Presenting... Landmarks.

Our 2015 anthology now has a name and a face.

It is called Landmarks,and we owe our thanks to Ian Shine for letting us borrow the name.

National Flash-Fiction Day Anthology 2015

Well, it's been a tortuous job to winnow the 200+ submission down to our selection, but Angi Holden and myself have finally managed it. And so we are pleased to announce that the stories in this years anthology will be as follows:

A Curious State of Affairs  by  Ingrid Jendrzejewski

A Secret Weight  by  KM Elkes

Bad Geography  by  James Coates

Colouring In  by  Shirley Golden

Coming Back to Primorsk  by  Anna Nazarova-Evans

Countdown  by  Susan Howe

Devil's Mountain  by  Joanna Campbell

Dinner and Geography  by  Keith Gillison

Disputed Zone  by  Barbara Leahy

Double Geography  by  Jane Cooper

Forty Seconds  by  Katie Stevens

How The Earth Began  by    Jenny Woodhouse

Her geography    by  Rob Walton

Holiday Photograph  by  Else Fitzgerald

I Am Maps*  by  H Anthony Hildebrand

Keeping in touch  by  Amanda Quinn

Landmarks  by  Ian Shine

London  by  Tracey Upchurch

Love  by  Nik Perring

North  by   Michelle Elvy

On Location  by  Jon Volkmer

On the Beach  by  Kate Mahony

Pen Y Fan  by  Susan Carey (Angela Williams)

Petty Larceny at the Grocery  by  Beverly C. Lucey

Postcards  by  Mike Scott Thomson

Re:Help  by  Sandra Kohls

Saharan Shades  by  Santino Prinzi

Spinning the Bottle  by  Timothy Mark Roberts

Sweet Gestures  by  Chris Stanley

The Beautiful Game  by  Sonya Oldwin

The Blue House  by  Cath Barton

The Gambler  by  Richard Holt

The Next Island  by  Jamie Hubner

The Owner  by  Bart Van Goethem

The Psychiatrist's Shoe  by  Nod Ghosh

Toy Soldier  by  Pauline Masurel

Tunnels  by  Marie Gethins

Tunnels  by  Isobel Victoria Newham (Vicky)

Useless Without The Other Half  by  Vanessa Savage

Wall Map  by  Emeline Morin

Welcome to All Souls’ Park  by  Gemma Govier

Who Can Hear The Screaming  by  Kirsten Anne McKenzie

Would It Kill You to Smile, Blanca Gomez?  by  Nuala Ní Chonchúir

You Promised  by  Cath Bore

Love in Different Time Zones  by  Jane Roberts

A Place in Time   by  Ruth Doris

Five Travellers in a Small Ford   by  James Norcliffe

Scattered (After Mike Blow's Aeolus)   by  Emily Koch

The Somewhere Road  by  Alex Reece Abbott

Third Shadow  by  Tim Stevenson

Hilary Is the Winters of Keith's Discontent  by  Kevlin

We Endure  by  Cathy Lennon

How Can I Get You to Dance?  by  Angela Readman

Ultima Thule  by  Jonathan Pinnock

Travels in Ink  by  Angi Holden

Your Body Is Terrain They Can Map Now (Not That That Helps You, Much)  by  Amy Mackelden

A Face in the Crowd  by  Calum Kerr

Saddle Stitch  by  Michelle Keefe

I am East  by  Sarah Hilary

Fingers Crossed  by  SJI Holliday

Fable  by  Oli Morris

With the winning and commended titles from the Micro-Fiction Competition:

Fly  by  Rob Walton

i want someone who loves me so much they don't care about grammar  by  Laura Tansley

A Weekend Away  by  Diane Simmons

The Pacifist  by  Nick Triplow

Marks and Sparks  by  Ian Shine

Spreading The Chaos  by  Mark Newman

A History Of Ants In The Sugar Bowl  by  Julie Sawyer

Maturity  by  Jude Higgins

Stiff  by  Joanna Campbell

And A Bottle Of Rum  by  Garreth Wilcock

Congratulations to all who made it in. Commiserations to those who were unsuccessful. 

We are currently working on the title and the cover, and those will be announced as soon as can be!

