Blogs

Story and Poem of the Month

Posted by insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 05 Apr 2026

Our Story and Poem of the Month for March, very kindly chosen by Di-Hard: One great thing about this month has been Penny4athought's challenge. I highly recommend each of its brilliant parts, and there are still two more opportunities to join in! https://www.abctales.com/blog/insertponceyfrenchnamehere/new-writing-cha... All of Lille Dante's pieces this month are fabulous, too many to list. Try : https://www.abctales.com/story/lille-dante/%E2%80...

Dead Letters: "The Double"

Posted by SoulFire77 on Sun, 05 Apr 2026

Filed by Fletcher Moody — Literary Correspondent In the spring of 1944, I was in Los Angeles on an assignment I have mercifully forgotten and found myself, as one does in that city, drinking alone in a restaurant I could not afford. The restaurant was Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard, which was and remains the place where screenwriters go to feel sorry for themselves in a dignified setting. I was at the bar. It was a Tuesday. The...

Roberto Saviano (2018) The Piranhas: The Boy Bosses of Naples.

Posted by celticman on Sat, 04 Apr 2026

‘The word paranaza comes from the sea’. Learning the trade. In Neapolitan dialect, paranza originally refers to a small fishing boat. Very young boys as crew, who go out at night with bright lamps to lure fish to the surface and catch them quickly. The small stuff in the bottom of the nets is thrown together and cooked in a local much- loved and cheap dish. Little fisherman become big fisherman by staying close to the shore. They are both...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 03 Apr 2026

Posted by airyfairy. Longer days at last, and slightly warmer weather, although Storm Dave can take his leave as soon as he likes. It's been a joy to read the wonderful contributions to our current writing challenge, and there's still an opportunity for you to get involved in the final two parts! This really has been a cracker of a challenge, and many thanks to Penny4athought for such a brilliant idea, and for her generosity: New Writing...

Scotland's unfriendlies.

Posted by celticman on Wed, 01 Apr 2026

Scotland were booed off Hampden Park on Saturday night. Japan outplayed us and scored in the last ten minutes to win 1—0. Team captain, Andy Robertson told fans to get a grip. After all, Japan also hammered England 1—0 at Wembley. That kinda cheers us up. One team’s woes are another team’s honey. Italy, after all, went into national mourning, after failing to qualify for the third World Cup on the bounce. The Republic of Ireland and Wales both...

Family Man - Cover Reveal

Posted by colin.b on Tue, 31 Mar 2026

Hey everyone, I'm delighted to share the cover reveal of my upcoming novel 'Family Man'. I think this book is my most accomplished piece of writing. The novel is due to be published next month. Thanks

Dead Letters: "The Fire"

Posted by SoulFire77 on Mon, 30 Mar 2026

Filed by Fletcher Moody — Literary Correspondent I was sent to Eldon, Missouri, in November 1953, to cover a bonfire. The Parent-Teacher Council of Eldon had voted, by a margin I was told was comfortable, to collect and publicly burn a selection of comic books, paperback novels, and other materials deemed — the word used in the press release was "injurious" — to the moral development of children. This was not unusual. Dozens of towns across the...

Edna O’Brien (1962) The Lonely Girls. Edna O’Brien (1964) Girls in Their Married Bliss.

Posted by celticman on Sun, 29 Mar 2026

Edna O’Brien (1962) The Lonely Girls. Edna O’Brien (1964) Girls in Their Married Bliss. Edna O’Brien’s trilogy of books which begins in rural Ireland, moves to Dublin and ends in the less than swinging sixties of London. Kate and Baba against the world. An era of the ‘Angry Young Men’ on stage and screen. But there’s no room for women. Baba steps out of Dublin and into London as easily as she’d change a new jacket at home. Caithleen/Cait/Kate is...

The Past Five Months

Posted by Dark Fox on Sat, 28 Mar 2026

Well where to begin with this tale of my life for the last five months. I guess I should start by saying I am safe and happy most of the time when I don't have to communicate with a certain person. But sharing a child means I have to communicate with him. Lets start with the weekend of November 22nd. I went to a friends house as she lives on her own, her cat looked like he was on his way to kitty heaven. My husband (who I am still married to but...

The Singer Story: Made in Clydebank (2019), BBC Scotland, Directors Barthelemy Francis Corbelet, Yoann Fabrice Le Dantec, Narrator Marc Jennings.

Posted by celticman on Fri, 27 Mar 2026

The Singer Story: Made in Clydebank (2019), BBC Scotland, Directors Barthelemy Francis Corbelet, Yoann Fabrice Le Dantec, Narrator Marc Jennings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00051z7/the-singer-story-made-in-clydebank I’m old enough to remember Singers. All that’s left is some red brickwork and the original staircase that leads up to Kilbowie Road. All of my partner’s aunts worked in the factory and her sister and her brother-in-law...

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