News and Features

The Wheatsheaf Report, and our Poem, Story and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 28 Mar 2014

As you might be able to tell from the pictures , we had a fantastic get-together this Wednesday at the Wheatsheaf in London, where we managed to raise 135£ for The Railway Children . Rhiannonw read some beautiful poems – including one inspired by last week's IP, a first for me - Kevin Marman, aka Stan, gave a very spirited (and poignant) reading from his book In the Day , Barely Black Francis had us first laughing and then deeply moved, while...

Interview with Phil Klay, author of Redeployment

Posted by Luke Neima on Tue, 25 Mar 2014

I had the good fortune to discuss writing with Phil Klay, a brilliant author whose debut collection of short stories about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Redeployment , is publishing this Thursday via Canongate. He told me about what got him writing and what kept him at it – about the processes behind his work, his time in the marines and the writing communities that he’s relied on along the way. How did you get started writing? I was always...

21.30.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 21 Mar 2014

I’m on the edge of my seat for Wednesday – when ABCtales will be meeting at the Wheatsheaf in London for another night of poetry and prose. Readings start at 7pm and the reading list is absolutely superb – if you haven't been to a reading yet there really is nothing like hearing stuff live. I can’t wait to see you all there. It’s been another week of high-quality writing on ABC. Our poem of the week is one of those that just blindsides you – a...

14.03.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 14 Mar 2014

The next ABCtales Reading is in just under two weeks - Wednesday, March the 26th at the Wheatsheaf in London - and we've got an excellent roster of readers. If you haven't already, make sure to book the evening off to hear from Stan , Bee , Akanbi, TFH, BarelyBlackFrancis, Rhiannonw, Robert of the Queen Mary University Creative Writing Society, Aidan Cottrell-Boyce, Joe and Elsie Katz – it's bound to be an incredible night and we'll look forward...

Christine Hamill on ABCtales, Breast Cancer and Getting Published

Posted by Luke Neima on Mon, 10 Mar 2014

So, ABCers – as of today I am a published author! My book B is for Breast Cancer is actually in the shops today and it started right here… I wrote the book when I was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Five years ago, aged 45, I found myself diagnosed with the disease and my first thought was for my ten-year-old son. Then I worried about how my poor old mother would cope with the news. And then, and I’m not kidding, I thought – what about...

07.03.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 07 Mar 2014

A weekend of unseasonably warm weather is upon us lucky few down in the England's southern portion, and not a moment too soon. I hope you all get a chance to enjoy some of it, to take in a little nature and maybe follow in the footsteps of the romantics (that’s what this week’s IP is about: http://www.abctales.com/inspiration-point-ip ), but even if you’re stuck somewhere that's still obeying traditional seasonal rules, take a moment to breathe...

28.02.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 28 Feb 2014

It's the last day of February, and we're already sliding into something like spring - although it's still wetter and colder and darker than any kind of spring I want any part of. But it keeps bringing us stories and poems, more and more of them. There's enough good writing on ABCtales, I realise, to keep a man happily reading all day every day, like old Prince Carlos of Viana. We have some good news, as ABCer Akanbi - Samuel Aina - publishes his...

22.02.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 21 Feb 2014

Well we have some fantastic picks for you this week! Our story of the week is an ABC debut, from new author TFH. ‘The Late Bus’ is a sophisticated and psychologically charged story about a middle-aged autistic man taking his aging mother on a trip to Lancaster. When she dies he is unable to feel any emotion – and the work that results is a fascinated window into a different kind of mind. An outstanding debut and the first, I hope of many: http...

14.02.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 14 Feb 2014

Exciting news this week, as another ABCtales member publishes her work! Christine Hamill's 'B is for Breast Cancer' is now out with Hachette - have a look, like the page, share it with your friends and buy a copy: https://www.hachette.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9780349401348 Christine's promised to share her story in a special guest blog that won't be long in coming - so watch this space for more about her work. But for now I'll turn to picks...

07.02.14 Story, Poem and Inspiration Point of the Week

Posted by Luke Neima on Fri, 07 Feb 2014

February's off to a sharp start. Flooding and tube strikes, gloomy weather and the controversial opening of the Winter Olympics in Russia, not to mention the death of the incredible Philip Seymour Hoffman. And some of it must be inspiring, as this has been one of the hardest weeks to make a pick of the week in a long long time. Please, for your own benefit, have a look at the cherry-page and make your way through some of the incredible poems and...

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