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The Limerick Writers' Centre Presents

Lunch Time Poetry @ The Hunt Museum

July 7th / 14th / 21st / 28^th  2016

1.00pm to 2.00pm

In association with the Hunt Museum 8 poets (2 per week) will give a reading in the Captain's Room four Thursdays in July from 1.00pm to 2.00pm, readings will be preceded by a piece of music performed by local musicians.

Programme:

Thursday 7th July.........Kathryn Guille and Edward O’Dwyer

Thursday 14th July.......Sheila Fitzpatrick O’Donnell and Donal O’Flynn

Thursday 21st July.......Marie O’Halloran and Ron Carey

Thursday 28th July.......Noelene Nash and Tom O’Connor

Admission is free. Patrons are advised to be in their seats five minutes before readings begin.

The poets taking part:

Kathryn Guille is an American writer and choreographer living in Limerick City, Ireland.  Kathryn is the 2016 winner of the The Cuirt International New Writing Award in Poetry.  She has read her poems at many festivals, including Cuirt, Earshot, and Turnstyle.  Her screenplay, Enemy of the Freak State, won the David Dortort Prize for Screenwriting, and her play, Venla and Henry won the Alice Stark Award for Playwriting, and was published, in excerpt, in Promethean. Kathryn holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and and MFA in Creative Writing from The City College of New York.

Edward O'Dwyer is a native of Limerick City, where he lives and writes.  He has been published in many journals throughout the world, including The Forward Book of Poetry 2015. He was selected in 2010 for Poetry Ireland's Introductions Series and has been shortlisted for a Hennessy Award, the Desmond O'Grady Prize, and the North West Words Prize, among others. He has also been nominated for Pushcart, Forward, and Best of the Web prizes. Edward O' Dwyer's debut collection, The Rain on Cruise's Street, appeared in 2014 from Salmon Poetry.

Sheila Fitzpatrick O’Donnell is a native of Limerick City, now living in Shanagolden, Co. Limerick. She comes from a long line of poets/storytellers; her mother, known as Polly The Poet, encouraged her to pick up the pen. Her works has been published in many anthologies in Ireland and abroad. Sheila won the All Ireland Limericks Competition in 2009 and 2011 and the Cuisle Competition in 2013. She was shortlisted for the Desmond O’Grady Poetry Competition in 2013. She was part of Sextet, an anthology of six emerging poets in 2010. Her first collection, A Bouquet Of Trilogies, was also published in 2010 and her second collection will be published in 2016. In 2014 Bridget Wallace and Sheila took their Armchair project to the streets for Limerick City of Culture. Sheila is current travelling Ireland with her Reading At Random project and hosts a rambling house in her cottage in Shanagolden. She is also a member of the Moyross Drama group

Donal O’Flynn is from Charleville, Co. Cork and has been working in the Philippines for the past five years.  He has three books of poetry published Lost Grace, The Tailor and Ansty Poems and Random Inspirational Words  all from Revival Press. His poems vary widely in style; ranging from strict structure to free verse. He is a regular attendee at the ‘On the Nail’ Literary Gathering and Whitehouse Pub Poetry Sessions when resident in Ireland.  

Marie O’Halloran lives in Co. Cork, Ireland. Two of her poems were commended in 2013 Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition. She was the featured poet at an event in Fermoy with former Fulbright Professor of Poetry & American Culture Bradley R. Strahan. Her poetry has been published in The Blue Max Review 2013and 2014 and Rebel Poetry’s fathers and what must be said. She was part of the programme of readers at the 2013 Fermoy International Poetry Festival and globally in 2014 in conjunction with Mad Swirl poets in Dallas, Texas. Her stories have been commended and appear in various publications. She was the Poetry Slam judge at Kanturk Arts Festival, 2016. Two of her plays have been commercially staged at Friar’s Gate Theatre in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick. She is currently editing her first crime novel and working on a sequel. She has had the Anam Cara experience and is a professional member of the Irish Writers’ Centre.

Ron Carey was born in Limerick and lives in Dublin. He is a prize winning poet and a finalist in many national and international poetry competitions. In 2015 his first book of poetry, DISTANCE, was published by Revival Press and nominated (shortlisted) for the Forward Prize Best First Collection, UK and Ireland. He was Highly Commended in the Patrick Kavanagh Awards and received a MA in Creative Writing from the University of South Wales.

Noelene Nash lives outside Limerick City. She has studied journalism but prefers creative writing. Her work has been published in, Anthology For A River, Corners Of Our Minds,  the Irish Independent and Stanzas Chap Books.She co-wrote and performed, 'Blackguarded: Our Vagina Dialogues', which debuted to packed houses at the Belltable, Limerick city and Friars Gate Theatre Kilmallock. “Poetry should be full of energy,” she says, “If I make you sad I will also make you smile.” She is currently working on a project called 'The Walking Poet' which gives her permission to 'loiter with intent' on the city's streets as she notes passing voices.

Tom O'Connor is a native of Mallow, Co. Cork. He is a former Civil Servant. For thirty five years he has been involved in drama and theatre as an actor and director completing his training at the London Centre For Contemporary Theatre Studies. In his forties he got bitten by the writing bug and has just signed a publishing contract for a collection of his poems. He is also actively involved as a public speaker with Toastmasters. Recently he completed screenwriting course with Eleanor McSherry at The Limerick Writers’ Centre.

 

The RTÉ Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition

So, what are you?

A friend asked recently, ‘What are you, a poet, a playwright, a novelist, a film script creator? The answer is simple:

 

I am a writer…

 

I ask my computer if it is ready to consume the words I’m about to write - daily, if life allows. I can feel its anticipation and sometimes I can’t type fast enough for my brain. Then other times sit there for ages with the cursor blinking, teasing, inviting but performance anxiety gets to me and nothing pops into my head. I revert on occasion to simpler tools and choose to use pen and paper. I can even sometimes feel the journey the words take from my brain, along my arms and out through my fingers.

