Holy Smokes!

March, so far, has been crazy-busy.

The very first National Flash Fiction Day is taking place on Wednesday 16th May, and there's so much cool stuff happening. There are events and workshops and even a book! The book will feature stories by Jenn Ashworth, David Gaffney, Vanessa Gebbie, Tania Hershman, me, Kirsty Logan, Nigel McLoughlin, Jonathan Pinnock, Sarah Hilary, Simon Thirsk and...Ali Smith. (!!) If you happen to be a writer-of-stories, then you might want to enter the competition and possibly be in t'book as well.

In celebration of NFF Day, I'm running two Flash-Fiction workshops in cahoots with Derby City Libraries. The first is on Wednesday 16th May, (actual NFF Day) at Central Library, and the second is on Saturday 19th May at Mickleover Library. Click on the links for more details. They're free, but booking is essential. Come along!

Also coming up at the end of this month is Holy Smokes! 4. It's a night of music, art and spoken word that takes place at Derby Silk Mill, which is one of my favourite places in Derby, and is only the first factory in the world! It ticks all of my Industrial-Revolution-fangirl boxes.

There will be music from Ben Butler & Mousepad and Grey Hairs, and they've also got the Hijacked III photography exhibition on. I'm going to be reading a story on the night, as is fellow Time Travel Opportunist Nathan. The incredibly talented Éireann Lorsung will also be reading, and will hopefully bring some MIEL goodies. (I NEED these pencils!)

I'm dead excited about all of this.