Where to start...

Since last time I posted?

Well I went for a fabulous two weeks down in Cornwall, body-boarding. The weather could have been sunnier, but when you are skimming the waves and drenched anyway, a little light drizzle doesn't seem to get in your way!

At least the temperature held steady, so teeth didn't chatter when we left the surf. SO un-cool!

-oOo-

I have just heard I've made the top ten in the recent Doorknobs & Bodypaint summer Dorsel competition, on the theme "Heat". Friends Oonah Joslin and John Allen were also placed (higher up) so I don't feel lonely! Well done to the pair of you! All winning stories will be published. My entry was called "Never Smile at a Crocodile", and was a wee bit naughty!

I've also made the Short Humour site's anthology, with a story called "Drizzled Hope". My husband says this is very apt, as I am both short and (upon occasion) humorous! Synergy in action there then!

And let me see now, which of my flashes have been published since last time?

Well there's "The Tryst" and "Cornbread and Candy Sauce" in The Ranfurly Review @:

http://www.ranfurly-review.co.uk/home.html

And there are 2 flash stories up at The Shine Journal @:

http://www.freewebs.com/theptg/

Both are scraps of things really - more dribbles than flashes, and so are in the Twinklings section. They are called "Reverse" and "The Verdict".

Go check them out.

And I think that's it, for the moment.

Cheers!

Go read this one from Pamela T. Griffin

Not only does Pamela produce the superb Shine Journal, but she's got a wonderfully arresting piece in Static Movement this month. Go read it @:

http://staticmovement.com/mylovely

and go check out The Shine Journal @:

http://www.freewebs.com/theptg/

Pamela was the first editor to publish a piece of mine, out of anyone, anywhere. It was "The Centre of the World". So The Shine Journal holds a special place in my affections. My thanks Pamela! Her comments also were very complimentary about that first piece, of which she said:

"One of the reasons I really like flash/fast fiction is because good things can come in small packages. The proof is this little gem."

When in Rome

Another flash of mine up at Static Movement too this month:

http://staticmovement.com/wheninrome.htm

is about the dilemma of a young boy and a full bladder!

A rare review - I'm so proud!!

The Pygmy Giant had this to say about my flash "The Power to Decide":

"I'd like to give an honourable mention to Avis Hickman-Gibb, whose "The Power to Decide" did, in so few words, leave me gasping. Truly a tiny, giant piece."

Go read it yourself @:

http://thepygmygiant.blogspot.com/2008/07/power-to-decide.html

Hey! What do you know? I've made the Bewildering Stories Quarterly Anthology with my story "Blood Moon" - and this on my first time in there! I am well chuffed I can tell you!

Amongst the other stories in there is work from 3 friends of mine:

Sarah Hilary's "Esme & O'Ryan"

Oonah Joslin's "Blast" & "Exposure"

Bill West's "Butterflies"

Go read them all, they're all good stuff!

here's the link:

http://www.bewilderingstories.com/anthologies/284-296_antho2.html

July's stories published so far this month:

2 stories in The Shine Journal. The first is titled "Veil wearing for beginners" and is about Iraq, and the second "On the head of a pin" is a philosophical musing about henges @:
http://www.theshinejournal.com/hickmangibba.htm

And 1 in Bewildering Stories - about the trade in human flesh. @:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue296/blood_moon.html

And 1 in Static Movement @:
http://staticmovement.com/avis.htm

I do hope you go and read them. I enjoyed writing them. Tell me what you thought.

Backlog of work, as promised.

I am fairly new to writing, well not to writing as such, but being published! I have a small (but I like to think choice!) collection of stories which have already been published. here are the links of the stories which have been published before this blog's inception:

Absence of Hope & Only the Wind and Me
Deal with every parent's nightmare - the loss of a child. These are companion pieces and were published together in The Shine Journal, April 2008 @:
http://www.theshinejournal.com/hickmangibb.htm

Blood Moon
Is a cautionary tale about trust, drugs and the sex industry. Don't think your new friend is all he seems, girls! This was published in Bewildering Stories, July 08 @:
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue296/blood_moon.html

Crossing the Line
Shows us a snap shot of a childhood incident - clearly anticpiating the man who will grow from the boy. This was published in Every Day Fiction, 17th October 2007, and can be found in their archives @:
http://www.everydayfiction.com/crossing-the-line-by-avis-hickman-gibb/

Don't You Go Closing Them Baby Blues!
A story about a vulnerable child, pushed to a limit. This was published in The Pygmy Giant, April 19th 2008, @:
http://thepygmygiant.blogspot.com/2008/04/dont-you-go-closing-them-baby-blues.html

Drizzled Hope
One woman's fight back against a menace of whom we are all at the mercy! Published in May 2008 in Short Humour @:
http://www.short-humour.org.uk/writersshowcase/drizzledhope.htm

Hands Up
Is a short and sharp reminder of our mortality! This was published in Shine! Magazine, August '07 and can be found in their archive at:
http://www.theshinejournal.com/avishickmangibb.htm

Hawking - Master of the Universe
is a tribute to our greatest living physicist - Stephen Hawking. This story was published in The Pygmy Giant, 27th March 2008 at:
http://thepygmygiant.blogspot.com/2008/03/hawking-master-of-universe.html

If Takers, reboot - else, close
Deals with the inevitable consequences of human indifference. Published in Every Day Fiction, 22nd March '08 and can be found @:
http://www.everydayfiction.com/if-takers-reboot-else-close-by-avis-hickman-gibb/

Matters of the Heart
About organs grown to order, and a father's love. Published in Backhand Stories, 27th March 2008, @:
http://www.backhandstories.com/fiction/matters-of-the-heart-by-avis-hickman-gibb/

Mrs Wilson's Break
Deals with family violence. This story was published in Every Day Fiction, 25th January 2008 and can be found in their archives @:
http://www.everydayfiction.com/mrs-wilsons-break-by-avis-hickman-gibb

Once more...for Old Times' sake
Deals with addiction. Published in The Shine Journal, December '07 and can be found @:
http://www.theshinejournal.com/ahickmangibb.htm

Separation
A grizzly tale of sibling bonds. Published in MicroHorror, May 2008 and can be found @:
http://www.microhorror.com/microhorror/author/avis-hickman-gibb/separation/

Surfing the Tube
Deals with multiple personalities. This was published in Twisted Tongue, August '07 and can be found in their archives @:
http://www.twistedtongue.co.uk/issue7.htm

The Angel on the Tree
This Christmas tale earned the distinction of being Every Day Fiction's offering on Christmas Eve 2007 and can be found in their archives @:
http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-angel-on-the-tree-by-avis-hickman-gibb

The Centre of the World
Portrays the world-view of a little girl - sketching her insecurity, which is fuelled by a mother too preoccupied to notice. This story was published in The Shine Journal, August '07 and can be found in their archives @:
http://www.theshinejournal.com/avishickmangibb.htm

The House Spider
What to do when your life plan goes wrong!
Published in May 2007 in Static Movement and can be found in their archives @:
http://staticmovement.com/gibb.htm

The Lesson
Tells of a little boy who lost a precious treasure. Published in Every Day Fiction, 21st September 2007 and can be found @:
http://www.everydayfiction.com/the-lesson-by-avis-hickman-gibb/