I have managed to celebrate two male and two female writers this week, so it seems only fitting to conclude with a married couple, Mr and Mrs Flash Fiction themselves (the Brangelina of the short short story).
I first came across Calum in 2011 when I saw he was touting the idea of a National Flash Fiction Day. I was quick to sign up and thoroughly enjoyed myself, so have been a big fan ever since. I soon noticed that he and Kath were doing really interesting things, like setting themselves challenges to write a flash fiction story every day for a year. I didn't catch all of them but the ones I did were excellent, meaning that this collection is well worth a read.
Since then, they continue to be busy writing. Calum has been particularly prolific as he has set himself another challenging writing task of writing a flash fiction collection every month (doing pretty well too) and published a fine "how to" book about flash fiction.
They've also set up Gumbo Press which publishes a regular ezine, small e-books and has recently branched out into flash fiction collections (including my own!). They're a young company but you can already predict that they will do well.
In addition Calum teaches, and of course continues to direct NFFD which grows bigger and better by the year, and so it's great to be celebrating his and Kath's work today.
I've only shared a few of the writers I've come across (and haven't even started on my overseas friends) just to give you a flavour of the wonderful talent out there. But I hope it's whetted your appetite and whether you follow #nffd today, or #fridayflash or just branch out and explore other places where flash is being produced, I hope you find stories that will make your day.
Happy Reading Y'All!
Saturday, 21 June 2014
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
Celebrating Flash Fiction - Icy Sedgwick
Icy Sedgwick is another writer I met through Friday Flash. I always enjoy her stories, particularly because of the ease with which she jumps genres: horror, fantasy, gothic, westerns all come very easily to her pen.
Icy's stories are so varied, you never know where you are going, but you're always entertained by the resolution. In "Wake Me" a group of commuters are intrigued by the man who regularly sleeps in the corner. Whilst "Footsteps" is an unusual take on the nervousness we can all feel alone, late at night. "Allergy" is fine piece of historical fiction, where the heroine's allergy has a deadly consequence. Whilst "Psychic"ponders whether it really is an advantage to be able to read minds. And in "The Numbers"mathematicians around the world obsessively solve equations without realising their true purpose.
In addition to her flash fiction, Icy has also published two novels: "The Guns of Retribution" a Western, and "The Necromancer's Apprentice", a horror fantasy, both of which have featured on her blog.
Icy used to post at "Icy's Blunt Pencil, but she's given her site a makeover. Her new look website, "Icy Sedgwick's Cabinet of Curiosities" is a delight, and as well as fiction writing, also features many interesting essays. Please do go and visit, enjoyment guaranteed.
Icy's stories are so varied, you never know where you are going, but you're always entertained by the resolution. In "Wake Me" a group of commuters are intrigued by the man who regularly sleeps in the corner. Whilst "Footsteps" is an unusual take on the nervousness we can all feel alone, late at night. "Allergy" is fine piece of historical fiction, where the heroine's allergy has a deadly consequence. Whilst "Psychic"ponders whether it really is an advantage to be able to read minds. And in "The Numbers"mathematicians around the world obsessively solve equations without realising their true purpose.
In addition to her flash fiction, Icy has also published two novels: "The Guns of Retribution" a Western, and "The Necromancer's Apprentice", a horror fantasy, both of which have featured on her blog.
Icy used to post at "Icy's Blunt Pencil, but she's given her site a makeover. Her new look website, "Icy Sedgwick's Cabinet of Curiosities" is a delight, and as well as fiction writing, also features many interesting essays. Please do go and visit, enjoyment guaranteed.
Friday, 13 June 2014
Celebrating Flash Fiction - Peter Domican
I met Peter two years ago on National Flash Fiction Day at the flash fiction slam in the Albion Beatnik bookshop in Oxford. I have a feeling I'd already spotted some of his Friday Flash stories, because I remember being pleased to meet him, but we've been sharing stories and conversations about Spurs, politics, Nordic Noir and the wonders of the Gladstone Library ever since. Peter is another author I really enjoy. His stories are subtle, full of heart and emotion, capturing the important moments of life. Here in Snow Angels a little girl's desire to play in the snow has an emotional resonance for her grandfather. Whilst That Voice Again published in last year's NFFD flashflood is a perfect description of the awkwardness of bumping into your ex. And The Last, Last Ride ,shortlisted for the New Poetry and Prose Award 2011, is a beautiful reflection of how growing up limits life's pleasures.
