Announcement: Results of the Willesden Short Story Prize 2022

It was a very good night. Apologies for overrunning the time. Thanks to everyone who came and to Katy Darby and Claire Lacey for bringing the stories to life. Couldn’t have done any of it without the support of Liars’ League and Brent Libraries.

New Short Stories

The Willesden Short Story Prize 2022 was revealed at Willesden Library this evening. First prize went to “Hotline” byZakia Uddin (left).

Runners-up were “Vevey” by Catherine McNamara and “Cuckquean” by Jackie Morris.

Thanks to Claire Lacey and Katy Darby for bringing the stories to life and making the event go with a zing.

Thanks to Jarred McGinnis for judging and to the writers of all ten shortlisted stories, as every one is a prize-winner in this short story competition. (Ed.)

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That’s me reading poems at the Torriano Meeting House

12 June 2022: It was a pleasant Sunday evening of poetry and friendly chat, meeting local poets and listening to the top of the bill, Judi Sutherland’s commentary and excerpts from her epic poem, Following Teisa.

For the record my “set list” (because I’m like Bob Dylan y’know) was:

• Sonnet for Dandy
• The Holy Child of Sudbury Hill
• High-Flying Birds Know
• Outpatient segue to
• The People Who Did Good Things
• Winter Thoughts
• The Possibility of Skipping (Day of the Flying Leaves)
• In the Waiting Room of the Western Eye Hospital (Day of the Flying Leaves)
• Ballad (The Hour of Waking Alone)

As well as getting two poems out of my referral to the Western Eye Hospital, as I said at the Torriano, I also got this blog post, which should be subtitled “Angels or Demons,” and several other mercifully unpublished poems.

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Photo: “Frankie Pedantic at the Apollo” cartoon by Zoz (aka yours truly.)

Come up and see me in Kentish Town

I’ll be popping in to read for a few minutes as a guest poet before the main act. I’ll bring copies of my book and sign them for you, unless you would like one of the rare unsigned ones. (The old jokes are the best.)

June 12th – Judi Sutherland reading from her new pamphlet ‘Following Teisa’ introduced by Pauline Sewards. Here’s the Facebook event link:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1705216489818793/

7:30 pm, Sunday, June 12th
Torriano Meeting House
99 Torriano Ave, London NW5 2RX.

Tickets £5/£6 on the door.

At the demo for "a People’s Vote"

My day at the March for a People’s Vote. Caroline Lucas gave the best speech of the day. But Tony Robinson got the biggest cheer for the hilarious end section of his speech. “Now we all know, I’m only up here today to say five words. I HAVE A CUNNING PLAN!” He brought the house down, and went on to explain his cunning plan was the People’s Vote. That was a good laugh. Others were good too, of course, especially David Lammy and Vince Cable and the redoubtable Anna Soubry MP who closed the show with eclat and with an emotional call for love and fellowship.

Here’s a noisy video that “Google Photos” made all on its own from some of the contents of my phone-cam. It’s easier to post this than choosing and uploading individual items. There’s a picture of me near the end, looking like someone whose feet were killing them. Then there’s a picture of some nice people who allowed me to take a picture of them with their charming dog.

Update: The video was lost in the move to WordPress. But you can view the pictures in this Google photo album: On the People’s Vote March – Sunday 23 June 2018.

Co-edited with Katy Darby

See you at The Performance Space, Willesden Library Centre, 7:30 pm December 8th for the launch. Katy Darby will announce who will walk away with the priceless mug for 2016. Authors are flying in from far and wide. Actors will read a few short excerpts. Fun will be had.

Update: First prize went to Love and Hair by Olga Zilberbourg, a Russian writer based in San Francisco. Willesden Herald: New Short Stories 9 is now available from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com & other online booksellers. For report, videos and more, please visit New Short Stories.

Seagull

A seagull in Bristol

By the way, Chekhov’s play is on at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre, The Seagull (19 June – 11 July 2015).

Willesden Green Writers’ Group relaunch event

Looking forward to this on Thursday night. Maybe see you there? Free admission.

Small Wonder 2013

My favourite speakers this year: Jhumpa Lahiri, David Constantine, Lionel Shriver, Don Bachardy, Alison MacLeod and *Lonny Pop*. Oh and I seem to have won the short story slam, which has not influenced my choices at all (:^p). Well chuffed. It was good fun.

Short story event in Piccadilly

I was one of the readers at the first Costa Short Story Café event. The highlight was Helen Simpson reading a very funny story called “I’m going to have to let you go”. There was a good turnout, standing room only. A pleasant hour. (Link: Fiction Espresso)

I made this little video outside the venue.

At the London Literature Festival fringe

Last Night’s Dream Corrected

In the Storytelling Tent, Brent Respect 2007, Roundwood Park, NW10. Sunday, July 8th, after 5 p.m.

I will be there along with others including Vanessa Gebbie, Bilal Ghafoor, Richard Wright and Jonathan Attrill. Willesden Green Writers are also putting on their travelling show.

London’s book festival acquires a fringe

“First ever” London literature festival announced

London Literature Festival 2007

London Lit Plus