I was delighted to learn that my short story about Belfast I Thought I Knew Something About This Place was shortlisted for the EM Fletcher Writing Award. It will appear in the December 2024 issue of The Ancestral Searcher.

Warm congratulations to the winners and the other shortlisted entrants.

Here’s what the judges said about the story:

“An introspective and heartfelt exploration of personal identity and family roots, this story captures the author’s journey to Belfast in search of connection with their late father’s heritage. It thoughtfully blends historical reflection with modern discovery, offering a poignant narrative of belonging and self-understanding.”

The story was written as part of my Free Shorts project, in which I have been sending one short story per month to a selected group of my readers for critique during 2024. The twelve stories will be published at the end of the year.

I am thrilled that three of the twelve stories have now been recognised in competitions.

You can find details of my novels here.