Calls for submissions: Linchpin and Rose Metal Press

LINCHPIN:
Linchpin Literature is a publishing house that, monthly, produces an impressive tabloid sized anthology of short stories. The anthology is named 'LINCHPIN'. It is free-of-charge, hopefully making it a lot more popular in this current economic climate, and thus aiding the distribution of great writing.
The publication is distributed within Underground Stations, bookshops, high-streets, newspapers, hospitals, cafés, hotels, B&Bs, offices and parks.
You should expect to see Issue No.1 on Monday 8th September.
Prepare to be astonished by short writing: Issue No.1 features short work by Dylan Thomas, Clare Wigfall, Ivan Bunin, Roald Dahl, New Writing South’s associated writers and some of the best short writing from the British Library. (and moi)
I have to say, this one sounds great. LINCHPIN WEBSITE HERE (and submissions data)
And

Do you have enough flash work for a possible collection??
Rose Metal Press (WEBSITE HERE) are holding another flash fiction collection competition:

Our Third Annual Short Short Chapbook Contest submission period begins October 15 and ends December 1, 2008. Our 2008 judge will be Sherrie Flick. During the submission period, please email your 25¬–40 page double-spaced manuscript of short short stories under 1,000 words each to us at rosemetalpress@gmail.com either as Word docs or rtf files. Individual stories may have appeared in journals or anthologies, but we ask that collections as a whole be previously unpublished. Please accompany your entry with the $10 reading fee, either via the payment button on our website or by check. We prefer the former, but the latter can be sent to us at PO Box 1956, Brookline, MA 02446.

Writers of both fiction and nonfiction are encouraged to enter, and we are open to short shorts on all subjects and in all styles. We hope you'll check out the books of our previous contest winners, including The Sky Is a Well and Other Shorts by Claudia Smith (winner of the first contest, judged by Ron Carlson), In the Land of the Free by Geoffrey Forsyth (winner of the second contest, judged by Robert Shapard), as well as A Peculiar Feeling of Restlessness by Amy L. Clark, Elizabeth Ellen, Kathy Fish, and Claudia Smith, which features the chapbooks by four of the finalists of the first contest.

Writing isn't only writing...

But I wish there was more time..

things I'm doing as well as writing:

1) Liaising with the publisher about contractual issues, marketing issues, design issues on behalf of the One World Anthology team. (easy... writing emails, carrying messages back and forth)

2) Revving up for the next round of reading for Cadenza short story competition, closing on 31st Sept. I have 'first-read' a lot, and sent my 'results' to Zoe King. Will read the remainder this week... looks like a lot, though as they are still coming in.

3) Visiting my agent on Wednesday in London, for a sweep up/catch up, general MOT.

4) I have been asked (very exciting this) to be contributing editor/project manager sort of person for a fab new book, which will be a godsend for short story writers all. Watch this space. I am drawing up ideas. As Baldric said, 'I have a cunning plan...'

5) I've been asked if I will consider a three day residency at a school, this term. A specific brief. Sounds lovely, and would be a godsend to pay for over half the first year of the MPhil.

6) Starting to re-panic about MPhil. But I am also really looking forward to working with the other writers and tutors. We meet up for the first time over the second weekend in October.

7) Planning the flash workshop I'm running in late October.

8) I'm going to BERLIN next weekend! Cant wait. Nothing to do directly with writing, apart from everything I do being related now.

9) Writing a poem

10) Hoping to complete John/Thaddeus section of 'thing like a novel' by mid week, first draft.

Paul Newman

I think it was the mouth...or the eyes? or both.

FRANK O'CONNOR FESTIVAL

There is so much going on in my life, that I haven't had time to write up the wonderful festival of last weekend.

So I will keep this post as one I add to, as and when I download photos, and as an when my brain returns to Planet Earth.

Meanwhile, Jen at Salt has posted a wonderful account of the event on the SALT PUBLISHING FRANK O'CONNOR BLOG HERE

(and the photo is hers, nicked from the Salt blog!)

And Tania Hershman has an account of her visit from Jerusalem including the festival, HERE

BEING RECOGNISED

The other day, a man walked into a busy restaurant. He was greeted at the door, and said he was just staying for a few minutes, was meeting someone. No need for a table.

He walked through the restaurant, his gaze flicking over the faces of the diners. he caught my gaze, and came straight over.

There was no question, he said. It was so definite, he said. Hello, he said.

