspector, the Chief Cashier took a note and held it idly up to the light. A genuine, newly-printed … Continue reading THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS by Joe Bedford (2nd place Jan20)

NEVER GOING GREEN by Sherry Morris (3rd place Jan20)

In Lesterville, we know the phrase Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce, we just choose to ignore it. Not because we’re against saving the planet, or don’t understand the plastic problem. We do. But when we hear or see that slogan, we think of Merin McCallister. And shiver. She doesn’t live here anymore, and the house … Continue reading NEVER GOING GREEN by Sherry Morris (3rd place Jan20)

January 2020 – Long List

It's been the longest period of time that we've taken to announce our long list this quarter - due to the increasing number of quality entries we've received from all around the world. The judges have enjoyed reading all qualifying entries, and we're delighted to publish our long list below. However - We're still receiving … Continue reading January 2020 – Long List

SURFACE TENSION by Andy Banks (1st place Oct19)

The sky was dying a red death when we eventually reached the swamp. We’d been walking for so long that the village was nothing more than a huddled mass of black teeth jutting from the rolling hills behind us. I couldn’t even make out my house anymore. “Could’ve just gone to the rec,” I grumbled. … Continue reading SURFACE TENSION by Andy Banks (1st place Oct19)

WHEN DEATH CALLS by Claire Wilson (2nd place Oct19)

‘I remembered the nail clippers, mum.’ If she had the strength to look down and see the state her fingernails had gotten into, she would have been mortified. If she heard me, she didn’t flinch. Not so much as a quiver of her eyelids. I tended to her nails as she slept. It gave me … Continue reading WHEN DEATH CALLS by Claire Wilson (2nd place Oct19)