The Mid-Life of David K

On a bit of a roll at the moment! I've sold my long short story "The Mid-Life of David K" to Nil Desperandum, a website which records podcast versions of stories of varying length. The stories are free to listen to, with the whole thing being funded by listener donations. At 12,500 words this is by some distance the longest story I've had accepted, so I'm rather excited about it. It'll be a new experience to hear one of my stories being read out as well! When word comes from sunny California about when all this will be happening, I'll update further...

Nomination for Pushcart Prize 'Best of Small Presses' anthology

The editors at the Muscle and Blood Literary Journal have nominated my story "The German" for the Pushcart Prize Best of the Small Presses anthology. I know only what the Pushcart Prize website tells me, but they claim it is "the most honored literary project in America", and who am I to argue when what they claim sounds cool. Writers including Raymond Carver and John Irving had work published in the annual anthology early in their careers. This is only the start of the process, with small presses all over the US nominating stories they think worthy of inclusion, but nonetheless it's great to be put forward.

The Sea - 50 Stories for Pakistan

The folks at the marvellously-named Big Bad Media recently decided to put together a collection of 50 stories, all proceeds from which will go to the Red Cross Pakistan Floods Appeal. My short story "The Sea" has been accepted for the aptly named "50 Stories for Pakistan" collection, to be published sometime in the next couple of months. These guys have good form - they put together a similar collection for Haiti that raised over £4,000. As it's for charity, I'll plug this fairly shamelessly when it comes out and not have to feel bad about it, so beware. The collection has a 'no violence, death or destruction' rule, which meant I had to find something new to write about, and also that it may even be a jolly affair.

As a sidebar, this was my 12th acceptance for the year, meaning I've hit my target for 2010, as set way back in January when the world was but young. Rumours that I'll be taking the rest of year off to contemplate all this over cocktails are sadly unfounded.

German Crash Lands...

My short story "The German" has been published electronically by Diamond Point Press in the first volume of their Muscle and Blood Journal. The print version has been delayed, and is now expected to be published at the end of September or early October. Your appetite for stories about crashed fighter pilots and children mixed up in a world beyond their comprehension can be sated here.

Autumnal love to all...