It’s enriched me, initiating a wonder about creativity. I look at things different to how I used to. My awareness level peaks as I absorb things that surround me. They were always around me I just didn’t appreciate them. Now, I don’t just read a poem once; I read it again and again. I don’t just look through book; I immerse myself in it. I don’t just watch a play; I admire the work that has gone into producing the work I am enjoying. I don’t just go see a movie; I appreciate how it is constructed. I think about what the person may have thought when they wrote the verses, chapters or scripts. How they sat down and put everything together.

It also awakened the critic in me. I find I edit everything, people speaking, reporters on television, D.J.’s on the radio, magazines, and newspaper articles. Friends, although this is a tricky one and I tend to keep it zipped for fear of losing said friendship. It’s funny because I also edit myself. I find that I have to stop and spell the simplest of words that rolled off my tongue before.

When I began writing a few years ago I had all the time in the world although I didn’t realise it then but now it feels like I had. In the meantime life happened and my writing time became more focused, on a deadline, snatched between other daily tasks. I actually had to create a time management schedule to ensure I gave myself adequate time to write. The restricted moments gives me more focus. If I only have an hour then it has to get done within that time frame. No arguments, anyway it’s no fun quarrelling with yourself!

Most of all I love the journey writing takes me on. By sharing it I can bring others along too. I don’t need a vehicle to transport my readers, I don’t need to tax and insure my computer or paper. It’s a free ride on an adventure because I am a writer.

So, over to you: Have you limited time to write? If so, how do you focus your time? Do you reach your goals, targets? Or do you wish you could do more.  

Please comment and share. Thanks for reading.

Marie

Doing Cartwheels

Poetry Slam judge at Kanturk Arts Festival:

I am delighted to share with you that I have been invited to judge at this year's Poetry Slam  Competition at Kanturk Arts Festival.

Poets are invited to read their own work for a chance to win a prize in that category. Another category invites people to perform work written by others.
I have the honour of listening to the participants and deciding on a winner. I haven't said it will be easy but it will be fun.
Find out more about Kanturk Arts Festival here:



http://kanturkarts.ie/

Some five sentence fiction and competition link…

Some five sentence fiction and competition link…

Different Shades

Sometimes they are yellow, sometimes just blue. I used to love putting on makeup to look my best, now it’s worn for another reason. Last night some came up deep purple. So many factors influence the colours. My body shows different shades of pain, just depends on how hard he hits.

 

This story came out of a prompt, one word: Purple. I expanded this story into a 2,000 word piece that ended up being listed in the Penguin Ireland/RTE Guide Short Story Competition 2013.

Competitions are worth entering, gets your work out there. Regarding entry fees: check the prize and see if the entry fee is worth it. Also, check if there is a long list/short list. Then make your decision on which ones are worth your work.

While we are on the subject of writing competitions check out http://ladynicci.com/writing/seven-writing-competitions-you-should-enter-in-2016/

Nicola has done a fantastic job of compiling a list of:

Seven writing competitions you should enter in 2016

Why not sign up for her newsletter.

Let me know your opinions of competitions and if you have any links to share, please do.

All you need is a bit of patience and something free, yes free, to read …

It is no easy task submitting, waiting, waiting, submitting and some more waiting. Then, like buses, things come along together. This summer my patience paid off.

In July I was fortunate enough to receive a bursary to attend the John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh. This event brought with it a feast of readings, entertainment and friendship. I got to shake hands with Paul Muldoon, discuss the notion of fiction combined with non-fiction with Hannah Lowe and receive invaluable advice from crime writer Anthony Quinn, author of ‘Border Angels’ and ‘The Disappeared’. http://anthonyquinnwriter.com/

Later in July I received news that one of my short stories had been accepted into Belfast’s The Incubator Journal along with an array of multi-talented literary folk. Issue six includes an interview with Kelly Creighton, author of ‘The Bones of It’. You have to put it on your ‘must read’ list and a review of Paul McVeigh’s ‘The Good Son’ which is on my ‘must read’ list. In fact I’ve included a link here if you wish to read Issue 6 of The Incubator Journal free gratis! Yes really a freebie.  

http://theincubatorjournal.com/journal/

https://theincubatorjournal.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/the-incubator-issue-6.pdf

If you want a printed copy you’ll have to shell out a little.

I have also been honoured to be invited to Belfast on 20^th September to read my short story at the launch of Issue 6 of The Incubator Journal.

In August I received a nice email, another of my short stories had been long listed in the RTE Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition 2015.

Now, some of you may remember in 2013, I along with five other writing colleagues, were long and short listed in the RTE Guide/Penguin Ireland Short Story competition. We collaborated and published a collection of those award winning stories. Here’s the link if you wish to hold the printed version in your grasp.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Because-collection-short-stories/dp/1492860360/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441381755&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=Just+Because+bya+circle+of+friends

I continue to edit a play I have written with the multi-talented Mary Bradford, Mary Angland and Mary-Anne Bartlett under the mentorship of John Sheehy of CallBack Theatre. This play is for staging in November 2015. I am also editing my crime novel.