What I like about Peter's writing is that he is a real master at keeping things short, and it is not surprising his work has been featured in a number of anthologies including ‘Pay Attention: A River Of Stones’, ’100 RPM – One Hundred Stories Inspired By Music’, the second ‘Friday Flash’ anthology, ‘A Blackbird Sings’ and Sixwords Online Magazine. I also love his non-fiction posts on his blog, thoughtful pieces driven by his innate empathy and humanity. I am so delighted he's coming to Oxford for the Evening of Flash Fiction on the 21st June. If you're coming along, I can guarantee you'll hear some great stories, and if you're not, please do check out his blog.
What I like about Peter's writing is that he is a real master at keeping things short, and it is not surprising his work has been featured in a number of anthologies including ‘Pay Attention: A River Of Stones’, ’100 RPM – One Hundred Stories Inspired By Music’, the second ‘Friday Flash’ anthology, ‘A Blackbird Sings’ and Sixwords Online Magazine. I also love his non-fiction posts on his blog, thoughtful pieces driven by his innate empathy and humanity. I am so delighted he's coming to Oxford for the Evening of Flash Fiction on the 21st June. If you're coming along, I can guarantee you'll hear some great stories, and if you're not, please do check out his blog.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
Celebrating Flash Fiction - Mazzz in Leeds (Maria Protopapadaki- Smith)
I love being part of the Friday Flash writing community, because it is filled with fine writers, who are also up for mutual support. One of these is Maria Protpapadaki-Smith, who I first met on twitter as @Mazzz_in_Leeds. I've enjoyed her work from the off. Mazzz's writing covers fantasy, gothic, sci fi, horror, is often dark but also very humane. For a long while, we used to joke that each story always had to feature at least one death, though these days she seems to be a bit more mellow. But her characters always die with a purpose and she has a lovely way of turning a story on its head.
In Audience, she describes a father's emotions watching his daughter's killer face the death penalty. In The Shepherd's Daughter, the parent's are so full of pride for their daughter they completely underestimate the power she wields . And here in "Witches Brew", a husband learns the hard way to be careful what he wishes for.
I don't really read horror stories, but Mazzz is so darned good that I'll read any she writes - a recent story Viral being a case in point. But she also writes with real heart as in this tale of Survivor's Guilt. She hasn't got a collection together (though I hope she will one day soon) but do go and have a look at her blog and check out her archive. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.
In Audience, she describes a father's emotions watching his daughter's killer face the death penalty. In The Shepherd's Daughter, the parent's are so full of pride for their daughter they completely underestimate the power she wields . And here in "Witches Brew", a husband learns the hard way to be careful what he wishes for.
I don't really read horror stories, but Mazzz is so darned good that I'll read any she writes - a recent story Viral being a case in point. But she also writes with real heart as in this tale of Survivor's Guilt. She hasn't got a collection together (though I hope she will one day soon) but do go and have a look at her blog and check out her archive. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Celebrating Flash Fiction - Marc Nash
I encountered Marc Nash back in 2010 when I first joined the Friday Flash community. I quickly spotted a writer with a fine sense of wordplay (as shown in this story Pelvic Floored , brilliant title and the joy of that last line). I soon discovered that he loves to experiment, moving from light to dark with ease and telling urgent stories that matter, and always looked forward to his weekly posts. Not surprisingly we quickly got talking on twitter, where we found we have many common interests and ever since, we've enjoyed sharing and reading each other's work.
Marc is a very different sort of writer from me, and his work can, at times, be quite challenging. But I love the originality of his writing and the humanity of his characters, even when he is at his bleakest. I also enjoy the way he crosses boundaries, as evidenced by this his partnership with Pixel Pixie Design to tell his story Just Aphasia Going Through through kinetic typography. It was great on his blog but fascinating like this.
