Now that Autumn is here

I am moving into chapter ten now of the WIP. Had a bit of a block, but it is melting away now so I hope to plough on with that now.

Just had some very encouraging news back from The Stiletto in the Door 2009 Competition for ChickLit. I entered my first novel Moving On and had a lot of very positive feedback. Due to stupid errors (My own silly fault - yes really!!) in the text I entered I didn't make next round... Well that and probably the others were better! (But I am sticking with my first bash at an explanation.)

Also I am happy to tell y'all that I have had three more flash accepted.

2 have been published already - one over @ The Pygmy Giant called A Cup of Tea, and the other - my first! - @ Ink, Sweat & Tears called In the Heat of the Night. Bit rude that one!

The third will be up @ The Boston Literary Magazine in their Fall edition (due soon but not out) and that one is called Hallelujah - based on the Leonard Cohen song, interwined with the story of Bathsheba, Uriah and King David from The Old Testament.

Tell me if you think it works...

Well I have been a busy little bee...

But not on here!

I have got the new novel up and running - chapter 6 beckons starting Tuesday. The first five are out with a reader panel as I type...

The first novel is in this year's "Stiletto in the door Competition" for ChickLit Writers. Results are due in August. If you don't get into the final, you get a crit, so everyone's a winner!

This new one is definitely not ChickLit - much darker, very unfrothy and a lot meaner. Rather like some of my Flash Fiction then!!

I must get around to subbing stuff again...

Neglected and Abandoned

I am afraid I have been most remiss in updating this blog. What with attending The London Book Fair, joining Facebook and writing the synopsis for yet another novel, in between fitting writing the flash stories I've been a bit busy. Well that's my excuse!

I also took part in The Midnight Walk around Ipswich. An 8 mile route, which proved to be so popular that instead of the hoped for 800+ women taking part (the organisers' target after last year's 200) - there were a staggering 2000+ of us!! The Walk was in aid of St Elizabeth's Hospice, and raised £100,000+. A great night's work.

My flash "Rite of Passage" was published on Backhand Stories on 9th May. Go and take a skeg. It's a coming of age piece.

On The Road Home

has been up at Bewildering Stories this March. This on the surface of it is a somewhat sly poke at the Christian Nativity story. But if you care to look further into it, you'll find my attempt to write these characters (substitute Mary and Josephs) as real life, modern day characters.

I am sure these two (should they have existed) didn't think themselves other than normal, everyday people. They had faults, broke wind, loved - just like people of today, y'know? There must have been a time when Mary was... just plain Mary. No halo.

I hope this makes you think.

Cheers for now, hope to start submitting flash again soon, but the novel bug has bitten deep - having finished the first one, I'm now well into the second.

Wish me luck getting an agent interested in the first one!!

Hands up...

Who's looking forwards to The London Book Fair in April? To be held @ Olympia on the 20th, 21st, 22nd in Earl's Court. It will have representation from all manner of people connected with publishing - including some scouts and agents. Worth the price of a ticket?

May see you there!

Meanwhile editing on the Novel is going great, and the flash stories are beginning to flow again. It must be the warmer weather!

In a flash!

Hi

February is set to be a quiet month for me don't think there are any stories published this month, I am concentrating on editing the novel into a state I'm happy with, getting the revisions done, and crafting my synopsis - all to perfection! (Well I hope!!)

But I have to crow about getting an email from Robin over @ Boston Literary Magazine asking for permission to put one of my flashes ( The Last Charade, look in earlier posts for the tag) into a Chapbook they are publishing. Needless to say I am extremely flattered and almost snatched her hand off!

That's 3 anthologies I've made it into, well waddaya know?

Cheers, and roll on the warmer weather!!

The Short Story Library

Have just published my first short ever to be published. It's called The Waiting Room, and I'm told it's devilishly good!! you can find it @

http://shortstory.us.com/2009/01/the-waiting-room-by-avis-hickman-gibb/

Go have a read if you've time.