In January 2014 I became the organiser of Stroud Short Stories. It is, quite simply, a labour of love.
Stroud Short Stories is a twice-yearly short stories non-profit making event held in the spring and autumn. The aim is to encourage, promote and showcase contemporary short story writing in Gloucestershire. And to provide a varied, stimulating and enjoyable evening's entertainment.
The format is simple but effective one. Writers submit their stories. It’s always free to submit. We choose ten. The authors read them to a packed audience.
All information about submitting stories and about recent SSS events is on our website is http://stroudshortstories.blogspot.co.uk/
Stroud Short Stories was founded by local artist and writer Bill Jones in 2011. I took over from Bill in January 2014.
In 2024 I was Awarded the Stroud News and Journal Community Award in the category Contribution to the Arts, for my work with Stroud Short Stories.
Our THIRD ANTHOLOGY covering the seven events from November 2018 to May 2022 was published in September 2022. It features 69 stories by 48 authors. It was edited by me. Cover design by James Holland.
The anthology was Short Listed for a Saboteur Award as the Best Anthology of 2022-23.
All info about this and our earlier anthologies, including where to buy and all the authors included, is here.
A new anthology, Stroud Short Syories VOLUME FOUR 2022-2025, will be publshed in 2026.
We held special 5th and 10th year anniversary events at Cheltenham Literature Festival in October 2016 and October 2022. They each featured seven of my favourite stories from the latest SSS Anthology.
Videos of the authors reading their stories in 2016 and 2022 are on our website here. (You may need to scroll down)
Our latest event, ALL THIS USELESS BEAUTY, was held on Sunday 9 November 2025. The theme was BEAUTY. It was our 30th event.
As usual ten stories were selected for the authors to read at our event.
The event took place at a NEW VENUE the Lansdown Hall in Stroud and was part of the 2025 Stroud Book Festival.
The event sold out in advance. That’s the 11th year in a row that the autumn SSS has sold out.
More information about our events and about submitting stories is on our website
141 Gloucestershire authors have read at Stroud Short Stories since its inception in 2011. These include Alice Jolly, Adam Horovitz, Philip Rush, Philip Douch, Jo Bousfield, Rick Vick, Andrew Stevenson, Chloe Turner, Debbie Young, Mary Omnes, Peter Adams, Bill Jones, Nimue Brown, Simon Piney, Anthony Hentschel, Ali Bacon, Melanie Golding, Mark Rutterford, Geoff Mead, Nastasya Parker, Steve Wheeler (aka Steven John), Jason Jackson, Nastasya Parker, Joanna Campbell, Sophie Flynn, Emma Kernahan, Robin Booth, Georgia Boon, Rebecca Klassen, Hannah Glickstein, Nick Adams, Laura Kinnear, Sarah Hancock, David Goodland, Sean W. Quigley, Joel Levy, Jacob Parker, Val Ockwell, Jess Blatchley, Gillian Metheringham, Steph Smith, Sophie Holland and me!
SSS contact details are on our Contact page.