I just finished reading the most beautiful debut novel I have read in a long time. It's called Gem Squash Tokoloshe and it's by Rachel Zadok. I think she won some sort of competition to have the book published.

I'm tired and I'm upset. I would not be a priest in a confessional if my life depended on it. F-in-law (the real one, the well meaning one, the one i like) has just told me a load of stuff about his marriage to my m-in-law I now realise i can't tell my husband, because to do so would be to stir up strife and upset and acrimony... so i'm left with the knowledge and i'll have to lie by omission. Thanks a fucking bunch f-in-law, glad you feel better.

...

which 1980's book takes its title from a beatles record ... the name of which prompts the protagonist to examine their history?

I mentioned this in another thread but anyway.

Ahem....

I am one of ten winners in the Middlesex University Short Story Prize. The final three placings are to be announced at an event on December 13th with £1000 going to the top story. And then all will appear in a book published by MU Press.

Best thing tho' was that Ali Smith was one of the judges so I've been glowing a bit since I found out thinking that someone I admire so much should like one of my stories. (And it was on here first.)

And I wonder if she will be at the event?