February 2021 – Flash Long List

We're already starting work on putting together our first Flash Fiction print anthology - which we plan to publish in November this year - so we were delighted to read the hundreds of eligible entries that we received for our February competiton. Don't forget: it's not just the winning stories that appear in our print … Continue reading February 2021 – Flash Long List

January 2021 – shortlist and winners

The shortlist and three winners of our Jan21 Short Story competition has been decided and announced. Every single qualifying entry was read and studied [yes, we are still receiving some entries which go into the disqualified pile because they don’t follow all the rules of entry] and we’re delighted to publish the following placed entries: … Continue reading January 2021 – shortlist and winners

NIGHT TERRORS by John Biglands (1st place, Jan21)

I push my head around the edge of the door. It’s eleven o’clock but he isn’t asleep. He’s lying on his bed, ramrod straight, staring up at the ceiling. His eyes are wide, shining circles in the half-light of his bedside lamp. He turns his head towards me and his body jolts, as though a … Continue reading NIGHT TERRORS by John Biglands (1st place, Jan21)

THE RESPITE by Barbara Kuessner Hughes (2nd place, Jan21)

We had no choice but to ram in the front door of Flat 27.  Our procedure is that one person enters first in case of an ambush. I’m thankful it was my turn.  I saw a giant bubble, its silvery surface throwing colours around like a celestial disco ball.  At first, I thought it must … Continue reading THE RESPITE by Barbara Kuessner Hughes (2nd place, Jan21)

HIGH HOPES ON THE HIGHWAY by Caroline Drew (3rd place Jan21)

Moments before he slammed the door behind him, Charles could hear the sound of his wife’s loud laughter rolling in his head. She’d describe it as having her giggle-mug on, but she had a tendency towards vulgarity and many times he’d admonished her about this. She’d once infuriated him by retorting ‘I’ll use my sauce-box … Continue reading HIGH HOPES ON THE HIGHWAY by Caroline Drew (3rd place Jan21)

Happy World Book Day 2021

It's the first Thursday of March, and that can mean only one thing - WORLD BOOK DAY. As all the pictures streamed by on facebook, instagram, and twitter, of kids dressed in costumes as their favourite characters from literature - costumes that parents had probably spent a lot of time, money, and effort putting together … Continue reading Happy World Book Day 2021