We had a fantastic evening of Flash Fiction on December 9th in Bath at St James’ Wine Vaults. Six writers each read a selection of their stories, representing a wide range of subjects, themes and flash fiction styles.
Our novella-in-flash judge, Meg Pokrass read ‘Sparkly Plans’ a wonderful, moving flash from her novella-in-flash, Here, Where we Live, published in My Very End of the Universe, the Rose Metal Press Guide to writing a flash novella. She also read two other gems from her newest and must-read collection, The Dog Looks Happy Upside Down.
Tania Hershman, who judged the February round of Bath Flash Fiction Award, asked the audience to choose random letters which helped her to select pieces from her two current flash fiction collections, ‘My Mother Was an Upright Piano’ and ‘The White Road’. Stories she read included one inspired by Didcot Parkway railway station and a favourite science themed piece. And she also slipped in a newly crafted poem.
Ingrid Jendzrejewski, who won our February Award, read some extraordinarily inventive pieces giving a particular take on relationships. It was so great to have her there reading for us on the same day she was short listed for the prestigious Kathy Fish Fellowship, a yearly award given by SmokeLong Quarterly literary journal.
Michael FitzGerald, commended by Michelle Elvy in the June round of Bath Flash Fiction Award read some haunting pieces, full of feeling, and set in different parts of Europe.
Freya Morris read her long-listed story, ‘My Number is Up’ from the October round of Bath Flash Fiction Award and a couple of other pieces which she performed with great panache and energy
K M Elkes read some of his intensely affecting flash fictions, one of them his first prize winning flash fiction from the Fish Prize in Ireland. In another of his stories he also introduced us to ‘Modals of Lost Opportunity.’
Thank you to everyone who came and thank you also to St James’ Wine Vaults for the use of their lovely venue this time complete with a Christmas tree.
Our next event will be in the spring – late March. Date and readers to be announced soon. Hope to see you there.
