Runner-up in the Raven Short Story Competition

My story, Zoroman's Cave, was runner up in the 2019 Raven Short Story Competition. The judges said of it:

‘Zoroman’s Cave’ is a throwback with the hyper intelligent yet sinister narrator reminiscent of Lovecraft’s high-pulp style narrators. The volume of verbiage and contortion of the narrator’s thoughts can come across as quite dense, high falutin’ even, yet it flowed. It made for a smooth read. For that I thought it should be recognized as a standout and a great nod to the classic weird story genre.

I've been on a decent run recently. Some joy with the novels would be good now...

Flash 500 Flash fiction competition

I'm pleased to have won third prize in the latest Flash 500 flash fiction competition with my story, Momma.

This is a story that is circling round in my head at the moment. It's adapted from my first novel, Cloudland, but written first person in my protagonist's voice, rather than the third person of the novel. It makes it more intimate. I have a longer version of the story as well, and I'm working on a longer story at the moment which expands on the same scene, too. It's becoming a bit of an obsession.

Bedford International Writing Competition

I had a wonderful evening on Friday when I attended the prize giving for the Bedford Interational Writing Competition, for which I had two stories shortlisted.

The competition was judged by Sue Moorcroft, I'm delighted that I won it with my story Joss'n'Jules Forever, which is adapted from my first novel Cloudland.

Many thanks to all the judges, readers, committee and fellow entrants. This is a brilliantly run competition and the awards ceremony was a terrific event.

(Pictures borrowed from the BIWC Facebook page)

Bradford Literary Festivel Northern Noir Crime Writing Competition

I'm delighted to have been chosen as one of ten winners of a week-long crime writing residential course in the Bradford Literary Festival Northern Noir Crime Writing Competition. This is for my second novel, Cuddies Strip, a crime novel set in 1930s Perth, Scotland.

The residential course in at the Ted Hughes Writers' Centre, Lumb Bank, Yorkshire, so that will be fascinating anyway. And leading the course are AA Dhand and literary agent Simon Trewin, so it's bound to be an experience to treasure.

London Independent Story Prize

My flash fiction, The Gamekeeper's Telling, was Highly Commended in the London International Story Prize and there is an interview with me on their website.

Bedford International Writing Prize

I have two stories short listed in the Bedford International Writing Prize this year - Joss'n'Jules Forever and The Weight of Snow. The prize giving is in January and I may attend, so if you're there, say hello.

Joss'n'Jules Forever is adapted from my first novel, Cloudland, and The Weight of Snow is a story I wrote back in about 2005, but completely changed. What is now the story was originally only half of the 2005 version. I focused in on the one event and I think it's much stronger as a result. Hopefully, the judges will agree...

HISSAC Short Story Competition

Please to have won third place in the HISSAC Flash competition 2018 for my story Peewit, and to have been highly commended in the Short Story Competition for my story Sequela.

I won the flash competition last year as well, and I placed in the short story competition a number of years back under a pseudonym, so there must be something about my writing style that appeals to the judges. It's a very well run competition as well, and very friendly. Definitely worth a try next year if you're thinking about entering competitions.