It's been just under two months since my last blog post, and it feels like 40 years of history has happened in the meantime. And as the world continues to spin perilously out of control, I've been doing what we all do to get by: mostly continue on like things are normal, and that our personal accomplishments aren't going to be obliterated in yet another world war. So on that note... onwards and upwards!
A Salon
Image credit: The European Writers Salon
One positive development these past few months has been the founding of the European Writers Salon. As the world grows ever-more unstable, the EWS aims to unite writers across Europe, traveling the continent and organising readings and events – and I was very fortunate to be included among the 13 speakers chosen to read at Lettrétage in Berlin!
For the Berlin evening I read a particularly evocative scene from my novel Proud Pink Sky, one I’ve never performed in public before. The response was wonderful, and I really enjoyed meeting a range of poets and writers at an event that was at max capacity. This is a truly fantastic initiative that only seems to be gaining traction, and it’s one I fully support. Their next salon is in Brussels.
A Journal
I am absolutely thrilled that I have a new story in Nature, for their ‘Futures’ section. ‘Dear Leader’ follows the story of an old man made young, then thrown into an oubliette… This is a short, dark piece that I had a lot of fun with.
We are the same, Dear Leader. I realize that now. We’re both doomed, you and I.
You can read the full story on Nature’s website, though you may need a subscription.
A Prize
My final piece of news is that a story of mine has been longlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize! According to the Prize, my story one of 30 selected from over 1800 entries, with the shortlist to be announced in May. Sadly I can’t reveal which story is mine as judging is anonymised and ongoing, but I’m honoured to have been selected among such fierce competition. I can’t wait to read the resulting anthology!
The longlist is available here.
And that’s it for now! You only get a short post this time around because you displease me, and you are being punished. Join me next time when I’ll be live-doomscrolling the apocalypse, all while trying to think up the wittiest words that rhyme with ‘help help oh gods someone please help’.
You can follow me on Bluesky at @redfernjon.bsky.social and on Mastodon @Redfern. I’m also on LinkedIn if you’re kinky that way.
Yours in Terror,
– Redfern