All of this is done while life is happening and firing things at me. Because of these ‘life missiles’ (which I will share further in time) I have, many times, felt like throwing in the towel. But, I have managed to chase thoughts of that nature from my mind. It was worth the wait this summer when I got those nice emails.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and in case you missed it above here is the link to The Incubator Journal. Please enjoy and share so others can enjoy.

https://theincubatorjournal.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/the-incubator-issue-6.pdf

RTE Guide / Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition 2015 - No Entry Fee

RTE Guide / Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition 2015

Entries for the RTÉ Guide / Penguin Ireland short story Competition 2015 should be

original, unpublished and previously not broadcast short stories in English, of 2,000

words or less. Paper manuscripts must be typed and cannot be returned. Entrant’s

name and contact details (address, phone and/or email) should be on a separate

page. There is no fee for entering the competition but only one entry is allowed per

person. The deadline for this year’s competition is 6pm, Friday, June 19, 2015. Send

your entries to: RTÉ Guide / Penguin Ireland short story Competition 2015, PO Box

1480, RTÉ, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 or email to: rteguide@rte.ie, making sure to label

your mail ‘RTÉ Guide / Penguin Ireland Short Story Competition 2015’.

It's a poetry thing ...

It’s a poetry thing …

 

As the wave curled over, sweeping us through the salty waters of poetry day… Well, I was going to continue on this vein, but to write a whole blog post poetically could be done but instead, to put a finer point on it, I was honoured to be invited to read for Poetry Day Ireland 2015 last Thursday 7^th May. I did so with the very talented Kerri Fitzgerald.

After the typically Irish thing of a cuppa beforehand, we got underway to a receptive crowd who were kind enough to take time out of their day to join us. We danced through sonnet and verse to do what we were asked, to deliver some poetry for the enjoyment of others.   

This day is another example of how important our libraries are and should be supported. Check out yours, you’ll be surprised what it has to offer.

 

Time Poor but love a good story ...

 

If you love to read but only have a few minutes spare, then Five Sentence Fiction is the solution, a complete story told in just five lines.

Thanks to Lillie McFerrin, this week’s prompt is: Memories.

 

Memories

The dark surrounds me. I tense as I hear the door open followed by footsteps closing in. I feel the cold knife pressed against my skin but it’s not used to sever my binds. I hear the sirens getting louder as they near, but they may not make it to me in time. So, I’ll take my memories, the one thing he could not take from me, and say goodbye.

 

Read the other contributors here:

http://new.inlinkz.com/view.php?id=522832

Five Sentence Fiction - Departure

Five Sentence Fiction time again folks thanks to Lillie McFerrin.

http://lilliemcferrin.com/five-sentence-fiction-departure/

This week’s prompt is: Departure.

Hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment. I appreciate the feedback.

 

Mistaken Identity

Gerard answered his mobile when he saw it was his twin brother Dean ringing, maybe he’d have an explanation about his girlfriend, Amy, where she’d gone and the reason her spare key to his apartment was left on the table. He’d contacted her friends and relatives but they refused to tell him where she was or how to get in contact, they seemed furious with him but no one would explain the reason for her sudden departure.

“Hey Gerard, look I wanted to apologise for using your spare key while you were away, bro, it had been worth it though and I promise you, I changed sheets.”

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, Dean, I’m only in the door.”

 “Crap! Who walk in on us so if it wasn’t you?”

 

Check out the other contributors http://new.inlinkz.com/view.php?id=520146

Five Sentence Fiction - Changes

It’s time for five sentence fiction once again. Thanks to Lillie McFerrin http://lilliemcferrin.com/five-sentence-fiction-changes/ . This week’s prompt is Changes:

Changes

The tide was out enough to give her a glimpse of the tangled seaweed beneath the crystal blue waters. The uneven ridges of the distant mountain range distracted her for a brief moment. She hesitated, hovering near the lapping waters, assessing how far in she’d have to go.

The moment had arrived and with no one around to stop her there’d be no changes to the plan. She was, at last, about to complete number three on her bucket list, a skinny dip in the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Check out the other contributors http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=239604

When your pen weighs you down ...

With very good reason I put my writing on hold for a little while, I plan to share this with you later. I recently picked up my pen and found it to be heavier than it used to be. Blank, nothing, something had invaded my creativity and removed all my ideas. Or had it?

Last year I got involved in a very exiting venture, writing plays with amazing writers, Mary T Bradford, published author of ‘My Husband’s Sin’ and ‘A Baker’s Dozen’, shortlisted author and poet Mary Angland and short listed author and poet, Mary-Anne Barlett under the mentorship of playwright, writer and director of Callback Theatre, John Sheedy. This year we are collaborating to write one play to be staged later in the year. So, onward and upward as I dragged my former ‘bursting with ideas’ self to my playwright’s meeting wondering what to contribute. It got underway and we started brainstorming. It could have been the creative atmosphere, the location, Friar’s Gate Theatre, or an unknown entity because in an instant my pen started to feel lighter as ideas sparked. It felt amazing. I no longer felt weighed down.

The meeting was a huge success, we made great progression and I left with a wonderful buzz from taking part in an activity that I love.

While it started off as heavy it was well worth picking that pen back up.

My Writing Process Blog Hop #MyWritingProcess

Today is my turn on #MyWritingProcess Blog Tour, where writers and authors answer questions about their writing processes. I was invited to take part in this by a great writing friend of mine Daniel Kaye, who posted about his work last week http://daniel-kaye.blogspot.ie/ He is an inspirational writer that I have learned a lot from. His dedication to writing is absolute. It is definitely worth taking a look at his writing process too. His novel I, Vladimir is due out later this year from Gentry Publishing. Not only that, he is working on the second in the series Anonymous Jack. I have the pleasure of writing in the company of Daniel and another writer Mary T. Bradford in our local library and as such glean from their vast knowledge.

