ABOUT ME

My photo
Morecambe, Lancashire, United Kingdom
In the mornings I’m a Nursery Cook, the rest of the time a Writer. Been writing for decades: short stories, plays, poems, a sitcom and more recently flash fiction, Creative Writing MA at Lancaster Uni and now several novels. Been placed in competitions (Woman’s Own, Greenacre Writers and flashtagmanchester) and shortlisted in others (Fish, Calderdale, Short Fiction Journal). I won the Calderdale Prize 2011, was runner-up in the Ink Tears Flash Fiction Comp & won the Greenacre Writer Short Story Comp 2013. I have stories in Jawbreakers, Eating My Words, Flash Dogs Anthologies 1-3, 100 RPM and the Stories for Homes anthology. My work’s often described as ‘sweet’ but there’s usually something darker and more sinister beneath the sweetness. I love magical realism and a comedy-tragedy combination. My first novel, Queen of the World, is about a woman who believes she can influence the weather. I’m currently working on a 3rd: Priscilla Parker Reluctant Celebrity Chef. Originally from West Midlands, I love living by the sea in Morecambe, swimming, cycling, theatre, books, food, weather, sitcoms and LBBNML … SQUEEZE!

Sunday 23 February 2014

Writer's Bio


Competition Placings

Woman’s Own Short Story Competition 2000 – Runner Up with Stressed Out
Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition 2011 – Second Prize with The Bread
Flashtag Manchester 2011 – Third Prize with The Dryer Monkey
Calderdale Short Story Competition 2011 – First Prize with Those Tigers
Creative Writing the Artist’s Way, ‘Take a Leap’ Competition, 2012 – Highly Commended with Machine Number Five
Greenacre Writers Short Story Competition, 2013 – First Prize with Flapjack
Ink Tears Flash Competition, 2013 – Runner Up with August-the-Fourth-Nineteen-Seventy-Nine
SaveAs Writers Writing the City Competition 2015 - Third Prize with Breakthrough
Poised Pen Another Place Flash Competition 2015 - Highly Commended for Those Ladies

Competition Short Listings


Fish Short Story Competition, 2010 with Hob Holes

Short fiction Journal Short Story Competition, 2011 with Rooftops
Chorley and District Writer’s Circle Competition, 2011 with Reconstituted
Multi-story Short Story Competition, 2012 with Rooftops
Chorley and District Writer’s Circle Competition, 2012 with Loose Chippings
Chorley and District Writer’s Circle Competition, 2015 with Eric's Grand Day Off

Competition Long Listings


Words with Jam Short Story Competition, 2012 with Woolton Pie
Fish Short Story Competition, 2012 with Cameras
Flashbang Crime Flash Competition, 2012 with Waiting at the Window
Lightship Publishing One Page Competition 2013 with One Eye
Multi-story Flash Competition 2015 with Someday
 

Publications – Print


Woman’s Own, July 2000 with Stressed Out
Mslexia, June/July/Aug 2011 with a monologue I Thought I saw her Once
Greenacre Writers Anthology Volume 3 2014 with Flapjack
Eating My Words The National Flash Fiction Day Anthology 2014 with A Bottle of Silence
Flash Dogs The Anthology 1 2014 with Hot and Sweet, Trainers, Rice Krispies and The Artist
FlashDogs : Solstice : Light 2015 with I'm Summer Now
FlashDogs : Solstice : Dark 2015 with Alice's Ghost
 FlashDogs : Time : Volume III 2015 with About Time, That Bag and The Last
 

Publications – Online

Paragraph Planet - Bingo, To Do List, Queen of the World (edited novel extract) & Last Links
National Flash Fiction Day, The Stories 2012 Shakespearean themed flash, Cat and Dog & Mayday themed flash, Her Name and & Flash Flood 2012 Maybe 2013 Cloud Writing and 2014 Five Seconds 
Aware, CDWC Anthology Aware 2011 & 2012, Reconstituted & Loose Chippings
Flash Gumbo 2014 Teach Me the Ukulele and I'll Teach you to Bake and Wilfred's Glasses




4 comments:

  1. This is an impressive list, Sal. Look forward to seeing Flapjack in print in the not too distant future in Greenacre Writers Anthology Vol 3 - am working on editing it as I write! Keep writing - am waiting for that novel to be on my shelf.

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    1. Thanks Lindsay! Great to hear the Anthology is coming along.

      Am I right in thinking there's a launch for it at 'your' Literary Festival? I'm thinking I'd like to go & am hoping there is also an open mic/reading opportunity. I'm always desparate to read but hardly ever do!

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  2. Hi Sal, Yes we are having a launch for the anthology as part of Finchley Lit Fest. This will be a Café Buzz on Sun day 25th May at 3.00pm. Last year we had readings form a number of contributors and of course photo opps! This event is held in a small local café so it isn't a huge event but was enjoyed all who came last year - there are pics of my and Greenacre Writers blogs. It would be amazing if you could be there and read!

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  3. Hi Lindsay. Thanks for your reply.(was thinking I'd said this in the wrong place!) I'm glad 'it isn't a huge event' and it sounds lovely. I've now booked holiday from work around this Sunday and will definitely be there ... and I get to read? Hurrah! ;-)

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