Gill O'Halloran

Another Problem Eels Don’t Need - SmokeLong Quarterly Cocaine washed into the River Thames and wildlife experts made headlines crying out – not for the traffickers’ lost bump and the chance for thousands of Londoners to stay longer into the glitter of a ...

www.smokelong.com/stories/anot... The joy of being part of @smokelong.bsky.social fitness is that you get prompted to read stories long after they were published. This one by @elissafield.bsky.social is amazing.

Love Ani's work, discovered via @smokelong.bsky.social fitness groups. She always manages to write something that builds and builds and hits you in the gut. This one's no exception. Plus plenty of other good stories to be found in @claudineliterary.bsky.social

Aww thanks Underbelly.

I entered 4 stories as I loved being in last year's anthology. 3 made it into the top 10% but sadly for me that's as far as it went this year. Congratulations to all the longlisters and good luck for the shortlist.

Led By Donkeys on Instagram: "Looks like Michelle Mone is going to have to sell that yacht (she’s just been ordered to pay back £122m to govt after supplying useless PPE and sticking the profits in a tax haven)" 60K likes, 1,656 comments - ledbydonkeys on October 1, 2025: "Looks like Michelle Mone is going to have to sell that yacht (she’s just been ordered to pay back £122m to govt after supplying useless PPE and sticking the profits in a tax haven)".

Source: Instagram share.google/9ltU3nwXWRlV...

The cover of the FUEL ebook, with a large photo of a yellow petrol pump, below which are the words FUEL: An Anthology of prize-winning flash fictions raising funds to fight fuel poverty, edited by Tania Hershman. There is a banner across the top right hand corner which says "Ebook with 12 Bonus Prize-Winning Stories!"

It's publication day for FUEL ebook—with 75 prizewinning flash fictions plus TWELVE bonus flash stories not in the print book! It's a great read *and* all profits go to UK fuel poverty charities. The print book raised over £4k; winter is coming, help us raise more: www.fuelflash.net/product/fuel...

Beautiful!

Congrats to @therelphian.bsky.social for producing such a beautiful book. Great stories lie within, and when you buy a copy proceeds will go to The Wildlife Trusts who are made up of 46 charities working to maintain and restore wildlife and wild areas.

Good luck Cole! @nomad-sw18.bsky.social

The paperback proof of our upcoming anthology is getting some last-minute editorial attention from Mary. She's ruthless! but also chonky so one could say, the proof is with the pudding 🦝😼
Not long now until the book can be in your cat's paws too!

This story is so beautifully constructed. flash500.com/flash-fictio...

This is so good! Funny & wry and just brilliant. But stop all this cake stuff. There's no cake in my house and now I want to eat some!!
@quickasaflash.bsky.social

Thank you so much Bronwen

Me too Lucienne. Will read yours later.

Thrilled to be published in issue 5. I enjoyed writing this one and hope it'll make you laugh. I look forward to reading the other stories. Good to see some familiar faces here @nomad-sw18.bsky.social @emilyrinkema.bsky.social @joycebingham.bsky.social

Just signed up. Sounds good.

Your story is fantastic, Gill, I was knocked out by it - looking forward to people getting a chance to read it in full.

I'm very happy that this anthology has taken its name from my story. Buy the book and you can read good stories AND help save UK wildlife and wild places Why wouldn't you?https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/

Three friends struggle to figure out how they'll cope with loss and the fears it provokes. Amidst the teenage banter, @emilyrinkema employs her trademark delicate touch to show us the mother's essential role in giving these girls the safety they lack. Love Emily's work!

Just read Jess Dolan’s beautiful counterpoint narrative. An icy scuba dive is interspersed with flashbacks to the event that led the narrator to seek an escape. The structure is perfect and the descriptions visceral. Do go and read it.

Two lifelong friends party together. With skilful foreshadowing @finnegag.bsky.social establishes a growing unease as their differences start to show, suggesting disaster is on the horizon. Great story!

Wow! Just read the three winning stories. Each one’s a stunner.

Look forward to reading this on Sunday.

It's painful, more some than others huh? I have a darling I just refuse to kill that as yet nobody loves. Keep on keeping on Emily!

This is beautiful. I find it full of both urgency and stillness.

Thanks Malina!

Congratulations to David O'Dwyer, Megan Griffo, and Jamie Redgate for placing 1st, 2nd, & 3rd in the Cambridge Prize. Thanks to @rupertdastur.bsky.social for all his hard work in running this competition.

Really happy to be included in this shortlist and excited to find out the winners. Congrats to all shortlisters, including those I recognise @chriscottom.bsky.social @uksherka.bsky.social

theshortstory.co.uk/competitions...

Just devoured this Twin Peaks inspired piece in @tinymolecules.bsky.social Brooding and brilliant. I'm reading it in a cafe with a kids' playground in the garden, now waiting for something awful to happen to inspire me.