 

 

Before telling you about my writing process, I’d like to fill you in on with what #MyWritingProcess means:

 

“We writers share these things, but informally during workshops and at conferences (and, for a handful of established writers, in printed interviews), but not so much through our open-forum blogs. With the hashtag #MyWritingProcess, you can learn how writers all over the world answer the same four questions. How long it takes one to write a novel, why romance is a fitting genre for another, how one’s playlist grows as the draft grows, why one’s poems are often sparked by distress over news headlines or oddball facts learned on Facebook…”

     

 

What am I working on?

 

I have my fingers in a couple of pies at the moment, one of which is Who Won the War? This is a one act play that I converted from a short story. It is in the final editing stage and is due for its rehearsed reading in July this year at the famous Friars' Gate Theatre in Co. Limerick. I’m also working on the second in a series of crime thrillers, the first one is entitled No Time to Cry. One of the main characters from this one, Detective Sharon North returns to investigate more crimes. This next one is yet untitled but it will come to me as the story unfolds. The first in the series No Time to Cry shines a light on Ireland as a destination for the international crime of human trafficking. Young girls are conveyed from earthquake ravaged Haiti, after being recruited via a local hospital. This hospital was set up as a front to offer medical relief to these girls and their families. Detective Garda Sharon North and Detective Sergeant Dave Richards investigate as the perpetrators try to escape justice and commit more crimes along the way. Assistance comes from an unlikely source and they suspect that one offender is within their own ranks.

 

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

 

This is set in a fictional police station in Ireland. The main character is female. She is very capable and has to focus on her tasks without bringing her own personal feelings into play.  Human Trafficking is a harrowing crime and a very real and dangerous threat to young vulnerable girls. Because of this it was important for me to highlight the issue.

 

Why do I write what I do?

 

I’ve discovered the love of this genre. I find the research fascinating and what I have learned on the journey of writing this novel is amazing. It has made me more aware of certain issues and I found people in the know most accommodating to my queries and questions. My first novel Subtle Changes is a psychological thriller and while I loved writing this, I think the crime area is my forte.

 

How does my writing process work?

 

Some writers get ultra-organised before they start and know exactly how they want the story to go. However, I have discovered that this is not for me. I prefer to write as if I am reading the novel for the first time and let the twists and turns unfold as I go along. Also, write what you know and if you don’t then find a way to research, but enjoy your subject. If you do not, it will show. You cannot expect a reader to get excited about your topic if it does not excite you.

 

Then, read it over as three people: the writer, the reader and the critic. This requires you to step back, give your writing some space and revisit it with fresh eyes. When you do this do not be afraid to cut what doesn’t work. Do not discard what you cut, keep a separate ‘cuts folder’ because you never know, it might work elsewhere. (Thank you Daniel Kaye for this particular piece of advice).

 

Most importantly don’t be afraid to get your bum in that seat and start writing, you’d be amazed at what you can unlock.

 

Finally my other piece of advice would be to connect with other writers, you will learn so much and I haven’t met a writer yet who isn’t generous and giving with advice and encouragement.

 

 

Next up I’d like to introduce you to two writing buddies of mine, both of whom are in America.

 

First up is the multi-talented Natalie Buske Thomas. She is an accomplished artist, and regularly posts youtube clips of her process, and of course the writer of the Serena Wilcox series which is available on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Mysteries-Dystopian-Thriller-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0094J034Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1399835562&sr=8-4&keywords=natalie+Buske+Thomas

 

Psst … If you are lucky enough to be a member of Charleville library, there is a copy of her trilogy available there. 

 

I’ll let her tell you more…

 

Bio: Natalie Buske Thomas is the author of suspenseful, clever, humorous and "seriously creepy" contemporary time travel fiction and mystery novels, and the artist of oil paintings, book covers, and picture book illustrations. Journey into her imagination in this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qG50NqVrf4

 

 

Connect with Natalie through her blog:

 

Blog: http://www.nataliebuskethomas.com/Blog.html

 

 

The next person I have the pleasure of introducing you to is Jaime Buckley. Another multi-talented artist who writes epic fantasy novels and creates games. Check out http://www.amazon.com/Epic-Fantasy-Bundle-Wanted-Bundles-ebook/dp/B00I6S8FK0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399898772&sr=8-1&keywords=Jaime+Buckley

 

He tells it best….

 

Jaime Buckley is a husband, father of 12, and the creator of WantedHero.com. For more than 20 years he's been teaching, uplifting and inspiring youth and for the past ten years, done so through epic fantasy stories. 13 comics, 2 graphic novels and 10 books later, he's just getting started. With a passion for the human soul, he makes a full time living as an Indie Author and game creator. Check out his daily blog at wantedhero.com or follow him on Twitter, @wantedhero." 

 

Connect with Jaime through his blog http://wantedhero.com/jaime-buckley/

 

We are also part of the Square Peg Writers:

"Anything but Ordinary!" The Square Peg Writers are 6 storytellers, artists and poets who are anything but ordinary.

You can check us out on twitter and Facebook and please share your work with us, we’d love to see what you have.

 

As you can see, I love surrounding myself with like-minded people

as it encourages creativity and talent, that is when I work at my best.

Thank you for visiting.

Follow Our Journey: Meet Natalie Buske Thomas

Follow Our Journey: Meet Natalie Buske Thomas: Have you ever noticed that there are just some creative personalities you just can't put in a box? You call them writer and suddenly...

Problems with managing your writing time?

Check out this article by Andrew De Young in the Huffington post about starting a writing habit that sticks.

He lists eight achievable points:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-deyoung/8-steps-to-starting-a-wri_b_4724235.html

Words with JAM: Victoria Strauss - Writer Beware!

Check out his brilliant article on what to be careful of when publishing from Victoria Strauss on Words with Jam:



Words with JAM: Victoria Strauss - Writer Beware!: Victoria Strauss, co-founder and Vice-Chair of SFWA’s Committee on Writing Scams, is the author of eight novels for adults and young adult...

