Cranked

I’ve been longlisted in the Cranked Anvil competition! It’s an interesting list because many of the people on it are shown with two, three, or even four entries. I thought I submitted a lot of stuff, but I only put one in for this. I’m not clear about whether the people shown with four entries actually have all four on the longlist (!) or submitted four but may only be listed for one.
I see the competition offered a ‘four entries for the price of three’ deal – perhaps that had something to do with it?

Short Édition

Short edition vending machineMy story Castrapitheca has been bought by Short Édition to publish in their unique vending machines! (A big hat-tip to Susan O’Neal for tipping me off about this company.) These innovative machines are sited on stations, in libraries and elsewhere; at the touch of a button you can print off a story or poem of a selected length. Though new sites are arriving, there are currently only three of them in the UK (Canary Wharf is the closest to me), but there are lots in the USA and in the company’s original home, France. The stories are also accessible online and mine will also feature in their online quarterly review Short Circuit.

Literary Taxidermy

I got an honourable mention for my story ‘New Troy’ in the Literary Taxidermy competition! This is an unusual competition where you have to take the first and last sentences of a novel (Brave New World in this case) and fill in the gap with a new story.