Fifteen stories, all winning prizes, commendations or listings in short story competitions, about people who are ‘up against it’ in various ways.
Preface by the Huntington’s Disease Association.
Cover artwork: Icelandic Field © Katherine Reekie 2013 reproduced by kind permission of the artist www.katherinereekie.co.uk
Published 2017 by Earlyworks Press
Awards
- WOMEN
Devil’s Evening – Iana from Moldova climbs out from under a bed in London and makes a bid for freedom. 2nd prize in Momaya Press Competition 2014.
Stephanie’s Times present extracts from the diaries of mother, grandmother and wartime French Resistance fighter Stephanie Whitman. Short-listed in 2015 West Sussex Writer’s Annual Open Competition.
Ambience – Phyllis Harmston, owner and manager of Cute Cuisine, somehow finds her way through another challenging night. Short-listed for the Rubery Short Story Award 2014.
Eighty Today – Jane Walton describes her big day in Greenhaven Retirement Village as it happens. Commendation in the Segora Competition 2015.
Emily’s Derby tells the experiences of Sister Kate Allerton in the Epsom Cottage Hospital on a day in 2013. Commendation in Yeovil Prize Competition 2013.
- MEN
One Man’s Paradise – follows the captain of a patrol boat from the Italian island of Lampedusa as he has differences of opinion with his Number Two. Meanwhile, a boy refugee is seeing things from another view altogether. Last six of the 2014 Red Line ‘Joy’ Issue Competition.
Decisions, Decisions – John e-mails to his fiancée, Gina, with a few questions about the wedding arrangements. Selected for inclusion in the 2012 Carillon ten year anniversary edition.
The Fellowship of Victims is set in post-war Berlin, where Leonard Railton finds himself rescuing his Russian counterpart, Alexander Belyakov, from his own people. Selected for inclusion in the 2012 ‘3 in 1’ competition anthology in aid of the Arthrogryposis Group.
Jen’s Gallery – photographer Philip is relaxing in Paris with his lover and work partner, reporter Jen Alleyne, and reflecting on how they came together and how he came to understand her better. Short-listed in the 2014 Bedford Writers’ Competition.
Beyond the Autumn – artist John Gibson is a split personality, with his alter-ego John Merrill supplying most of his fire and inspiration. As he prepares to meet his agent, he feels Merrill fading from him with age, and then his wife Helen unexpectedly appears. Commendation in the 2013 Grace Dieu Writers’ Competition.
- BOTH
Roxanne Riding Hood – Roxanne, alias Paul Stanmore, leading London drag artiste, is also an ex-sportsman trained in self-defence. A series of attacks on local women see him drafted in by the police to help catch the man responsible. Commendation in the 2015 Earlyworks Press Short Story Competition.
These Foolish Things – John and Elaine have separated and only communicate by e-mail. Their acrimony turns to something else when they realise what they both still feel about each other. 2nd prize in 2013 Five Stop Story Competition.
Eyes Together, Eyes Apart takes us to a wedding scene as the groom is just ending his speech. Four guests, two women and two men, are seeing it and him in rather different ways. Third prize in 2009 Lichfield Writers’ Circle Competition.
Eye of the Beholder – a young man running headlong into an old lady – it can only be a bag snatch. Can’t it? Highly Commended in 2014 Southport Writers’ Circle Competition.
Blue Genes – Luke and Sally Palukivsky visit the Edenville Smith-Hewson Life Enhancement Facility. Can they really design their own child? Meanwhile, comedian Jez Turner is about to perform in the nearby arena. Last six of the Red Line 2023 ‘Power’ Issue Competition.
About Bruce Harris
Bruce Harris is a Devon-based author and poet who has been consistently successful in short fiction and poetry competitions since 2003, after a long teaching and research career involving published journalism.
Bruce has published four collections of short fiction, Fallen Eagles (2021), The Guy Thing (2018), Odds Against (2017), and First Flame (2013), and three poetry collections, The Huntington Hydra (2019), Kaleidoscope (2017) and Raised Voices (2014). His first novel, Howell Grange, was published by the Book Guild in October 2019; his second, Gemini Day, was published by The Conrad Press in July 2021, and his third, The Densham Do was published by Book Guild publication on February 28th 2022.
More Books by Bruce Harris
