Short Listed for Dorset Fiction Award
My story (which I'm not allowed to name) has moved silently from the Dorset Fiction Award long to the short list. That's three Dorset Fiction awards in a row I've made the short list. Winner named 1 July.
Long listed for the Dorset Fiction Award
I have a story in the long list for the third Dorset Fiction Award for stories of 1,000 words or fewer. Not allowed to say which is mine at this point. Fingers crossed for the short list.
'An Unexpected Fall of Snow' published by NFFD
' An Unexpected Fall of Snow' was published online as part of the National Flash Fiction Day Flash Flood on Saturday 16 June 2018.
Here it is - http://flashfloodjournal.blogspot.com/2018/06/an-unexpected-fall-of-snow-by-john.html
Excellent evening of short stories and more at Stokes Croft Writers Talking Tales event on Saturday 16 June
I read my new story 'The Most Beautiful Thing She has Ever Seen' and there were stories by Jason Jackson, Amanda Staples, Jonathan Evans and many more.
'An Unexpected fall of Snow' accepted for National Flash Fiction Day Flood Journal
My story is being published at 23.30 on Sat 16 June. Here - http://flashfloodjournal.blogspot.com/
'A Madness' published by 81 Words
My 81-word flash 'A Madness' has been published by 81words.com Here it is. It's number 381 -
https://www.christopherfielden.com/writing-challenges/81words-stories-301-to-400.php
Reading at Sunday Salon/Sofa - Sunday 1 July 2018
Lovely, out of the blue invitation from Jonny Fluffypunk to read at his Sunday Salon or Sunday Sofa event on Sunday 1 July at the SVA in Stroud. Poets Helen Ivory and Martin Figura reading too.
More info - http://www.johnhollandwrites.com/other-events/
Reading at Talking Tales on Saturday 16 June
My story 'The Most Beautiful Thing She has Ever Seen' has been selected for the next Stokes Croft Writers' Talking Tales event on Saturday 16 June. Doors 6.30. I'll be reading it at the LeftBank Centre 128 Cheltenham Road, Bristol BS6 5RW
Story short-listed for the Coleford Festival of Words Short Story Competition
Not allowed to say which story it is right now but one of mine has been shortlisted (one of ten) for the Coleford Festival of Words Short Story Competition on the subject of Ten. More info to follow -
http://www.thecolefordhub.info/ten-writing-competition-shortlist-announced/
http://www.thecolefordhub.info/festival-of-words/
Event on Monday 2 July at 5.30 at Coleford Baptist Church, 27 Whitecliff, Coleford GL16 8AJ when I'll be 'unmasked'. Tickets £2.
Tickets Tickets - http://www.thecolefordhub.info/festival-of-words/2018-festival-of-words-full-programme-and-bookings/
Fabulous 20 May Stroud Short Stories event 'On Pulling Newts from Ponds & Other Stories'
It was another sell-out crowd at the SVA to welcome and applaud our ten authors - Nastasya Parker, Steve Wheeler, Val Ormrod, James Northern, Jason Jackson, Joanna Campbell, Sarah Chapman, Rick Vick, Nick Browne and Judith Gunn. A really excellent evening with all ten stories performed superbly by their authors.
Images and videos here - http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.com/
The next event will be on 11 November 2018 as part of the Stroud Book Festival.
Two flash pieces published in 'Barely Casting a Shadow' Anthology
Two short pieces 'The Feather' and 'The Valley' have been published in the Reflex Fiction Anthology Volume One entitled 'Barely Casting a Shadow'.
Buy the anthology here
Talk to the Society of Authors
On Wednesday I gave a talk on The State of the Short Story to the Gloucestershire Chapter of the Society of Authors at the Amberley Inn, unsurprisingly in Amberley. I also read my flash piece 'Boyfriends' and my short story 'Da'.
Stroud Short Stories 20 May 2018
We received a record-equalling 128 submissions for the 20 May 2018 SSS event. Ali Bacon co-judged with me on this occasion. We chose stories by Nick Browne, Joann Campbell, Sarah Chapman, Val Ormrod, James Northern, Jason Jackson, Rick Vick, Steve Wheeler, Judith Gunn and Nastasya Parker.
The event sold out of tickets in just 5 days.
All info here - http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.co.uk/
Hawkesbury Upton LitFest 21 April 2018
I had a great time at Debbie Young's Hawkesbury Upton LitFest on Saturday 21 April. I chaired the short story session and read myself. I read with and chaired some brilliant writers - Ali Bacon, Nastasya Parker, Melanie Golding. Jenefer Heap, Ellie Stevenson, Deborah Jones, Mark Rutterford and Martin Brown.
I read my little stories Boyfriends, In Those Days and The First Time at her Place.
Cabinet of Heed publishes 'You're Very Beautiful'
The online literary journal The Cabinet of Heed has published my little story 'You're Very Beautiful' in its Science Fiction Special.
It's here - https://cabinetofheed.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/youre-very-beautiful-john-holland/
The Molotov Cocktail publishes 'Fat Man'
Delighted that my flash piece 'Fat Man' has been published online today in Volume 8 Issue 17 of The Molotov Cocktail, a US online literary zine.
It's here - https://themolotovcocktail.com/vol-8/vol-8-issue-17/fat-man/
Dorset Fiction Award have published two of my stories in their anthology Deceiving Light
Audio of me reading 'Lips' at Story Friday on 9 March 2018 in Bath
Here I am reading 'Lips' in front of a lovely audience at Burdalls Yard in Bath for Story Friday.
http://www.awordinyourear.org.uk/storyfridayarchive/2018-2/home-march/
Dorset Fiction Award to publish two of my stories in its first printed anthology
The Dorset Fiction Award's first printed anthology, soon to be published, will include two of my stories which were shortlisted in its two competitions to date - 'Orly' and 'How to Improve Productivity'. More info to follow.
US zine The Molotov Cocktail accepts 'Fat Man' for publication
Very happy that my little story 'Fat Man' has been accepted by the American literary journal The Molotov Cocktail for publication online. Should be soon too!