Thanks to all who took part, to Angi for helping to select the stories, and to Amy and Tino for their amazing work.

More soon...

Calum Kerr

Director of NFFD

NFFD Micro-Fiction Competition Winners!

Well, the judges have sweated and grumbled, but in the end we managed to get them to make a decision, and we're pleased to announce the winning 10 stories from this year's over-300 entries to the Micro-Fiction competition.

The only stipulation was that the story should be 100 words or fewer and I think you'll be amazed at what they achieved.

The top three will win packages of books and cash, and all ten will appear in this year's anthology, which will be available for National Flash-Fiction Day on 27th June.

Congratulations and thanks to all who entered for making the judges' jobs so hard, and extra congratulations to our winners!

FIRST PRIZE

Fly

by Rob Walton

I’m rushing to push my lunch box in to my bag when I see these two who must be flying a kite on the green triangle outside the school because she’s holding a length of string, showing him how to thread it through his fingers, but then I realise she’s teaching fly fishing with no river for miles and the nearest polluted anyway and I look again, and she’s reading him Ted Hughes and he’s hanging on every word as he casts better than anyone I’ve ever seen, and we all realise that rivers are just a bonus extra.

SECOND PRIZE

I want someone who wants me so much they don’t care about grammar 

by Laura Tansley

On a canker of a concrete wall in a ground-up grey car park the colour of chewed gum a lover paints in lower case ‘your nicer than my wife’ above the butt bumper of a blue Fiesta. Each morning it waggles its way out of the space like a preening duck presenting. And when the bay is empty I lie on the earth to feel the heat of tires, the smoked breath of exhaust fumes and high-humidity whispers.

THIRD PRIZE

A Weekend Away 

by Diane Simmons

When I struggled off the train, you laughed, ‘You’ve brought rather a lot.’

In formal hall, I copied how others ate, tried not to grimace at the musty wine. At the theatre, you laughed when an actor spat into the audience. I tried to look like I thought it funny.

I tried to enjoy the beer you bought me in Trinity College bar, tried to like your boisterous friends, was pleased when one asked, ‘What are you reading?’

I didn’t understand why everyone laughed when I replied, ‘The new Ian Rankin.’

But when you laughed, I understood you.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Marks and Sparks 

by Ian Shine

Her online dating profile said she was into M&S, so I proposed we meet up at our local shopping centre. I've been helping her with her dyslexia for a few months now, and she's been giving me the time of my life.

The Pacifist 

by Nick Triplow

Old man Wilson, he calls himself a pacifist. Exchanges opinions and anecdotes for drinks at the Danny’s Bar: a cut price raconteur preaching non-violence. Last night I discovered he carried a loaded .38 in the pocket of his reefer. I said, ‘How d’you square it, this turn the other cheek shit, with the thirty-eight?’

He boot-heeled his cigarette, gave a smile that showed gaps where teeth used to be. ‘Wouldn’t feel right bein’ a pacifist without it.’

"But— "

He pulled it, cocked it and rested the business end against my forehead. ‘See son, how peaceful that makes you feel?’

A History of Ants in the Sugar Bowl 

by Julie Sawyer

“Little blighters are back again” Stan said. “Look” he added, finger stabbing the sugar bowl. Margo looked. “This‘ll teach ‘em” Stan muttered, pouring boiling water from the kettle into the frosted glass, grunting with satisfaction as a dozen or so agonised black forms caught mid-syrup. Margo imagined she could hear their tiny screams. “You’ll have to ant powder the place again” she said. Stan glared at the offending bowl and harrumphed, before stomping out to the shed. Touching the recently emptied matchbox in her pocket, Margo watched him go; knowing that she now had a whole afternoon to herself.  

And A Bottle of Rum 

by Garreth Wilcock

"Then the Pirate Queen sliced my ribs with her cutlass and I fell to the deck as she left."

He lifted his gown to show the gruesome scar to his niece.

"So how did you get off your ship and into Papworth Hospital?"

"Glad you asked. Mermaids towed my ship to shore, and my parrot stole a mobile and called 999."

"Daddy says you had a double lung transplant, and you might be confused. Because of morphine."

Morphine, yes, but not confused. Just not ready to tell a child that he was breathing with treasure from a dead man's chest.

