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 novel, The Last Romantics, which has just been published, is also receiving excellent reviews, including this from the celebrated writer, Meg Wolitzer: “Tara Conklin is a generous writer who deftly brings us into the world of this fictional family, an engrossing and vivid place where I was happy to stay. The Last Romantics is a richly observed novel, both ambitious and welcoming.” It has also been named a best book for February in numerous places including Goodreads, Lithub and Bustle.
Congratulations to Tara. It’s wonderful to see her brilliant writing reaching more and more readers.
Tara’s 2010 shortlisted story is available in our volume 3 anthology, from Tangent Books. The anthology also features stories by Claire King, Jonathan Pinnock and Marli Roode, who have all subsequently had novels published.

Each year 20 writers selected for the Bristol Short Story Prize shortlist have their stories published in an anthology by Tangent Books.