Marc blogs at Sulci Collective, where he will also share his thoughts on music, politics and writing in general. He has an interesting take on the world, so is always worth a read. He is also extremely prolific and has self published two flash fiction collections 52ff and 16ff. And I'm pleased to say that his next collection "28 Far Cries" will be published by Gumbo Press in time for National Flash Fiction Day so we get to be with the same press too.
Marc is a fine novelist and his self published books A, B& E, Not in My Name and Time after Time are all available to download on Kindle.
I'd hoped to lure him to Oxford for NFFD but alas! Bristol got him first. Next year maybe.
Marc is a very different sort of writer from me, and his work can, at times, be quite challenging. But I love the originality of his writing and the humanity of his characters, even when he is at his bleakest. I also enjoy the way he crosses boundaries, as evidenced by this his partnership with Pixel Pixie Design to tell his story Just Aphasia Going Through through kinetic typography. It was great on his blog but fascinating like this.
Marc blogs at Sulci Collective, where he will also share his thoughts on music, politics and writing in general. He has an interesting take on the world, so is always worth a read. He is also extremely prolific and has self published two flash fiction collections 52ff and 16ff. And I'm pleased to say that his next collection "28 Far Cries" will be published by Gumbo Press in time for National Flash Fiction Day so we get to be with the same press too.
Marc is a fine novelist and his self published books A, B& E, Not in My Name and Time after Time are all available to download on Kindle.
I'd hoped to lure him to Oxford for NFFD but alas! Bristol got him first. Next year maybe.
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
Plug of the Month - Rapture and what comes after by ...Me
Ahem...
If you paid attention to this blog post from earlier in the year, you may have noticed I was putting a flash fiction collection together. I had intended to make it my first foray into self publishing (thanks to great advice from Marc Nash and fine editing from my twin Julia Williams) but then I saw a call for submissions from Gumbo Press. To my delight, Gumbo have taken it on. "Rapture and what comes after" will be available on Kindle and Print on Demand just in time for National Flash Fiction Day.
The collection consists of fifteen pairs of stories, many of which were first posted here as part of "Friday Flash". Each story is a reflection of the experience of love, with the part one stories telling the more positive side of love, and the part two stories giving a slightly darker view. Each pair of stories is linked in some way, either through character, theme or motif.
I'm so pleased that this collection is being published. I'm even more pleased that I didn't have to do it myself as I'm just not very good at this sort of thing. Thanks so much to Calum Kerr from Gumbo for his hard work and encouragement. He managed to juggle putting this together with planning for NFFD, teaching creative writing and writing his own collections. He even did the beautiful front cover - how does he do it?
And talking of NFFD, I've decided to use this blog to celebrate the wonders of flash fiction, so over the next few days I'll be promoting the work of some of the fine flash fiction writers out there.
Happy Reading Everyone.
.
If you paid attention to this blog post from earlier in the year, you may have noticed I was putting a flash fiction collection together. I had intended to make it my first foray into self publishing (thanks to great advice from Marc Nash and fine editing from my twin Julia Williams) but then I saw a call for submissions from Gumbo Press. To my delight, Gumbo have taken it on. "Rapture and what comes after" will be available on Kindle and Print on Demand just in time for National Flash Fiction Day.
The collection consists of fifteen pairs of stories, many of which were first posted here as part of "Friday Flash". Each story is a reflection of the experience of love, with the part one stories telling the more positive side of love, and the part two stories giving a slightly darker view. Each pair of stories is linked in some way, either through character, theme or motif.
I'm so pleased that this collection is being published. I'm even more pleased that I didn't have to do it myself as I'm just not very good at this sort of thing. Thanks so much to Calum Kerr from Gumbo for his hard work and encouragement. He managed to juggle putting this together with planning for NFFD, teaching creative writing and writing his own collections. He even did the beautiful front cover - how does he do it?