Spreading the Chaos 

by Mark Newman

He is taking groceries into the house, an obedient little puppy; his wife directing him as if this is something that needs supervision.

Out the window she yells 'oi, shit brains. I've had the abortion, so screw you, have it all your way'.

He looks on with a bemused expression, a lost little boy, unsure which way to turn. His wife punches him on the shoulder; still he holds her gaze.

She winds the window up; gives a mock salute and drives away.

She has never seen this man before. This is just something she does; spreading the chaos.

Maturity 

by Jude Higgins

I'll avoid sitting on cold flag stones, swimming on a full stomach, going out with wet hair, bringing lilacs into the house or trusting men whose eyebrows meet in the middle.

I'll wear a dress – sometimes heels, attend my degree ceremonies, get a proper job, stay married, have babies, cook roast dinners, celebrate Christmas, visit relatives, hold family gatherings, stop causing arguments. Be kind.

I'll do what I want, even if my mother wants it too.

Even if it makes me happy.

Stiff 

by Joanna Campbell

When our Rose wouldn't put her arms in the sleeves of her best frock, Mam wept. Not just because of wanting Rose beautiful, but on account of the photographer charging by the minute.

“We’re up to a week’s housekeeping already,” Mam hissed, pinching Rose’s cheeks to raise a bloom.

I imagined four loaves, three quarts of milk and a string of prime sausage floating out the window.

Rose were right starchy-stiff. I couldn't twist her arm.

So I crouched behind and pushed my arms through her sleeves, lacing my fingers, just how our Mam wanted the corpse to look.

Micro-Fiction Competition 2015 - Longlist

Hello everyone,

Well, the judges have been doing their thing, and we are close to being able to announce our top 10 and our winner!

But just to get you in the mood, here is our longlist of 25. I will only post the titles at the moment, but you'll know who you are.

Final announcement of the top ten will be out soon.

Well done to everyone who entered. A hard job for the judges as ever.


Longlist:

A Giant Emerges
A History Of Ants In The Sugar Bowl
A Weekend Away
And A Bottle Of Rum
Another's
At the Seams
Cosmic Latte
Fly
Home Maintenance
I want someone who wants me so much they don’t care about grammar
Instructions for Dreaming of the Dead
Justified Violence
Letters
Marks and Sparks
Maturity
Night Watch
Ramon The Killer
Sisters
Spreading the Chaos
Staying At Grandma’s
Stiff
The City in Winter
The Mark of the Finger
The Pacifist
Tinted

Bulletin 07/05/15

Hello everyone,

Well, here in the UK it is Election Day. I'm just about to head out to vote and I urge you to do the same. (If I said I don't care who you vote for, I'd be lying - of course I care - but whoever it is, I just think you should vote.)

Once you've written your X in the box, maybe it's time to sit down and use even more letters to create something almost as wonderful as a functioning democracy. I'm talking, of course, about flash-fictions!

Our Anthology is still open for submissions. This year's theme is 'geography' which covers everything from technical terms about erosion or land-masses to stories rooted firmly in place (galaxy, planet, country, city, village, house, lounge, this chair... the choice is yours.) The closing date is 15th May so you still have time to enter. Details at: http://nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/anth.html

And, we are also running our Micro-Fiction competition looking for stories of 100 words or fewer. This one has prizes including books (some listed on the site, more to be added) and cash! Also, the top ten will be featured in this year's anthology. So, it's definitely worth a go. Full details at http://nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/comp.html.

If you could post, tweet, blog and otherwise share the news of those two opportunities (repeatedly) then we would, as ever, be utterly grateful.

Other things are on the horizon, with Bristol announcing their Flash-Fiction Day activities, including this year's reading being hosted by Foyles!

Big Smoke in Dublin are also gearing up, as are a number of others. We're adding events to the website at http://nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/events.html, so send us yours and we'll put you up there. 

Coming up sooner, for those in and around Manchester, you can see the wondrous David Gaffney, Sarah-Clare Conlon, Nicholas Royle, Kate Feld, Claire Dean, Sarah Butler and more at 'Re/Place – Stories that are right up your street'. It takes place on 20th May and is free. Doors are open at 7.30pm. 30 Manchester Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9PH. See replacemcr.wordpress.com for more.