So, you've signed that contract for your novel ...

So, you have been lucky enough to have signed a good contract for you novel. If your publishing company is in the U.S there are some important points about Tax that you need to know.

Check out this very helpful post from author Daniel Kaye on writing.ie .

http://www.writing.ie/resources/tips-for-claiming-back-us-tax/

Keep in touch with writing.ie for other useful pieces of advice and various blogs.

http://www.writing.ie/


About Daniel Kaye:

DANIEL KAYE  grew up in London but now works and lives in Charleville, Co. Cork. He has been writing for a number of years and has been published in numerous anthologies both in Ireland and the USA. Daniel's first novel I, Vladimir is due for release from Gentry Publishing in autumn 2014. He is currently working on his second novel, Anonymous Jack.


You can read more about Daniel

Twitter page  https://twitter.com/DanielKaye_

Daniel blogs at http://daniel-kaye.blogspot.ie/

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/daniel.kaye.9

Facebook Author Page  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-Kaye-Author/103967553013072?ref=tn_tnmn

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/danielkaye000/

The Results are in Fish Short Story Prize

Congratulations to all!!

2014 Shortlists & Longlists

SHORT STORY PRIZE Longlist - Shortlist - Winners

WINNERS Fish Short Story Prize 2013/14

Claire Kilroy has chosen the following stories to be published in the 2014 Fish Anthology.

I was drawn to stories that were inventive in terms of language, imagery and plot, stories that possessed sparks of brilliance. The ones that made the anthology were not necessarily the most polished, or the strongest in terms of narrative technique – indeed, some of them are still a little raw and lack a satisfactory structure. Instead, I picked the stories that arrested my imagination by showcasing an arresting imagination themselves. I was struck by how funny many of them are, several of them joyously so – they are madcap and eccentric and great fun. Others – despite restrained and elegant prose – managed to be devastating. All of them are the work of writers with talent.

Claire Kilroy

FIRST
Taylor Keith by David Butler
SECOND
The Nod by Barry Troy
THIRD
Horse Latitudes by Aongus Murtagh

HONORARY MENTIONS:
A Paper Husband by Georgina Eddison
Gomorrah Shade by Michael Crossan
The Crane by Sarah Quigley
The Words by Simon Cornish
Two’d up by Ann Jolly
Venom by Oana Aristide
Whenever I Close my Eyes by James Heaney

SHORTLIST Fish Short Story Prize 2013/14

83 stories shortlisted
(1,560 stories submitted in total)

back to top

Frogs; The City	Aengus Murray
Stalker	Alena Abrosimova
A clerical error	Amanda Nicol
Motel Q	Andrew Foster
Two'd up	Ann Jolly
No Church in the Wild	Anne Corlett
The Pacific Madrona	Anne Elliott
Eventyr	Annie lindberg
Abaddon and Jemima	Antonio Chavez
Horse latitudes	Aongus Murtagh
The Scream	Baret Magarian
The Nod	Barry Troy
Horses In Field And The Like	Brian Leeson
The Quicken Tree	Carol Farrelly
Train in the Night	Chris Franks
Safe Houses	Christine Powell
Served Cold	Claire Bolderson
Taylor Keith	David Butler
Repatriation	David Hardy
Stealing Apples	David ODwyer
Stale Peaches	David ODwyer
A Little Trouble with the Spirits	Deborah Cameron
Fallon's Wood	Donna Triggs
The Tusk	Earle McCartney
SINGING TO FISH	Eleanor O'Reilly
Hear all evil, see all, speak none	Elisheva Stanton
Homing	Ewan Gault
Xanthippe's Western Road	Fiona Ni Conchubhair
The Oguri Diet	Geoff Smith
Pity The Poor Struggler	george Pirie
A Paper Husband	Georgina Eddison
Sex Queen of Johwnstown Lane	Graham Tugwell
Nothing Like Me	Grainne Murphy
Frank & Alfie	Grainne Murphy
Lost Souls	I. Michael Gurin
Till Night Again Meets Day on Equal Terms	Ian Craine
What You Don't See Is What You Get	Itohan Ellis
Whenever I Close My Eyes	James Heaney
Dear John, I've fallen for a dog.	Jane Harrington
Monkey Boy	Janine Mikosza
Theresa's Special Night	John Rutter
An Alsatian on Roller Skates	Julie Chilver
Playoffs	Kelly Creighton
Fortune's Daughter	Kelly Fordon
The Wait	Kyle Martin Jones
Flatrock 1979	Lukas Jackson
Estrangement	Marianne O’Rourke
Butcher's Creek	Mark Smith
Com	Marked
The Frog - a parable	Martin Day
Over the Wall	Maura O'Brien
The Amber Bird	Maureen Cashman
Gomorrah Shade	Michael Crossan
Only Three Billion Dreams	Michael Forester
Boy at the Window	Michael Romyn
Tess	Michael Wilson
Last Christmas In Barrie	Natalya Anderson
A Good Beating	Neil Cubley
4AM	Nikki Mottram
The Tomb of the Tomb Builders	Nina Milton
Venom	Oana Aristide
Cat	Pat O'Connor
Now more than ever	Patrick Wakeling
The Thin Line	Pauline Rooney
The Island	Peter Rodgers
Moonlight	Ric Carter
An Uncertain State.	Ruth Geldard
The Date Mate	Ruth Hayhurst
The Arrow of Time	Sara Baker
The Crane	Sarah Quigley
The Dead Animals Register	Seth Insua
Little Andy's Cry	Seth Insua
The Words	Simon Cornish
One Hour, Three Times a Week	Sonal Aggarwal
The Smell of People Sleeping	Sophie Hampton
The True Source of the Great Chicago Fire by Seamus McManus	Steve Wiley
Across The Rio Negro	Sue Cosgrave
Killing Time	Sue Cosgrave
Stew and Dumplings	Susan Shepherd
A Love Of Art	Toby Roebuck
Dogs, Ducks and Drakes	Val Jones
The Motorbike	Wolfgang eulitz
The Car Salesman	Wolfgang eulitz

