Blogs

Utama (2022) Film4, written and directed by Alejandro Loayza Grisi

Posted by celticman on Wed, 29 Nov 2023

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/utama/on-demand/75755-001 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utama Virgino (José Calcina) gets up early to tend his llamas in Altiplano, the arid high plateau of the Andes with its mixture of cold and heat. His wife Sisa (Luisa Quispe) takes two metal buckets and walks into town for water. But the annual monsoon didn’t come. It hasn’t rained for a year. The weather is sick, says one of the villagers. Virgino is...

Black Bough Winter and Christmas Poetry Anthology

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 26 Nov 2023

And even more good news for ABCTalers! Two of our poets, marandina and onemorething have had their work included in the Black Bough Winter and Christmas Poetry Anthology The editor of the anthology is Matthew MC Smith who is a tireless promoter of new and emerging poets. This annual offering is a labour of love that he spends most of the year compiling. The final product is a thing of beauty. There are over 125 poets who have contributed with...

Pushcart Prize Nominations

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sun, 26 Nov 2023

Some lovely news to share with you! Our very own onemorething has been nominated TWICE for the prestigious Pushcart Prize which you can read about in the link below. The two poems are Hoar Frost and :Dutch Elm Disease which I believe were both first published on ABCTales. http://pushcartprize.com/index.html Big congratulations to her!

Story of the Week, Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point 24 November 2023

Posted by Ewan on Fri, 24 Nov 2023

As usual our members made this the most difficult task of the week. Story of the Week Mark Burrow’s WIP continues to convince with a strong narrative voice. I look forward to seeing it in print one day. The latest instalment is here I enjoyed Marandina’s short about a family tragedy. This, too, benefits from a strong and believable narrative voice. ‘Those We Leave Behind’ is here This week’s Story of the Week goes to a tale by one of the most...

Scrublands, BBC 4, based on the Chris Hammer novel, screenwriters Chris Hammer and Felicity Packard, Director Greg McLean

Posted by celticman on Sun, 19 Nov 2023

bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0gnmkvz/scrublands-series-1-episode-1?seriesId=p0gnmk66 https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0gnmlbt/scrublands-series-1-episo... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0gnmm2g/scrublands-series-1-episo... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0gnmmcc/scrublands-series-1-episo... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrublands_(novel) Scrublands begins with a bang. Literally. Father Byron Swift (Jay Ryan) after mass at St...

A Dubious Undertaking - Podcast Released!

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Sat, 18 Nov 2023

I am very pleased to announce that Phil Whiteland who posts his brilliant Bring Out Your Dead stories on ABCTales and has more cherries than an actual cherry tree, has a podcast out! You can listen to an episode of A Dubious Legacy here: https://yorickradioproductions.com/listen-to-our-latest-episodes/ Philip is very pleased with the way they've interpreted his characters so I am sure we will be too and if you haven't read any of his work I can...

Alan Parks (2023) To Die in June.

Posted by celticman on Fri, 17 Nov 2023

I’ve read a few Alan Parks's novels. Don’t ask me which ones. I thought To Die in June had won the McIlvanney Prize, but it was his last Detective Harry McCoy novel. I’m a book or two behind. I continually use the same line when talking about McIlvanney’s Detective Laidlaw series; his aim wasn’t to solve the crime but to solve the world. Detective Harry McCoy is from the same mould. ‘Wisdom comes through suffering.’ Aeschylus. I’m all for wisdom...

Story and Poem of the Week and Inspiration Point

Posted by Insertponceyfrenchnamehere on Fri, 17 Nov 2023

Posted by onemorething: Another week of great writing on the site. Some wonderful stories; I especially loved monodemo's sweet tale of mice, but also Jane's ongoing brilliant, Parcel for You. I should mention celticman's Love Story too. Overall, however, my favourite story and Story of the Week is the very gentle tale from Monodemo. You can read it here if you haven't already. https://www.abctales.com/story/monodemo/party As for poetry, it was...

Archibald and Josiah - the audio experience!

Posted by philwhiteland on Fri, 17 Nov 2023

I promised I would let you know when Josiah and Archibald made their deput on the airwaves and I'm pleased to say that today (Friday, 17th November) is the day! The very first Undertakers story, 'A Dubious Undertaking' has been interpreted by Yorick Radio Productions and I have to say I think they have done a marvellous job. See what you think by following the link: https://yorickradioproductions.com/listen-to-our-latest-episodes/

La Civil (2021) Film4, Directed by Teodora Mihai, Written by Habacuc Antonio De Rosario and Teodora Mihai

Posted by celticman on Thu, 16 Nov 2023

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/la-civil https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_civil How much is your daughter worth? El Puma (Juan Daniel García Treviño) gives Ciero (Arcelia Ramírez) a price she must pay to see her daughter again. To keep her alive. He also demands her ex-husband’s truck. The smiling assassin and his companion assure her it’s just business. And she’d not to contact the police, because obviously in Northern Mexico they’re on the...

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