Jan 29, 2016 | Joe Melia
Many congratulations to Danielle McLaughlin, whose debut collection of short stories, Dinosaurs on Other Planets (John Murray), was published earlier this month in the UK and has been receiving widespread acclaim, just as it did when it was first published in Ireland by The Stinging Fly last year. Here are some of the great reviews…
Jan 19, 2016 | Joe Melia
We’re thrilled to have another fantastic judging panel for this year’s Bristol Short Story Prize. The panel will be chaired by the brilliant Tania Hershman. Tania is the author of two celebrated short story collections, The White Road and Other Stories (Salt, 2008), which was commended by the judges of the 2009 Orange Award for…
Dec 04, 2015 | Joe Melia
In the fifth and final of our Best Short Stories of 2015 features there are many more great collections to celebrate. A huge thank you to all those who contributed and we hope you enjoy discovering new writers and stories as much as we have. Helen Dunmore (Award-winning, celebrated writer of short stories, poetry, novels…
Dec 03, 2015 | Joe Melia
Our 2015 short story celebration continues……. Chioma Okereke (Writer of fiction and poetry, Chioma’s debut novel, Bitter Leaf (Virago), was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 2011 – Africa Best First Book. She was a runner up in the 2013 Costa Short Story Award) While the publishing industry is on its quest for what…
Dec 02, 2015 | Joe Melia
More great short story recommendations coming up in today’s selection of 2015’s best collections: Sinéad Gleeson (Arts journalist & broadcaster, Sinéad presents The Book Show on RTÉ Radio 1 in Ireland. She is the editor of the short story anthologies The Long Gaze Back and Silver Threads of Hope (New Island Books)) A Manual for…
Dec 01, 2015 | Joe Melia
Here’s part 2 of this week’s look at the best short story collections of the year. Enjoy! Elizabeth McCracken (Author of 2 story collections and 3 novels, Elizabeth’s most recent collection, Thunderstruck & Other Stories (Vintage), won the 2015 Story Prize. She is James A. Michener Chair in Fiction at the University of Texas)…
Nov 30, 2015 | Joe Melia
2015 has been a great year for short story collections. We thought we’d celebrate this by inviting some writers, readers and publishers to select their favourite collections of the year. A huge thank you to all those who have submitted their recommendations. We’ll be posting the selections every day this week until Friday, so please…
Oct 27, 2015 | Joe Melia
We are very excited to announce that the 2016 Bristol Short Story Prize is open! The closing date for entries is 30th April 2016. Stories can be on any theme or subject and entry can be made online via the website or by post. Entries must be previously unpublished with a maximum length of 4,000…
Oct 22, 2015 | Joe Melia
The 2016 Bristol Short Story Prize will be launched next Tuesday, October 27th. And ahead of opening our new competition we are delighted to announce our brilliant new judging panel for 2016. They bring with them huge experience, knowledge and uncompromising commitment to short stories. They are also wonderful supporters of new and established writers.…
Oct 19, 2015 | Joe Melia
Our 2015 Awards Ceremony took place in the most appropriate setting imaginable – the wonderful Reading Room in Bristol’s Central Library. It was great to welcome 11 of this year’s shortlisted writers to the event and celebrate their writing. Our guest speaker for the evening…
Oct 15, 2015 | Joe Melia
The 2015 Bristol Short Story Prize has been won by Canadian writer, Brent van Staalduinen. His haunting story, A Week on the Water, thrilled the judges. Sara Davies, chair of the judging panel, says that it is “a story that perfectly illustrates the art of narrative understatement. On the surface it’s about fishing, but as…
Sep 28, 2015 | Joe Melia
Once again this year we are very fortunate to be publishing an anthology featuring 20 fantastic writers. And with the 2015 Awards Ceremony only 12 days away, we are delighted to introduce the 20 writers who are in the running for this year’s top prize. Michael Bird is an award-winning journalist and writer…
Sep 26, 2015 | Joe Melia
Each year we run an anthology cover design project with final year Illustration degree students at the University of the West of England. We are always astounded at the quality and originality of the work submitted by the students. Many congratulations to Imogen Clifton whose design (right) we are delighted to be using for this…
Sep 16, 2015 | Joe Melia
Yana Stajno‘s debut novel, Rules for Thursday Lovers, has recently been published by Clink Street Publishing. In Yana’s own words the novel: “Juxtaposes the mundane responsibilities of getting older with a never ending thirst for affection and adventure”. The Portobello Book Blog calls it “A highly entertaining read” and book blogger, Victoria Goldman, calls it…
Aug 28, 2015 | Joe Melia
Paul O’Reilly’s debut collection of short stories, The Girl Missing From the Window, has recently been published by Doire Press to great acclaim. Hubert O’Hearn, writing in the San Diego Book Review, says: “Ireland is truly blessed by its wealth of great short story writers who have been nurtured and encouraged by storytelling tradition with…