LONGLIST Fish Short Story Prize 2013/14

389 stories longlisted
(1,560 stories submitted in total)

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V	ACE (Albert Charles) BAKER
A Short Celebration of Death and Life	Adam Connors
The Ultimate Ballast	AE Gray
The Woman Who Was Not My Girlfriend	Aengus Murray
HoWL	Aengus Murray
Frogs; The City	Aengus Murray
The Afterlife of Trees	Agnieszka Dale
Oh, To Be Young Again	Alan O'Gorman
Divine Power of Ccumbers in Tehran	Albert Azarmi
Stalker	Alena Abrosimova
The Thirteenth Painting	Alex Heron
Seven Facts About Water	Alex Ruczaj
There are women for everything	Alice Ryan
The Smell of Rain	Alison Earls
The Deception	alison quigley
Inspiration	Alun Evans
Snowstorm	Amanda Kennedy
What We Hold in Our Hands	Amanda Murphy
A clerical error	Amanda Nicol
The Fading Light	Amna Khokher
Redeemed Island	Andrea Baldwin
Reckoning	Andrea Stephenson
Motel Q	Andrew Foster
A Cigarette	Andrew Watson
Two'd up	Ann Jolly
Bound for Damnation	Anna BLack
Prone	Anna Kalinski
Fantasy Husbands	Annabel Abbs
Terse Brown Mouse	Anne Calcagno
Real Gone Kid	Anne Caughey
No Church in the Wild	Anne Corlett
Race	Anne Dixey
The Pacific Madrona	Anne Elliott
Step Up To The Plate	Anne O'Brien
Eventyr	annie lindberg
Abaddon and Jemima	Antonio Chavez
Horse latitudes	Aongus Murtagh
The Scream	Baret Magarian
Playing the Ghost	Barnaby Walsh
The Nod	Barry Troy
Peacock Feathers	Bea Davenport
Forgiveness	Beth Bosworth
A Sudden Fall	Billy Fenton
Seein' Red	Bren Gosling
Horses In Field And The Like	Brian Leeson
CROSS AND DOUBLE CROSS	Bruce Graham
Ava's Kernel	Carly Anne West
The Quicken Tree	Carol Farrelly
The Blessing of the Rods	Carol Jones
Plein Sud	Carol McKay
Blackthorns	Caroline Finn
An Epistle from the Holding House	Caroline Kinya Mbaya
Rendezvous Cafe	Cary Hodgkinson
Zoe	Cary Reynolds
Clear Reflection	Cathriona Slammon
Things you don't need to know	Celia Coyne
BLIGHT	Celine Gibson
Naked Cherie	Charlie Hopkinson
All That Has Gone	charlotte macneil
One Night at Dinner	Cheryl Moss
Train in the Night	Chris Franks
The Black Door	Christina George
Dexter Bing	christina Sanders
Safe Houses	Christine Powell
Served Cold	Claire Bolderson
Bonkers	Clar Ni Chonghaile
What We Fought For	Clare Fielder
A Social Construct	Clare O'Dea
The Modern Way	clare reddaway
The Good Friday Agreement	Cliff Chen
Life In A Cage	Colm McDermott
One Train May Conceal Another	Cormac James
The Syntax of Lighthouse Keepers	Daisy Johnson
The Teacher	Dalton Bryant
The Beatin' Path	Damian Sebouhian
Malebolge	Daniel Cooke
The Piece Titled "The Crooked Man"	Danny Ward
Crow Hunting	Daphne Kalmar
Taylor Keith	David Butler
Crossing the Rubicon	David Chasumba
Repatriation	David Hardy
The Girl on the Bench	David Nixon
The Attic Room	David ODwyer
Stealing Apples	David ODwyer
Stale Peaches	David ODwyer
Taking the Blame	David Wilkes
Fireflies	Davyd Morris
Big Bones	Dawn Nicholson
Homecoming	Dearbhaile Houston
A Little Trouble with the Spirits	Deborah Cameron
Chutney	Debz Hobbs-Wyatt
Self Storage	Demetrios Matheou
The Mining Engineer's Wife	Dennis Nau
Fallon's Wood	Donna Triggs
ONE SHOT	duncan ross
The Tusk	Earle McCartney
Lone Traveller	Edith Anderson
SINGING TO FISH	Eleanor O'Reilly
White Noise	Eleanor Talbot
Peter the Shoemaker	Elena Horas San Martin
St. Bride's	Elena Soto
The Ancestors	Elena Soto
The Hands of the Savior	Eli Hastings
Looking at the South Side of the Moon.	Elisheva Stanton
Hear all evil, see all, speak none	Elisheva Stanton
Peace in Mozambique	Elizabeth Rider
The Nanny	Enid Harlow
Loaves and Fishes	Eoin Devereux
The Cheese Ladies	Ericka Olsen Stefano
It Flowers Briefly	Erin Ryan
Patrick	Erskine Villiers
The Melancholy Man with the Muddy Boots	Esther Freeman
Unusual Suspects	Eugen Bacon
The Water Tribunal	Eve Vamvas
Homing	Ewan Gault
Chris Anderson	fiona macleod
Xanthippe's Western Road	Fiona Ni Conchubhair
The Search	fiona stevenson
The Book of Ashes	Fleur Smithwick
THE SCOOP	Frances Kenny
Last Chance (At the Amaryllis Hotel)	Fulham Ryan
The King of Fries	Garret Dwyer-Joyce
Grace Unclothed	Gay Johnson
Relief	gemma carroll
The Oguri Diet	Geoff Smith
