tcook's blog

A great story and a wonderful poem for you this week. Congrats go to mandylifeboats and seafret: https://www.abctales.com/story/mandylifeboats/meeting-wolf https://www.abctales.com/story/seafret/rooted And an IP that can make you think a bit: https://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip

Congrats go to the Other Terrence Oblong and samhenig this week - and the IP is something very different. Give it a go! http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/pope-problem http://www.abctales.com/story/samhennig/city http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Cheers, Tony

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you all that if no one is found to take over ABCtales then it will close on December 31st. Costs, especially after Brexit (our server is in the USA and is paid for in dollars), have risen whilst donations have dipped - and it is now running at a loss that I can no longer sustain. There are moves afoot to try and take it forwards. I want no money for the site but I do want guarantees that it will be...

A total gem from Maggy van Eijk makes it a no brainer for Poem of the Week: http://www.abctales.com/story/maggyvaneijk/trifecta A bit of fun on Happy Island is the pick of the Stories: http://www.abctales.com/story/other-terrence-oblong/nudism-problem And an IP that should make you shout at the dog/cat in your life: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Cheers, Tony

Lily Poole is the first novel by ABCtales Editor Jack O’Donnell, better known here as celticman. Many of us may be accustomed to his writing but prepare to be surprised. Lily Poole is a two gears up from anything he has written beforehand. It has wit, style, surprise, insight into the human character, extraordinary description of life on the seamy side of Glasgow and a writing style that delights. The book begins with our hero, John, coming...

A couple of gems for you this week from Terrence Oblong and OverTheTop1 via Seashore plus a relatively easy Inspiration Point to get your creative juices flowing: http://www.abctales.com/story/terrence-oblong/rock-broken http://www.abctales.com/story/seashore/infectious http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Have fun!

Congrats this week go to Ladylily and hoalarg1. The poem in particular is a real gem: http://www.abctales.com/story/ladylily/grief-gaziantep And the story is moving and well written: http://www.abctales.com/story/hoalarg1/spectrum The Inspiration Point, is, I think, a real challenge: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Thanks all for another week of wonderful creativity!

The start of a cracking tale from Kilb50 - do make sure you read the following parts - wins the Story prize this week: http://www.abctales.com/story/kilb50/ned-1 Our poetry award goes to a piece that is brilliantly well observed: http://www.abctales.com/story/veraclark/magic And we go up to Edinburgh for our inspiration: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Congrats to all!

Here's a new competition for you to enter - and we're looking for a London theme. There will be one winner of poetry and one winner of prose and each will receive a copy of The Gentle Author's 'London Album'. This is a seriously beautiful book and is well worth the winning. Our very own East End Butcher Boy, Joe Lawrence, will be the judge and his decision will be final. Entries cost £2 each and you may enter as many times as you like. Make sure...

A double handed winner of the Story of the Week for airy fairy: http://www.abctales.com/story/airyfairy/flowers-part-one-two-ip http://www.abctales.com/story/airyfairy/flowers-part-two-two-ip And a really good poem: http://www.abctales.com/story/lovewriting/eriksay And a fun time Inspiration Point: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip Congrats to the winners and here's to another great week of stories and poems on ABCtales.