That was my step-brother.

It is impossible to describe what that feels like. To have someone know who you are in a crowd because of your resemblance to a family.

-----------

From a writer's perspective, it is marvellous. A remiinder that every time we see people, or things, events, we should be looking with fresh eyes. See things as new, even when they are recogniseable.

BT Nightmare Customer Services...again!!!

I have now heard from 'Vicky' at Customer Services.

Is it an agreement to supply my Dad with a replacement phone whilst the defective one they supplied is mended? Nope
Is it an offer of a new phone, as they shouldnt supply defective goods in the first place, and an apology? Nope.

Vicky wants to know when I bought the phone, as she has no proof I have bought it.
Sadly for Vicky, I sent all that info on 13th Sept. To Andy. Who authorised the return of the phone already.

is this surreal, incompetence, or a dastardly attempt to spin this out so that it's out of warranty anyway?

Who cares.

I've bought another phone. They made another sale!! Wheee. Vicky probably gets a bonus of 50p. The shareholders must be delighted.

Here are today's emails. I am trying to stay polite in my replies... it is getting hard.

--------------------------

In a message dated 25/09/2008 17:29:33 GMT Standard Time, IS5944_18981@is.instantservice.com writes:
Dear Vanessa,

Unfortunately we've not been able to trace your order with the details you've supplied. We need one of the following pieces of information: a delivery note number, an invoice number, or an account number.

Please send us the requested information and an estimated date of purchase.

Regards,
Vicky
Customer Services
BT Shop




Dear Vicky

The information you requested was supplied on 13th September to Andy, in your office.

here it is again taken from my account:

16/12/2007: 9652238 Order Complete £45.99

You have already authorised a return of the faulty phone. I believe this is incorrect practice, and that having sold me a defective item, BT ought to be replacing it.

This exchange is, like all the rest, being put on my blog, and the whole sorry story is causing much mirth, and not a little anger. http://vanessagebbiesnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/bt-customer-services.html it is also going to the local papers when it is resolved, positively or negatively. Do check me out. I am a writer and a journalist. BT picked the wrong customer to play silly games with.

I have had to buy a new phone for my father, as to send your defective one back would leave him without a lifeline. As already explained. Several times.

If you spin this out long enough, the phone will be out of warranty. Mind you, that might be the whole idea. Can I suggest you pass this to your supervisor?

cheers.

Vanessa Gebbie

RIDE THE WORD III

Last night saw Ride The Word III at Borders, Oxford Street, London.

Readings from five Salt writers, poets and short storytellers, naturally! I read a while back with Jay Merrill and I was looking forward to hearing her. She is a great performer, reading her stuff with a laconic grin in her voice.

Charles Lambert - short story
Isobel Dixon - poet
Simon Barraclough - poet (on Forward shortlist...)
Jay Merrill - short story
Vincent de Souza - poet

It was particularly lovely to meet Charles Lambert, whose life and times I follow on his blog, linked here. His book The Scent of Cinnamon is a terrific collection of stories. I took his novel (Little Monsters, pub Picador) for him to sign, and now have an inscription half in Italian half English. Super.


Jay was great... despite the threat of a sore throat... she made us laugh with her dry delivery and whizzy characters.

Vincent read his motorbike poems. I want to READ them. Or to hear them again. There seemed to be so much hidden in each line.

Isabel read poems about her father, among others. They were so engaging, and emotionally straight as a die. Lovely to hear, but again, I want to linger over them.

Simon B's work is shortlisted for the Forward prize. I am tempted to buy this collection too...oh dear. I need to make more money....

Charles Lambert read the final story from The Scent of Cinnamon, a fairy tale-like story, which had the audience spellbound. he too is a good reader.

We repaired to a nearby pub and spent a jolly hour or so chewing the cud or something.

I plucked up courage to ask if there was a chance of joining in any reading slots in this series of events... and yes, there was. I am joining them in December. Moral of the tale, dont be shy!

It was also lovely to see fellow Salt author Elizabeth Baines, and I was only sad that she couldn't stay longer... she had to rush for the train.

-------------------------

Prior to the event, I had supper with Tania Hershman (another Salty!) and Sarah Hilary, crime writer.

I'm afraid supper was slightly overshadowed by a short and wonderful meeting with a lovely guy called Jon.

Well, it's not every day you meet your step-brother for the first time. Or such a handsome one!