Anyway, that's it for now. Share our news, go out and vote, then come back and get writing. 

Happy Flashing!

Calum.

--

Calum Kerr

Director, National Flash-Fiction Day

www.facebook.com/nationalflashfictionday

http://www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/

(This bulletin was originally sent as an email to our mailing list. If you would like to be added, please email us at nationalflashfictionday@gmail.com and we'll put you on the list for future mailings.)

Bulletin 09/04/15

Hello everyone,

Well, it's taken a little longer than usual to get up and running this year (thanks to that thing called 'Life') but here we are, and we're starting to look forward to this year's National Flash-Fiction Day. 

It will be held on Saturday 27th June 2015, some events are already in the pipeline, but now is the time for you to start thinking about what you'd like to do in your area to celebrate Flash-Fiction and short, short stories of all kinds.

In previous years, people have held readings, workshops, and slams, run competitions, compiled anthologies, staged Flash flash-mobs and more. What are you going to do? Let us know and we'll help promote your event.

To get things going we're now accepting submissions for a new issue of our pop-up journal, Flash-Flood. Submissions are open until midnight on Wednesday 15th April, and the journal will appear online all day on Friday 17th April. More information and submission guidelines can be found at http://flashfloodjournal.blogspot.co.uk/ and http://flashfloodjournal.blogspot.co.uk/p/submission-guidelines.html. Please spread the word and, of course, send us your stories.

We will also soon be launching both our Micro-Fiction competition and our Anthology, so stay turned for more information on those.

This is the fourth year of National Flash-Fiction Day and we hope you're as excited as we are. We'll be doing lots of things here, but with your help we can make it the best one yet.

More soon,

Calum Kerr

Director, National Flash-Fiction Day

www.facebook.com/nationalflashfictionday

http://www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/

Happy National Flash-Fiction Day 2014!

Hooray!

It seems to have been on its way for a long time, but the day is finally here.

So Happy National Flash-Fiction Day everyone!

I shan't keep you for long, but just to round up all the things you need to be aware of.

First, we have the events which are running today. Details of those are on the website and on the blog. I shall be in Bristol doing the FREE workshop and the FREE reading, along with loads of other talented writers, so do come along and say 'hi!'. Or, if it's too far away, consider one of the other events.

And if they are all too far, but you want to get involved, then we have launched a Write-In which will be taking place all day. A team of editors are standing by, and a selection of prompts are there to get you started. All that is over at https://thewrite-in.blogspot.com/ so why not pop over and write a quick one!

We are also promoting a range of eBooks, some free, some ridiculously cheap, including both the previous NFFD anthologies and the new one. All the details of that are also on the blog. 

Paper copies of the new anthology will be on sale at the Bristol events, or you can order one now from Amazon. It is, as ever, a fantastic read. 

And we are, of course, streaming stories out into the world all day, with FlashFlood. So do pop over, read some, and leave the writers some nice comments. 

And, at this point, before I sign off, I need to say a few words of thanks:

First, and most importantly, thanks to my wife, Kath. She had put up with me working long days on NFFD, and being either spaced out or grumpy. And she stepped in as a FlashFlood editor too. So, thanks, love!

Thanks to the judges of our Micro-Fiction competition - Cathy Bryant, Jon Pinnock, Carys Bray, Angela Readman, Kevlin Henney and Tim Stevenson. 

Extra thanks to Tim for rebuilding our website and putting up with me being stroppy, and to Angela for helping to edit the anthology and pull together another amazing selection of stories. And thanks also to Amy Mackelden for sterling work marshaling the stories, preparing manuscripts, keeping track of everything, and even co-editing the anthology. Every despot needs an Amy.

And finally, thanks to all of you. Without the readers and the writers, National Flash-Fiction Day would just be me, in a room, typing to myself. So, I thank you, and my sanity thanks you. 

Now, that's all. Get on with you, you crazy kids, haven;t you got stories to write, or read, or share?

Have a great day.

Calum

Calum Kerr

Director, National Flash-Fiction Day

www.facebook.com/nationalflashfictionday

http://www.nationalflashfictionday.co.uk/