Delighted that my short story ‘Da’ has been short listed to the final 20 out of over 500 submissions for the 2021 To Hull And Back Short Story Competition. The final result will be in October, but being in the short list means that ‘Da’ will be published in print.
Here is the info -
https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-competition/results-2021.php
Publisher Cranked Anvil has published an interview/Q&A/author profile with me on its website. Well worth a read!
Here it is-
https://crankedanvil.co.uk/2021/07/20/author-profile-john-holland/
‘A Madness’ which is number 381 of 1,000 x 81 word flash fiction pieces online is to be published in a print anthology by Victorina Press - all thanks to editor Chris Fielden. This sets a new world record for the number of authors in a short story anthology.
More info on the 81 Words project and anthology here.
Dead chuffed that my story ‘Drawing a Line under the Dog’ has been accepted for publication in Issue 4 of one of my favourite online literary magazines, Truffle. This story has been short listed in a few competitions but not previously published.
I also had a story published in Issue Two.
Truffle is here.
The latest Stroud Short Stories event ‘Sharp Stars And Old Magic & Other Stories’ is now available on YouTube with links on the SSS website. This event celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Stroud Short Stories. It is our 21st event.
The stories are by Kate Keogan, Sean W. Quigley, Nastasya Parker, Diana Humphrey, Jason Jackson, Cheryl Burman, David Goodland, Nimue Brown, Mhairi Gray and Sally Jenkinson.
The videos of the authors reading/performing their stories are here
I have been offered and accepted an opportunity to be interviewed by Cranked Anvil publishers for their website. I look forwrad to seeing it online.
My story ‘Drawing a Line Under the Dog’ has been long listed for the 2021 Exeter Writers Short Story Competition.
My co-judge Chloe Turner and I selected ten stories from the 125 stories submitted by 90 local authors. We chose the brilliant stories by Nimue Brown, Cheryl Burman, David Goodland, Mhairi Gray, Diana Humphrey, Jason Jackson, Sally Jenkinson, Kate Keogan, Nastasya Parker and Sean Quigley.
The event is entitled ‘Sharp Stars And Old magic & Other Stories’.
Don’t miss the authors reading/performing on YouTube via links on the SSS website.
Submissions have closed for the 9 May 2021 10th Birthday Stroud Short Stories event. 90 local writers submitted 125 stories - just 4 stories short of our all-time record.
The final ten who will read/perform their stories will be announced on 2 April.
Website - http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.com/
I’m delighted to say that my story ‘Drawing a line under the Dog’ has moved from the Cranked Anvil January 2021 Short Story Competition Long List of more than 60 stories to the Short List of 12. Info here.
This story has now been Short Listed by three competitions.
Delighted that me story ‘Drawing a Line Under the Dog’ has been Long Listed for the January 2021 Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition. The info is here.
Delighted that my story ‘Booboo’ has won THIRD PRIZE in the 2020 Retreat West Short Story Competition. That’s £150 plus a place in their forthcoming print anthology. It’s all here.
This is what judge Peter Jordan had to say about ‘Booboo’ and his decision to award it Third Prize -
I chose ‘Booboo’ because the story is possibly the simplest with regards to both prose and story. In many ways ‘Booboo’ is the perfect template for a short story. Start late, leave early. Keep it simple. Have the surface story allude to bigger things — in this case, the mother’s new partner and how that affects her young daughter.
This year represents the tenth anniversary of Stroud Short Stories, and one more, we are open for submissions again.
It’s an open theme this time and the event will be on Sunday 9 May 2021. The event will either be recorded on YouTube or live at the Cotswold Playhouse.
We close for submissions on 21 March.
All info about the rules and how to submit is on the SSS website.
My short piece ‘Golden Hoopoe’ has been published by the online literary journal Ellipsis Zine. I must say it has received some great responses on Twitter.
Here it is.
My story ‘ Drawing a Line under the Dog’ was Long Listed in the 2021 Fiction Factory Short Story Competition. Here.
Very chuffed that the brilliant online journal Ellipsis Zine has accepted my flash fiction piece ‘Golden Hoopoe’ for publication. It’s due for publication on 29 January 2021.
My story (I’m sorry I’m not allowed to name it as the judging process is done blind) has moved from the 49-title Retreat West 2020 Short Story Competition Long List to the 10-title Short List.
My little piece ‘M is for Mingus - a dialogue’ has been published online in the second issue of Riot Act lit mag.
It’s here.
I have a story in the Retreat West Short Story Long List. Because the selection process is confidential ie it is judged blind, I am not allowed to share the title.
Here is the list.
My funny story ‘Drawing a line Under The Dog’ was short listed (last 20 from 400+ submissions) in the 2020 Exeter Story Prize run by Creative Matters.
Info here.