To celebrate the start of a new year and the return (post Covid) to a full schedule of Circle events with competitions and workshops, it’s time for a quick round-up of members’ successes in the second half of last year. 

Linda Fulton had her short story Red Wall (read at the Circle over two Manuscript evenings) reach the short list for the sixth edition of Northern Gravy. She was also longlisted for the Aurora prize for short fiction.

Stuart Fortey had his story The Coachman’s Tale shortlisted for the Historical Writers Association Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Prize for 2022 and appears in its anthology, available from Amazon here, at the remarkable price of just £2.99 for a print copy.

Su Ryder had two poems accepted for inclusion in separate anthologies, one with a Bronte theme, the other themed on birth.

Richard Wilcocks had a piece of short fiction accepted for Leeds Trinity University’s latest Wordspace Anthology

Mari Phillips had her short fiction piece Lies published online by Cafe Lit Magazine here, and also a piece with Paragraph Planet in November, an interesting platform where all submissions have to be of exactly 75 words.

Emma Storr has been enjoying further considerable success with her poetry, winning the Geoff Stevens Memorial poetry prize—meaning that Indigo Dreams will publish a full collection of her poems this year—and also getting her poem Tasting Notes included in an upcoming ‘Ten Poems’ anthology from Candlestick Press. Look out for Ten Poems About Wine.

Last but very far from least, Sunyi Dean has enjoyed worldwide success with the publication of her novel The Book Eaters. It’s been a long road to publication and, as followers of her blog know, Sunyi has always been willing to share her experiences and what she’s learnt along the way. She’s lined up to run a workshop in the spring to offer members some insight into the whole daunting business of finding a publisher.

This correspondent loved the book but would be hard pushed to summarise what is an astonishing feat of the imagination. This Guardian review does a pretty good job. Kudos, Sunyi. Your success has been hard-won and is thoroughly deserved. You’re an inspiration to us all.