This month we have published a very exciting podcast. As well as talking to a range of great debut authors who focus on the facets of families in their books, we announced the brand new LoveReading Very Short Story Award 2019. Head to the Podcast page or to iTunes to listen now!

Host:

Elena Lappin

Announcement of 

THE LOVEREADING VERY SHORT STORY AWARD 2019

LoveReading is thrilled to announce the launch of The Very Short Story Award 2019.

We invite submissions of stories between 600-1000 words in length, written in English, in any genre. We are accepting entries from overseas as well as the UK. This is an inclusive award. We ask for just one entry per author. We accept stories from both unpublished and published authors but only unpublished stories are eligible for entry.

We are looking for exciting, stimulating, original and beautifully written stories that leave a powerful impression on the reader.

Our team of five expert judges will read the stories blind when choosing their 10 shortlisted stories and this will be complemented by a People’s Choice vote - a unique opportunity for LoveReading members to vote for their favourite story from the shortlist. The winning story will be read by a professional actor on The LoveReading Podcast, and published on the LoveReading website. Our judges are: Elena Lappin (author, editor and LoveReading Podcast host), Liz Robinson (LoveReading Reviews Editor), Maxim Jakubowski (author, translator, editor), Alison Flood (literary journalist), and Preti Taneja (novelist).

The deadline for submissions will be 31st October 2018. The Shortlist of 10 stories will be announced in January 2019, and the winning story in February 2019.

Please see our forthcoming posts and T&Cs for all details.

Please note incomplete entry forms and short stories not submitted in accordance with the entry instructions will not be eligible for consideration.

Click here to read the T&Cs.

Click here to head to the awards submissions page.

Books featured:

INTERVIEWS:

Preti Taneja, WE THAT ARE YOUNG (Galley Beggar Press)

Helen Cullen, THE LOST LETTERS OF WILLIAM WOOLF (Michael Joseph)

Fatima Farheen Mirza, A PLACE FOR US (Hogarth Press)

BOOK POST WITH LUCY SCHOLES 

May-Lan Tan, THINGS TO MAKE AND BREAK (Sceptre)

Catherine Lacey, CERTAIN AMERICAN STATES (Granta)

Nafissa Thompson-Spires, HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE (CHATTO)

Elena Lappin‘s PICK OF THE MONTH:

HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

On this podcast, we talk to authors whose debut fiction explores family history and conflicts, each in a different way, all fascinating. 

Preti Taneja’s debut novel WE THAT ARE YOUNG is the winner of the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018. It is a fascinating reimagining of the King Lear play set in contemporary India and Kashmir, and a family feud brilliantly mirroring and challenging Shakespeare’s classic.

Helen Cullen creates a magically inventive, soulful and very romantic story around the adventures of an unhappily married letter detective, in THE LOST LETTERS OF WILLIAM WOOLF. 

Fatima Farheen Mirza’s stunning debut A PLACE FOR US is a thoughtful, beautifully written exploration of the complicated life of a Pakistani immigrant family in America, triggered by the absence of their rebellious son.

Book Post with Lucy Scholes features three excellent short story collections:

May-Lan Tan, THINGS TO MAKE AND BREAK 

Catherine Lacey, CERTAIN AMERICAN STATES 

Nafissa Thompson-Spires, HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE (Chatto&Windus)

DECISIONS, DECISIONS:

This month’s question for our host:

'How should I write fiction about sex?’

Elena Lappin’s Top Pick this month:

HEADS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

This book of stories transcends its own genre, by addressing the topic of race in contemporary America with a precision and luminosity that makes us warm to the characters as if we have just watched a film of their lives. I admire Thomson-Spires’s writing for its freedom of spirit, emotional and political power, and brilliant humour. 

Thank you for listening. Please stay in touch with us on Twitter, Instagram and FB, and do consider submitting a story for our VERY SHORT STORY AWARD. 

Click here to listen to Episode 4.

The Timings

00:00 Teaser

00:37 Introduction

01:10 Preti Taneja

17:47 Lucy Scholes (Book Post)

29:30 Very Short Story Award Announcement

31:45 Helen Cullen

42:29 Fatima Farheen Mirza

57:08 Decisions Decisions

59:05 Conclusion and Credits

Click here to find out more about our other Podcast episodes.