Pity The Poor Struggler	george Pirie
Badger	George Tuohy
A Paper Husband	Georgina Eddison
On the Brink	Geraldine Daly
Dawn Man	Geraldine Terry
The Fruit Scone	Gerry Hughes
Death of a blue-tit	Gill Blow
The Catch	Graeme Finnie
Sex Queen of Johwnstown Lane	Graham Tugwell
Nothing Like Me	Grainne Murphy
Frank & Alfie	Grainne Murphy
Splitting The Win	Greer Morpeth
Strawberries	Gregory Jackson
The Juggler	Gregory Jackson
Pirates	Gregory Jackson
Bundle	Harriet Kline
November Leaves	Hayley Burrell
The Yellow Piece of Paper	Heather Newby
A Dish Served Cold	Helen Howard
The Quest	Helen McGoldrick
Stoner	Horatio Potter
Propaganda	Hugh Fulham-McQuillan
Lost Souls	I. Michael Gurin
Till Night Again Meets Day on Equal Terms	Ian Craine
The Stroke	Ian Prior
The Colour of Summer	Isabel Turvey
What You Don't See Is What You Get	Itohan Ellis
Bad Habits	Ivana Anastasovska
Clear out	James Fogarty
The Fight	James Hanes
Whenever I Close My Eyes	James Heaney
Bondholders	James Patterson
Becoming an American	James Patterson
Colwill's Coaches	Jane Fraser
Dear John, I've fallen for a dog.	Jane Harrington
HER MOTHER'S DAUGHTER	JANE HAYWARD
Minding Other People's Business	Jane Schorah
REASON AND FEELING	Janey Huber
Twisp	Janice McCachen
Monkey Boy	Janine Mikosza
Sundays at Dante's	Jared Lollar
Necronaut	Jason Batt
EVER AFTER	Jean Blasiar
The Management of Difficult Women - A Genealogical Study	Jenny Hetherington
Can't say no to a dying man	Jenny Toune
Armour	Jessica Traynor
Aliens	Jim Thomev
Buttons	Jo Barril
War	Jo Ely
The Night Picnic	Joanna Campbell
The Rain and the Roses	Joe Mc Kiernan
Moving Images	Joe Mc Kiernan
Like Robert De Niro	John Gray
Fran's Return	John Langan
Theresa's Special Night	John Rutter
Journeys	Jose Ho
Little Favours	Julia Rampen
In the Name of the Father	Juliana Feaver
NOTES FOR THE ILLUSTRATOR OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, ROMEO AND JULIET	Julie Chevalier
An Alsatian on Roller Skates	Julie Chilver
Killing Him Softly	Julie Kearney
Lake Pontchartrain	k Lockwood Jefford
Small Beach Perspective	Kat Dawes
Soho	Kate Forlong
Land of the Coconut	Kate Forlong
DIFFERENCE	Kathleen Kertin
AN UNLIKELY BEGGAR	Kathleen Kertin
LAUGHING JACK	Kathleen Kertin
THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE	Kathleen Kertin
Shopping Trip	Kathryn Burke
Under Eden	Kathryn Johns
Marked Out	Kathy O’Donnell
A Eulogy for Robert Taylor	Keith Lewis
Playoffs	Kelly Creighton
Fortune's Daughter	Kelly Fordon
Tent	Kelly McCaughrain
Master Class	Kerrie Salaun
The Shoe Shine Boys	Kerry Barner
Watch Face	Kevin Smith
In This Sign	Kieran McGuire
Defending Eris	Kim Kolarich
Goddess	kira messell
Sarabande	Kit Coldstream
The Wait	Kyle Martin Jones
Mother Makeover	Laura Rock
The Transcripts of Venus	Laura Solomon
The Guttersnipe	Laura Windley
Rabnatt and the Lost Art of Communication	Lindsay Waller-Wilkinson
Heat	Lindsay Waller-Wilkinson
Twitcher	Lindsay Waller-Wilkinson
Snowing Leaves	Lisa de Jong
Liquid Laughter	Lisa Harding
The Visitor	Lisa Harding
Something about Simon	Lisa Harding
Legacy	Lori Vos
COMING OUT	Louise Marburg
Flatrock 1979	Lukas Jackson
Pulp	Luke Melia
Bird Brains	Maggie Ling
One Slip	Maggie Ling
The Office	Maggie Veness
Starfish	Mairin Stronge
Toss the Feathers at Joe MacNaughton's Wake	Mandy de Waal
Billy Boys	Mandy McAleese
Arrival	Manuel Carreon
Gameshow	Marc Jones
Not You	Margaret Ferguson
Mother Told Me	Maria Thomas
Estrangement	Marianne O’Rourke
The Feathered Man	Marie Alvarado
Aqua Vitae	Marie Gethins
Hunting	Marjorie K. Kennedy
La Morena	Mark Scott
Twisted Woven	Mark Smith
Butcher's Creek	Mark Smith
Com	Marked
Sennen Cove	Martin Brett
The Frog - a parable	Martin Day
The Viewing	Martin Dodd
Positano	Martina Ryan
How Green Was Your Traffic Light	Matt Benville
Over the Wall	maura o'brien
The Amber Bird	Maureen Cashman
The Hireling	Maureen Gallagher
Wise Women	Maureen Kermode
Ninety-Nine Songs	Melanie Schwapp
II Cycles: Faerytale	Melanie Steynberg
GUNS AND ROSES	melanie whipman
The Consultation	Melanie White
Let there be no no	Michael Bird
Gomorrah Shade	Michael Crossan
A Vocation	Michael Cumiskey
