Alan’s story ‘What Days Are Like’ was placed third in the Cambridge prize competition, run by theshortstory.co.uk (TSS Publishing). You can read it on their site here.

*update Sept 2025: Rachel has been shortlisted now! Watch this space for further updates.

Rachel’s novel ‘The Way of Nellie May’ is one of twelve selected for the unpublished novel shortlist. Read more here (scroll down for the unpublished list). Here’s some information about what she might win: ‘The Unpublished Comedy Novel Winner is published by Hera Books and receives huge attention. The Unpublished runners up win either a place on an MA in Comedy Writing or writing mentorship from Falmouth University, a place on an MA by Research in Creative Writing or writing mentorship from the University of Hertfordshire, or a Platinum Package from Fuzzy Flamingo.’

Good luck Rachel!

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Amanda’s new novel has received brilliant reviews already. For example, in The Times (link here) – ‘Ireland meets Trinidad – it’s a winning literary combination’. Below are some pictures from her well attended launch at Waterstones in Leamington.

Alan’s story ‘Afternoon Drinking’ – also the title of his new collection coming out in Autumn 2025 from Floodgate Press – was published April 13th. Link here.

Ex member Kit’s new novel The Best of Everything is launched this week. It has already attracted fabulous reviews, eg in The Guardian, who called it a ‘beautifully rendered tale extolling unfashionably the virtues of kindness’, and The Irish Independent who called it ‘immersive’. Bernadine Evaristo said it was a ‘profoundly compassionate novel of devastating power’. Huge congratulations, Kit!

Ex member Garrie made the longlist of the prestigious Galley Beggar short story prize. His story ‘Counting Backwards’ is available to read here.

Also a new Midlands based magazine Derwent Press has published Garrie’s story, ‘Punctuation’ in its first issue. More information here: https://www.instagram.com/derwent_press/

Long time TSFG member Gaynor Arnold’s latest story ‘The Visit’ has been published by the great Fictive Dream. Link here.

Elizabeth appeared on ‘Between the Covers’ talking about her debut novel ‘Whale Fall’ which was highly praised by critics and charmed the panel which included Jo Brand and Sir Trevor McDonald.

You can see the whole episode on the BBC iPlayer here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025gh0/between-the-covers-series-8-episode-5

Elizabeth’s book, called ‘rather special’ by host Sara Cox’ is discussed from 9min 35 secs in.

Alan’s story ‘Inside’ first appeared in TSFG’s ‘Thursday Nights’ (2023) which celebrated 40 years of the group, and is now re-published alongside a fantastic line up of story writers including Jonathan Coe, Cynan Jones, Kamila Shamsie, and Kevin Boniface. An ideal Christmas present – buy here.

Natalie (Shoshana Lavan) was asked to read her piece ‘Three Cornered Hat’ at the Oxford Flash Fiction Prize event recently. Picture below from the event (Natalie/Shoshana is second from the left). More information about the prize here.