​Ken is remarkably chipper that his short story about grumpy physicists has won the 2016 Tricia Ashley Award, a prize for humorous short fiction:

www.creativewritingmatters.co.uk/2016-exeter-story-prize.html 


There is rumoured to be an anthology in the offing, in which the story will be included. Ken hopes to obtain a shiny copy free of charge, and intends to thank God and his agent in his tearful acceptance speech in which his bow tie will mysteriously come adrift to expose a few inches of chest wig.

Ken has bunged half the prize money to the UNHCR, who, he hopes, will blow the lot on tents, rice, bandages and other extravagances. You can donate here:

donate.unhcr.org/gb-en/general/

It's a short story prize for humorous works, so er... fingers crossed.
​

www.creativewritingmatters.co.uk/2016-exeter-story-prize.html

Ken's satirical short story, 'Elephants of the Cosmos' receives a special mention in the 2016 Nivalis Short Story competition.

http://www.fabulapress.com/

'Swiderek' is a story about a bakery employee dogged by sinister bread rolls.

No, really.

​It's been published in the Skye Baker Prize anthology 'Words from an Island: A Stillness of Mind' which is available here:

https://theskyereadingroom.wordpress.com/anthology-a-stillness-of-mind/

http://www.pushingouttheboat.co.uk/

"Pushing Out the Boat, North-East Scotland’s Magazine of New Writing and the Visual Arts, is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run magazine of poems, stories and art work. Established in 2000, and now run as a Scottish Charity, the magazine provides opportunities for local writers and artists – particularly first-time published – to have their work in print alongside contributors from around the world."



Look out for KM's 'The Excuse Hound' in issue 13. It's about a man who uses his dog as an excuse not to go anywhere. Very sensible.

http://thereaderberlin.com/?p=1611

Reader Berlin Short Story Competition 2014 – The Shortlist

http://bleakzine.com/index.php/project/3/

Native Speakers
A reluctant friend retrieves a crashed scooter from a Czech barbecue joint

http://bit.ly/1zl1hWE 
'326-397 Great Western Road'  is a short short story. Not a short short story, but a short short story about an ill-fated shopping expedition. Solly's African Village is a real shop. I bet it has its own unofficial Facebook page. 

At the risk of sounding like a Facebook status update, and talking about myself in the third person, Ken has mostly been writing new short stories and tinkering with old ones. Must find somewhere to read these suckers aloud... Perhaps a soap

'Arrow of God' by Chinua Achebe has got me hooked on Nigerian proverbs. 
  A man who brings home ant-infested faggots should not complain if he is visited by lizards. 

How very true, but what are we to make of: 

  unless the penis dies young it will surely eat bearded meat, or: 
  
  a fowl does not eat into the belly of a goat? 

Must remember to use that more often in conversation. 

http://bit.ly/1ppPNt1