Some Go Dancing	Michael Davis
Patriot in Their Midst	Michael Dwyer
Only Three Billion Dreams	Michael Forester
Painting	Michael Lawlor
Boy at the Window	Michael Romyn
Hooked by a Hoarding	Michael Weatherilt
Tess	Michael Wilson
IDYLL	Michelle Scorziello
The Lock-Down	Mike Carter
The End of Soap	Mike Wendling
The Dance	Mimi Whittaker
SISTERS-IN-LAW	Miriam Hurley
The Blue Rectangle	Monika Pant
The Lesson	Morgan Davies
Heathens	Morowa Yejide
Another World	Mzana Mthimkhulu
Last Christmas In Barrie	Natalya Anderson
Hero to zero	Ned Bright
A Good Beating	neil cubley
The Glasshouse	Neil Hegarty
Under	Niamh Donnelly
The Great Turkey Shoot-out	nichole beauchamp
Song DC	Nick Fonos
Paper Boats	Nike Sulway
Coming Home	Nikita Eaton-Lusignan
4AM	Nikki Mottram
Last Offices	nina milton
The Tomb of the Tomb Builders	nina milton
Eggs	nollaig rowan
The Backpacker	Oana Aristide
Venom	Oana Aristide
The Opposite Of Omniscience	Owain Paciuszko
The Universe Hums in B-Flat	Paddy Scott
Horses	Pat O'Connor
The Museum of Future Art	Pat O'Connor
Tulips	Pat O'Connor
Boxes	Pat O'Connor
Cat	Pat O'Connor
The days, they punish you	Patrick Gleeson
Now more than ever	patrick wakeling
The Canon's Yeoman's Second Tale	Paul Freeman
The Thin Line	pauline rooney
If I've Got the Balls	Peter Hill
Golf On The Brain	Peter Kettle
Golf On The Brain	Peter Kettle
The Island	Peter Rodgers
Honda 50	Phil Byrne
The Magic of Migration	Polly Price
The Good Wife	Rachael Charmley
Her Last Show	Rebecca F John
The Lizard King	Rebecca Graham
Into Invisible	Rhonda Collis
Moonlight	Ric Carter
Back Catalogue	Richard Barnett
How To Make The Perfect Roll-Up	Richard Knight
His Own Little Victory	Richard Raymond
God's Speed	Rob Davies
What do you really think of me?	Rob Ganley
Her name is Erica	Rob Perry
Man Surrounded	Robert Arnott
Amen	Robert Mundy
Trig point	Roisin Collins
Taking the Backseat	Romi Jones
fridays like christmas	ronald callander
The Dream Dispatcher	Ronnie Greig
Ten Fags Gone	Rory Duffy
Young Robins Don't have Red Breasts	Rory Duffy
Silent Giving	rosemary jenkinson
Better Left Unsaid	Ruby Speechley
Grounded	Ruth Connelly
An Uncertain State.	Ruth Geldard
The Date Mate	Ruth Hayhurst
The Canary	Ruth Rawcliffe
The Banana & Watermelon Heist	Ryan Parker
Meeting on the Beach	S D West
The Life of a House	Sam Sudar
Jackpot	Samuel Wright
Winterreise	Sara Baker
The Arrow of Time	Sara Baker
Making Moussaka	Sara Roberts
The Mimi Spirits	Sarah Mann
The Crane	Sarah Quigley
A Few Innocuous Lines	Sarah Sleeper
The Red Horse	Saskia Ashby
Highly Effective People	scott winokur
Underground for the End of the World	Seth Insua
Hera's Echo	Seth Insua
The Dead Animals Register	Seth Insua
Little Andy's Cry	Seth Insua
Proclamations	Shannon Sweetnam
The Constant Winner	Sharon Boyle
The Words	Simon Cornish
Blood in The Lime	Siobhan Collins
Hammered Glass	Siobhan Harte
Mamaiji	Sohrab Fracis
One Hour, Three Times a Week	Sonal Aggarwal
The Smell of People Sleeping	Sophie Hampton
Grail/Grope	Stephen Policoff
The True Source of the Great Chicago Fire by Seamus McManus	Steve Wiley
Dilation	Stuart Bush-Harris
Heidi	Sue Cannon
Dandelion Seeds	Sue Cosgrave
Across The Rio Negro	Sue Cosgrave
Killing Time	Sue Cosgrave
Uncle Isaac's Theory of Time and Momentum	Sue Guiney
Somewhere Nice to Stay	Sue Harrop
The Storm	Susan Daniels
Fight Like	Susan McCreery
Are We in a Foreign Land?	Susan McKeown
Stew and Dumplings	Susan Shepherd
The peace with Daniel	Susanne Stich
The Summer King	Susie Murray
The Blue Bottle	Tania Dain
The Visitors.	Thomas Reilly
The Visitors.	Thomas Reilly
A Love Of Art	Toby Roebuck
They Live on Nectar	Tom Bryan
Caught	Tom Welsh
Pride	Toni Houston
As the world (re)turns	Tracey Iceton
Every Advantage of a Beating Heart	Tracy Maylath
Penny for your Thoughts	Tricia Holbrook
Birth Plan	Uschi Gatward
The Bird	Uschi Gatward
Dogs, Ducks and Drakes	Val Jones
The Sensitive Plant	Vanessa Furse Jackson
The Walking Wounded	Veronica Bright
The Carpenter, the Climber and the Refuse Collector	Victoria Heath
Helston Born	William Arnall-Culliford
The Trade	wolfgang eulitz
The Motorbike	wolfgang eulitz
The Car Salesman	wolfgang