insertponceyfrenchnamehere's blog

Ewan has asked me to make sure you've all seen this: I don't know if it's just me (although I'm sure it isn't), but is anyone else's inbox stuffed full of emails like this? Hello Dear Author, After careful evaluation this month, your book has been identified as a strong candidate for our 2026 Book of the Week program. We would be pleased to highlight your title across our platform, positioning it directly in front of our engaged readership and...

Posted by airyfairy. It's been lovely to read all the contributions this week, and apart from the inherent pleasure, they've provided a welcome distraction from debates about whether the municipal daffodiils are blooming far too early and do the council plan roadworks with vicous intent. So I am grateful for a bit of magic on ABC Tales. Our Story of the Week is Lille Dante's 'Never Gonna Give', another episode in Danny and Julie's story. This is...

ABCTales' very own Tony Cook has asked me to share this recommendation for a book by his friend and wife of long-time partner of ABCTales Steven Gardiner. There's a link to buy at the end. Respectable People by Bridget Gardiner London 1928. Twenty-two-year-old Irene Savidge, a factory worker, dreams of going on the stage. She meets a member of the Establishment who promises he will introduce her to influential people. The couple's arrest for...

Our Story and Poem of the Month for February, very kindly chosen by Marandina:

ScoZen has very generously offered to sponsor another writing challenge! Here's what he says: Anything toothy, from teething, tugging your own molars out etc. Four awards on offer. Gold, Silver, Bronze and runner up. Posts please from Sunday March 1st till…Monday 16th March. Or from whenever you next visit your dentist. £32 pounds so far pledged in advance of entries. All smile for the camera please…altogether now…say… Regards. scoZen Please put...

Posted by onemorething It's been very lovely to be properly back this week reading all the wonderful writing on the site. What an abundance of excellent prose too from a number of reliably talented writers. Read your way through all the cherried pieces! Nevertheless, our Story of the Week is the intelligent, moving and brilliantly written, The Mythic Embassy by Lille Dante. We've been treated to a few pieces from this writer in the last week...

Story and Poem of the Week, with Inspiration Point, posted by di-hard Thank You so much to everyone for all the wonderful writing this week. I have particularly enjoyed the stories written for and about children/teens, including : Marandina's engossing tale set in England's West country unfolds in two new chapters. If you love Alan Garner and Susan Cooper you should read this : https://www.abctales.com/story/marandina/prophesy-immortal-witch-10...

Firstly a very big thank you to Gloskat for her brilliant alphabet challenge idea which has been a resounding success and has only five more days to run. You can find it here until the 18th: https://www.abctales.com/blog/gloskat/alphabet-you-can%E2%80%99t It's been a very strong week for prose this time around. I've really enjoyed w.w.j.abercrombie's Michael, celticman's Awaiting and SoulFire77's three parter The Lady in Sycamore Lane: https://...

Posted by airyfairy. To start February off, and following on from Soulfire77's wonderful Frankenplot competition, GlosKat has also generously promised to make a donation to ABCTales if people take up her challenge to write an Alphabet story or poem. Details are here: Alphabet You Can’t | ABCtales and the deadline is 18 February. Thank you to GlosKat for such a lovely idea! Story of the Week is Part 1 of drew_gummerson's 'Minority Report'. As...

I'd like to say a very big thank you to everyone who's given money to ABCTales recently. All donations are very much appreciated and go towards the running of our site I'd also like to remind you that if you prefer to do a bank transfer rather than use JustGiving please email me ( claudine@abctales.com ) for our bank details