50 Stories hits Writers' News

Something that brightened my morning - my story about the anthology, 50 Stories for Pakistan is in the January issue of Writers' News (page 28).

The people of Pakistan still need our support. Please buy a copy, you'll not only be helping them, but you get a rollicking good read too (including a story by moi).



Buy the print version from Blurb.

Or the ebook version from Smashwords.
.

Writelinkers is here!

Have had such fun editing this year's Christmas magazine with fellow eds, David Robinson and Trevor Belshaw. Writelinkers is the free-to-read e-zine with content written by members of Writelink, a great community of writers.

Jam-packed with festive delights, the 2010 issue includes flash fiction, nostalgic articles, humorous poetry, interviews and jokes.

Read it for free HERE
.

The Flash 500 contests - run by Lorraine Mace, my Writer's ABC Checklist co-author - began in January of this year, and it's become a truly international competition with entries arriving from every continent.

With the entry cut-off for this quarter falling at the end of December, you should find lots of inspiration over the festive season. This quarter’s judge, Iain Pattison, is looking forward to reading your stories of love, revenge, intrigue, disaster, comedy, hope, despair and every other emotion the human mind can contemplate!

Read full story here.
.

Judy Blume

A prolific author of books for both adults and children, Judy Blume has an interesting website with plenty of tips for writers of all ages.

Advice in her Writing Life section covers things like finding your own writing style, rewriting and (the dreaded one) rejection.

Judy's children's books range from picture books to those for Young Adults. Take a look in the book area to learn how Judy got the idea for each of them.
.

Shambelurkling and Other Stories

Comprising of work written by freelance writers, including a poem and story written by yours truly, Shambelurkling and Other Stories is a great read for everyone (but especially for 8-12 years olds!) and aims to raise funds for the National Autistic Society. Each book sold, whether download or paperback, earns £1.06 in royalties for the National Autism Society.



Only £3.99 for the paperback or £1.99 for download.
.

National Short Story Week

November 22 - 28 2010 is National Short Story Week. The aim is to promote short stories and short story writers, publishers and literary events.

The website has oodles of useful links for writers and anyone interested in reading and listening to short stories.
.

Fringe Mag reviews ABC

Another good review for The Writer's ABC Checklist, this time from The Fringe, an online and pdf magazine, publishing flash fiction, short stories, artwork, movie, music, game and book reviews.

Among the reviewer's comments: 'The authors give many handy examples of the topics outlined, such as Cover Letters, Manuscript presentation and Title Pages. The extensive range of topics are also invaluable to the new writer, with such information as, Agents, eBooks, Editors and Layout.'

Read the full review here.
.

The Soldier

V. The Soldier

Rupert Brooke 1887-1915

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

November - December 1914
.

Special delivery

There are few better moments than when you actually hold a book that you've contributed to. My copies of 50 Stories for Pakistan arrived this morning and they look fab.

Naturally, I checked my own story, A Little Sparkly Something, just to make sure it hadn't been axed pre-publication. It hadn't. :)

Please buy a copy, or three, of this book. Proceeds go to the Red Cross Pakistan Flood Appeal.
.