And talking of NFFD, I've decided to use this blog to celebrate the wonders of flash fiction, so over the next few days I'll be promoting the work of some of the fine flash fiction writers out there.
Happy Reading Everyone.
.
Saturday, 17 May 2014
It's only money #fridayflash
It's only money.
She won't miss it. She has so much, she probably won't even notice it's gone. I consider this as I finger the notes in the purse she left open on the glass coffee table. They are crisp, laundered, recently extracted from the cash machine on the high street. There's two hundred pounds in here, several hundred more in the tin in the sideboard. Kept in the house, in case of emergencies. Though, this might not be quite the emergency she had in mind.
It's only money.
She doesn't really keep track of it, anymore. She doesn't need to. It's a long time since the days when rooting through her purse meant looking for coins to pacify the electric meter. The good old days before she met Him - the man who gave her all of this - the house, the clothes, the endless crock of gold. The man who made her happy, so she said, too caught up in emotion to consider my thoughts on the matter. My happiness didn't come into it.
It's only money.
She's said it more than once since his untimely death. She used to love spending it, but now she just draws it out and sticks in the tin. Where it sits, depreciating in value, whilst she mourns her lost love in the shrine she has made for him. Gazing at photos on Facebook, rewatching their wedding DVD, clutching his old pyjamas, as if that could bring him back. Forgetting she has a daughter who still needs her, with problems of her own.
It's only money.
Yet if I asked her, she would deny me. She would say, with her sad, scolding smile, that it is for My Own Good. That she knows what I'll spend it on, and she's not going to let me Throw My Life Away Anymore. I suppose I can't blame her. I've ruined too many nights, spoiled too many parties, fouled up once too often, to convince her that this time is different. This time, I am in real need. This time, her money could literally save my life.
It's only money.
She doesn't want it. She doesn't need it. She won't notice it's gone. I could leave these crisp notes in her purse, to rot alongside her in her mausoleum of self pity, or I could, rip them out, crumple them in my pocket and put them to good use. I think of her upstairs, wallowing in her widow's weeds, and decide that my need is greater. I'm sure she'll be angry for a while, once she realises, but she'll come round in the end. She always does.
It's only money, after all.
She won't miss it. She has so much, she probably won't even notice it's gone. I consider this as I finger the notes in the purse she left open on the glass coffee table. They are crisp, laundered, recently extracted from the cash machine on the high street. There's two hundred pounds in here, several hundred more in the tin in the sideboard. Kept in the house, in case of emergencies. Though, this might not be quite the emergency she had in mind.
It's only money.
She doesn't really keep track of it, anymore. She doesn't need to. It's a long time since the days when rooting through her purse meant looking for coins to pacify the electric meter. The good old days before she met Him - the man who gave her all of this - the house, the clothes, the endless crock of gold. The man who made her happy, so she said, too caught up in emotion to consider my thoughts on the matter. My happiness didn't come into it.
It's only money.
She's said it more than once since his untimely death. She used to love spending it, but now she just draws it out and sticks in the tin. Where it sits, depreciating in value, whilst she mourns her lost love in the shrine she has made for him. Gazing at photos on Facebook, rewatching their wedding DVD, clutching his old pyjamas, as if that could bring him back. Forgetting she has a daughter who still needs her, with problems of her own.
It's only money.
Yet if I asked her, she would deny me. She would say, with her sad, scolding smile, that it is for My Own Good. That she knows what I'll spend it on, and she's not going to let me Throw My Life Away Anymore. I suppose I can't blame her. I've ruined too many nights, spoiled too many parties, fouled up once too often, to convince her that this time is different. This time, I am in real need. This time, her money could literally save my life.
It's only money.
She doesn't want it. She doesn't need it. She won't notice it's gone. I could leave these crisp notes in her purse, to rot alongside her in her mausoleum of self pity, or I could, rip them out, crumple them in my pocket and put them to good use. I think of her upstairs, wallowing in her widow's weeds, and decide that my need is greater. I'm sure she'll be angry for a while, once she realises, but she'll come round in the end. She always does.
It's only money, after all.
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