The close of the year has brought a number of successes for members of the Circle. The most exciting is the announcement of a Chapbook of Graeme Hall’s Macau-based short stories, to be published by Fly on the Wall Press next year. There’s an introduction to Graeme on their website here. Regulars at the Circle will be familiar with Graeme’s storytelling and know how much this recognition of his talent is deserved.

Another well-deserved and frankly overdue success can be announced for Su Ryder. She’s had a poem selected for an anthology on the theme of poets, prophets & protestors, to be published by the Leeds Church Institute. There will be a launch event as part of Leeds Lit Fest in March.

Gill Osborne has been shortlisted in a “Writing Magazine” competition under the theme of New Start. Her story was called “Finding my Mojo”. Those of us who heard this story read by Gill on one of our Manuscript evenings this summer will not be surprised.

Pat Belford continues to inspire us by selling stories to the People’s Friend. Her latest is a short story called “No Emails for Santa!” It’s about Rose, a young woman visiting a country village who unexpectedly finds herself involved in helping the local children write “proper” letters to Santa Claus.

Emma Storr has had her own personal string of successes this last month. Her poem Harness was published in November in Pennine Platform No. 86. She’s also had two of the poems from her debut pamphlet Heart Murmur—Six Week Check and Repeat Prescription—chosen to appear in the NHS Anthology “These are the Hands” due out in March next year. Michael Rosen was the judge and Deborah Alma, the Emergency Poet, one of the editors. The anthology will be launched on Friday 20th March in London and all proceeds from sales will go to NHS charities. Emma also has a new poem Present chosen for inclusion in the Leeds Church Institute Anthology.

Heart Murmur has scored an insightful review from Carole Bromley in Ink, Sweat and Tears magazine. You can read it here.

Emma has also been busy on the other side of the fence. She’s had a review of Gareth Writer-Davies’ poetry collection The End, from Arenig Press, published by London Grip. You can read that one here.

Finally, Marg Greenwood has a spread in the Nov-Dec edition of the Scottish Islands Explorer Magazine. It talks about the progress on her book: Return to Muck. The piece outlines some of the topics and experiences to be included. It sounds like a great marketing coup.