airyfairy's blog

A big thank you to those who made it to York for a lovely social evening, and rather too much white wine in my case. It was great to meet up with writers whose work I've admired for a long time, and to find that, as I'd always suspected, they're extremely good company! Please keep an eye out for our next event!

Sadly, the weather and other things have conspired against us and so we have had to call off the formal reading part of tonight. Thanks to all those who have tried to make it! However, there will still be an informal get together for any ABC Talers who are in the area, from 7pm in the Black Swan, which is still a chance to meet fellow writers and chat about your work.

Both of the picks this week explore life experience, dreams lost, consequences faced. Story of the Week goes to johnshade's utterly believable and beautifully written two-parter 'Ariadne'. Both parts will grip you from beginning to end and then you'll want to start all over again: https://www.abctales.com/story/johnshade/ariadne-part-1 https://www.abctales.com/story/johnshade/ariadne-part-2 Poem of the Week is Jane Hyphen's wonderful 'The Dirt...

Two very different pieces for this week! Story of the Week is a real treat - Noo's mini-collection of four short pieces entitled 'I will change. I promise.' Subtle and rich, each piece draws the reader in, and the whole stays with you long after you've read it: https://www.abctales.com/story/noo/i-will-change-i-promise Poem of the Week is winking_tiger's deceptively simple 'Anecdote'. It's part of a series of linked pieces dealing with a break-...

ABC TALES READING NIGHT IN YORK SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER! We shall be having another of our fantastic ABC Reading Nights, this time at The Black Swan pub in York, on 22 September. It’s a wonderful chance to put faces to names, talk about writing and, best of all, hear our authors’ work read in their own voices. We start at 7pm, it’s free for the Readers and £5 entry for everyone else. You’re welcome to bring friends and family members, but remember...

Our Story of the Week is london_calling79's introduction to his series 'I'm Not Disappointed, I'm Just Angry'. It's funny, it's touching, and it's shot through with rage at the state of things in the UK education system. Do read it, and the chapters so far, if you haven't already: https://www.abctales.com/story/londoncalling79/im-not-disappointed-im-ju... Poem of the Week is ralph's 'Going Out for Cigarettes', which gives us a whole novel's...

This week's choices are two wonderful and totally different examples of how an assured voice and an eye for detail can bring a place and time alive. Story of the Week is proudwing's And He Called It The Devil (Part 1). Rich, evocative and distinctly malevolent. Note to author: hurry up with Part 2! https://www.abctales.com/story/proudwing/and-he-called-it-devil-part-1 Poem of the Week is Histories Of A Small Town In Ontario by Agnosticnun. A...

Castle Pillock is a bit of a connoisseur of hospital emergency departments. I am always incredulous to hear that some people, people who have reached a fine age and who have had children, and parents, have never seen the inside of A&E. On the one hand I envy them. On the other – when you do end up in one, there’s nothing like knowing your way around. I have an inbuilt advantage at our local hospital, because I also used to work there. In...

Our Story of the Week is a two-parter, Kilb50's marvellous 'Something Hard Inside Him'. Beautifully observed and written and, despite my own wish to know what happened next, with a perfectly judged ending. Part One: https://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/something-hard-inside-him-part-1 Part Two: https://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/something-hard-inside-him-part-2 Poem of the Week is another of our Inspiration Point entries - the prompts have...

I’ve been watching a TV programme with David Attenborough and the Queen talking about trees, because I would watch David Attenborough talking about toilet cleaners or earwax, given the chance. The Queen, meh. I’m not a monarchist and I don’t go for the Nation’s Granny nonsense, but it’s nothing personal. It’s good that she’s interested in preserving trees throughout the Commonwealth and wants to see a ‘Queen’s Canopy’ of forests, second only to...