Jul 03, 2019 | Joe Melia
Congratulations to Gina Challen, whose debut short story collection, Chalk Tracks, has just been published by Valley Press. The collection features Magpie, Gina’s story which was shortlisted for the 2015 Bristol Short Story Prize, The stories in Chalk Tracks are set in the landscape of the South Downs “where the chalk hills roll out to…
May 23, 2019 | Joe Melia
Happy publication day to our 2014 winner, Mahsuda Snaith, whose second novel, How to this Find Home, is officially launched today. The novel has been receiving great praise already. Amanda Berriman, author of Home, calls it “A brilliant novel that humanises people who are so often dehumanised . . . Unflinchingly honest. Everyone should read…
May 13, 2019 | Joe Melia
More exciting news for our 2017 winner, Dima Alzayat, has been announced. Her debut short story collection, Alligator and Other Stories, will be published by prestigious publisher Picador Books in 2020. Dima was signed by literary agent, Juliet Pickering after Juliet first saw Dima’s work when judging the 2017 Bristol Short Story Prize. Juliet has…
Apr 23, 2019 | Joe Melia
It is great to see that The Things We Thought We Knew, the debut novel by our 2014 winner, Mahsuda Snaith, has been selected as one of the 23 books featured in today’s high profile World Book Night extravaganza. Mahsuda’s brilliant writing will now find many more readers. World Book Night is one of the…
Apr 18, 2019 | Joe Melia
Happy publication day to Fiona Mitchell, a three-time shortlistee for the Bristol Short Story Prize. Fiona’s second novel, The Swap , is officially published today, and promises to be an all-consuming read: ‘When two strangers, Tess and Annie, undergo IVF at an American clinic, their embryos are mixed up and each woman gives birth to…
Apr 10, 2019 | Joe Melia
Brent van Staalduinen, who won the 2015 Bristol Short Story Prize, has a very exciting 2020 ahead with two novels scheduled to be published by leading Canadian indie publisher, Dundurn Press. The Ontario-based writer’s second novel, Boy, will come out in early 2020 and will be followed by a young adult novel, Nothing But Life,…
Apr 03, 2019 | Joe Melia
Happy publication day to our 2012 runner-up, Alys Conran, whose second novel, Dignity, is officially published today! The novel has been receiving big praise: Fiona McFarlane, award-winning author of The Night Guest, says it is “An exquisite novel: compassionate, beautiful and unflinching. I’m full of admiration for the skill with which it draws connections between the past and present, and manages…
Apr 01, 2019 | Joe Melia
Danielle McLaughlin has recently received some very good news. She has been named as a winner of one of the world’s richest literary awards, The Windham-Campbell Prize, alongside seven other writers. Danielle will receive $165,000! The judges’ said: “Danielle McLaughlin’s short stories capture the beauty and brutality of human relationships, imbuing them with near-magical qualities…
Mar 28, 2019 | Joe Melia
Small Blessings, Emily Brewin’s second novel has recently been published in Australia by Allen and Unwin. The Melbourne-based writer was shortlisted for the 2017 Bristol Short Story Prize. She has also been awarded an Australian Society of Authors Emerging Writers’ and Illustrators’ Mentorship for her fiction writing, and has been shortlisted for Hachette Australia’s Manuscript…
Feb 25, 2019 | Joe Melia
Since being shortlisted for our 2010 prize and published in our 3rd anthology, US-based writer, Tara Conklin, has gone on to great success Her shortlisted story, Signs of Our Redemption, formed the basis for her successful debut novel, The House Girl, which became a New York Times bestseller. It’s great to see that Tara’s second…
Feb 13, 2019 | Joe Melia
Congratulations to Angela Readman, who was shortlisted for the BSSP in 2012 and published in our 5th anthology . Angela’s debut novel, Something Like Breathing, has just been published by leading UK indie publisher And Other Stories.It has been receiving some great reviews. Sarah Gilmartin, writing in the Irish Times says: ‘From the wilderness of the…
Jan 21, 2019 | Joe Melia
The new year has started very well for Bethan James, who was shortlisted for last year’s Bristol Short Story Prize with her brilliant story, Waste. She has been signed by literary agent, Harry Illingworth of the DHH Literary Agency. Bethan says: “I’m utterly delighted to be signed Harry Illingworth at DHH – it’s home to…
Dec 18, 2018 | Joe Melia
Our 2014 winner, Mahsuda Snaith, has received some great news: her debut novel The Things We Thought We Knew has been selected as one of the books to be given away on World Book Night next year. Mahsuda’s book is one of 23 to be chosen for the major event. The list also includes titles…
Nov 28, 2018 | Joe Melia
Jonathan Pinnock, who was shortlisted for the 3rd Bristol Short Story Prize in 2010, has recently had his 2nd book of the year published, The Truth about Archie and Pie. The novel, published by Farrago, has been receiving lots of praise, including from publisher Scott Pack, who calls it “Funny, clever and sometimes brilliantly daft.”…
Nov 24, 2018 | Joe Melia
Big congratulations to Rachel Sargeant, who was shortlisted for our 2010 prize. Rachel’s fourth novel, The Roommates, will be published by HarperCollins next year. Rachel’s most recent novel, The Perfect Neighbours, was a top ten Kindle bestseller and sold over 100,000 copies. As well as being shortlisted for out 2010 writing competition she has won…
