8 December at the Stokes Croft Writers’ Talking Tales event was also the launch of the To Hull And Back Anthology. There were eleven readings including by Pat Winslow, Steve Wheeler aka Steve John, Richard de Silva, Jonathan Macho, Leema Ahmed and Sherry Morris. I read my winning story ‘Lips’. Such a great night.
Four of my flash pieces have been published in the Earlyworks Press anthology of flash fiction and poetry ‘Records, Rivers and Rats’.
These are -
Modern Life
In Confidence
It doesn’t exist
Rats (which gave its name to the title of the anthology)
Buy the anthology at Amazon here.
Our 17th event ‘What Makes a Monster & Other Stories’ was part of the third Stroud Book Festival. Here’s a great article in the local newspaper the Stroud News & Journal which gives SSS two mentions.
https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/17219618.record-ticket-sales-for-stroud-book-festival/
A full house at the SVA in Stroud witnessed the 17th Stroud Short Stories event ‘What Makes a Monster & Other Stories’ on 11 November 2018.
A brilliant evening with stories written and read by Ali Bacon, Zara Wick, Clive Singleton, Andrew Stevenson, Amanda Staples, Ken Popple, Sophie Flynn, Stephen Connolly, Katie Witcombe and Sarah Hitchcock.
More info - http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.com/
The Anthology includes my winning story ‘Lips’. Details of where to buy here -
https://www.christopherfielden.com/books/to-hull-and-back-short-story-anthology-2018.php
Look at my stupid face on the cover!
The Next Stroud Short Stories event ‘What makes a Monster & Other Stories’ to be held on Sunday 11 November at the SVA in Stroud will feature stories by Ali Bacon, Andrew Stevenson, Clive Singleton, Zara Wick, Amanda Staples, Ken Popple, Sophie Flynn, Stephen Connolly, Katie Witcombe and Sarah Hitchcock.
112 stories were submitted by 85 Gloucestershire authors. Many thanks to my co-judge Debbie Young.
The event SOLD OUT IN 6 HOURS!
Thanks to the Stroud News and Journal for the little interview about my story ‘Lips’ winning first prize in the 2018 To Hull and back Short Story Competition.
Here it is - https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/16983601.stroud-author-takes-home-1000-for-major-award/?ref=twtrec
My story ‘Da’ has been selected for the Writers Unchained event on Sunday 7 October - at the Southbank Centre, Bristol 7.30 start. I’ll be reading a shortened version of the story that won the 2016 InkTears Contest. Mark Rutterford, Ali Bacon, Rosalind Minett also reading.
The brand new SSS Anthology is being launched at the Ale House in John Street, Stroud on Friday 28 September 2018 from 7.00 to 10.00pm.
The anthology costs £10 and contains stories from the six SSS events from Nov 2015 to May 2018. That’s 57 stories by 45 authors.
Come along. It’s free and unticketed.
More info here.
Woohoo! My story ‘Lips’ has won FIRST PRIZE in the 2018 To Hull And Back Short Story Competition. That’s £1,000, published in a print anthology, the cover of which will bear my face, and a videod day out in Hull with Chris Fielden who runs the comp.
With the Dorset Fiction Award for ‘Cows’ in July that’s two First Prizes in four months.
Link - https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-competition/results-2018.php#Winners
The online literary journal The Cabinet of Heed has published my little story ‘Islands’ in its 12 Issue.
Here it is - https://cabinetofheed.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/islands-john-holland/
Really chuffed that my story 'Lips' is one of 20 stories short listed for the £1,000 To Hull and Back short story competition. The winners are announced on 22 September.
'Stroud Short Stories Volume Two 2015-18' is being launched at the Ale House in John Street, Stroud on Friday 28 September from 7pm to 10pm. Everything about the book and how to buy a copy and about the anthology itself is on the SSS website.
Do come along to the launch. Everyone is welcome and it's free and unticketed.
My Reflex Fiction long-listed flash piece 'Nature Implores' has been published today. Here it is -
https://www.reflexfiction.com/nature-implores-flash-fiction-by-john-holland/
I submitted six pieces of microfiction to the Earlyworks Press 2018 Flash Fiction Competition - max words 100. Four have been short listed and will be published in the forthcoming anthology.
These are the pieces -
Modern Life
It Doesn't Exist
In Confidence
Rats
My little story 'Islands' is going to be published by the online literary journal The Cabinet of Heed. Hurrah. Thank you Simon Webster.
It took Simon just 6 hours to make that decision. Lightning fast turnround!
The Stroud News and Journal has included a story about my Dorset Fiction Award win.
Here it is - http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/16383925.stroud-author-john-holland-scoops-international-prize/
'The Ten Tests of Secret Love' has been short-listed for the Coleford Festival of Words Short Story Competition. I read it in Coleford at the festival launch in July 2018. Here it is in the online anthology -
http://www.thecolefordhub.info/festival-of-words/coleford-festival-of-words-anthology-2018/
So pleased!! You can read it here on the Dorset Fiction Award website -
My wee piece ' Nature Implores' has been long listed for the Reflex Fiction flash fiction competition and will be published don their website in August or September.