Hampshire Book Launch

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When Lissa Byrne inherits her grandfather’s house in the Malvern Hills, the hostility of disappointed relatives seems like trouble enough. The old man’s dying plea for her forgiveness is a mystery that Lissa cannot begin to solve.

Her cousin’s arrival forces her to think again. Kit Pevensey, her first love and once her closest friend, has been gone for five years and has regrets of his own; but their grandfather wrote to Kit just before he died, with a warning that Lissa is in danger.

As Lissa and Kit try to rebuild their relationship, events draw them ever deeper into their family’s troubled history. The race is on, from the Malvern Hills to the snow-swept coast of West Wales, to unearth the story of a lost generation before it’s too late; for the past can do worse than haunt your dreams and betray your most treasured memories.

 

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Short Stories from Evesham Festival of Words

Black Pear Press are delighted to announce that the anthology of short stories by entrants to the Evesham Festival of Words competition, is now available here.
evesham-fow-front-coverEvesham Festival of Words took place in 2016 for the first time. It aimed to offer something to writers, poets, book lovers, and all those who are passionate about words, whether written, spoken or sung. The Short Story Competition was, and will continue to be, an important part of the Festival and the organisers have been absolutely delighted with the response, both in terms of number and quality of entries. If you entered and weren’t shortlisted this year, there is always next year. Meanwhile, keep on writing!

The anthology of short stories is available directly from Black Pear Press:

UK postage: buy-now-paypal

Also available as an eBook

Echo of Bells – Available Now!

‘We did it for the best. We didn’t know. May God forgive us.’

With lines like this, it is no wonder that of Echo of Bells made Black Pear Press’s readers’ selection for publication. The novelist, Jill Todd, provides a thrilling story, full of twists and turns, that is bound to delight readers and keep them guessing.

Echo of Bells Front Cover - low res

The past is waiting…
The past will find you…
The past can kill.

Jill Todd’s chilling psychological thriller is now available direct from Black Pear Press.

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Short Story Competition Short List Announced

The judges are pleased to announce the short list for the BPP Short Story Competition 2016. Congratulations to those short listed below in alphabetical order. Commiserations to all other entrants – better luck next time.

More news soon!

The Scent Of Apples Natasha Bland
Gerard Butler’s Chest Rebecca Burns
Not With A Bang Ellen Evers
Soaring Nicole Fitton
Bare Bones Grace Haddon
The Photographer Graeme Hall
Cromwell And The Fools Elizabeth Hopkinson
Six Decades Of Savouring Stephanie Hutton
On The Day Of The Dead Anne Wilson
Eva’s Eden Katy Wimhurst

‘Echo Of Bells’ Is Coming

The past is waiting…
The past will find you…
The past can kill.

Echo of Bells Front Cover - low res

Echo of Bells by Jill Todd: an impressive psychological thriller set in the Malverns.

Guests heard extracts from the book, met the author, and asked her many question at the launch at The Lyttelton Well, Malvern. Signed copies were on sale and a great time was had by all.

“When Lissa Byrne inherits her grandfather’s house in
the Malvern Hills, the hostility of disappointed
relatives seems like trouble enough. The old man’s
dying plea for her forgiveness is a mystery that Lissa
cannot begin to solve.

“Her cousin’s arrival forces her to think again. Kit
Pevensey, her first love and once her closest friend,
has been gone for five years and has regrets of his
own; but their grandfather wrote to Kit just before he
died, with a warning that Lissa is in danger.

“As Lissa and Kit try to rebuild their relationship,
events draw them ever deeper into their family’s
troubled history. The race is on, from the Malvern
Hills to the snow-swept coast of West Wales, to
unearth the story of a lost generation before it’s too
late—for the past can do worse than haunt your
dreams and betray your most treasured memories.”

Jill Todd lives in Hampshire. She is a regular visitor to the Malverns, where several family members have lived for many years.

Launch Of Lacuna

This fabulous first collection from poet Kieran Davis was launched Sunday 14 August at Drummonds Bar, The Swan With Two Nicks, 28 New Street, Worcester WR1 2DP

There were book signings and poetry readings from Kieran, ably aided by Alan Durham, Mike Alma and Polly Stretton. Worcestershire Poet Laureate Suz Winspear also performed some of her poems.

An article about Kieran, the launch of his book and the award he recently won appears in Worcester News.

Black Pear Press Short Story Competition 2016

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Short Story Competition 2016–NOW CLOSED

  • The second Black Pear Press (BPP) Short Story Competition is now open
  • Closing date Monday 1 August 2016
  • Send us your short story maximum 1500 words
  • Entry fee: £5 per story
  • For rules see below
  • Judges: Authors Rod Griffiths and Tony Judge, and novelist, award winning short story writer and Kindle bestseller Alison May

We’re looking for short stories of 1500 words or fewer to be submitted to us before Monday 1 August 2016.

Long listed finalists’ and other selected short stories will be included in an anthology to be published later in 2016.

The anthology title will be the title of the winning short story, if it: 1)  fits on the cover and 2) is acceptable to the judges.

Competition Rules

  1. Closing date is Monday 1 August 2016.
  2. The maximum word limit is 1500, not including the title (no minimum).
  3. Authors may submit as many stories as they wish.
  4. Submitted pieces must not have been published elsewhere, must be the entrant’s own original work and available, if selected, to be published in the anthology.
  5. Translations of anyone else’s work are not eligible. Copyright remains with the writer.
  6. Entries may be published on the BPP website and may be included in an anthology.
  7. Entries must be in English.
  8. Submit entries by email to ps@blackpear.net
  9. The subject line of the e-mail must read: BPP Short Story.
  10. Entries should be attached as a Word or an RTF document. Give your name and contact details in the body of the email, as well as the title and word count of your submission(s) and a circa 50 word profile of the writer in the third person. If you are paying by PayPal, your receipt no/transaction code should be included. Do not put your name or email address on the entry itself. Entries should be single spaced, in a clear font, 12pt.
  11. The winners and runners-up will be announced on the BPP website and on the BPP Facebook page.
  12. There is no theme. All styles and genres are welcome.
  13. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome of this competition.

Entry into the competition is taken to be acceptance of these rules.

All entries will be judged anonymously.

Results announced 30 October 2016.

First prize: £75
Second prize: copies of two BPP publications

Please note that entries sent without the entry fee will not be considered and stories should be submitted only once.

All entries will be acknowledged within 48 hours of receipt of your payment. If you have not heard from us within a week please contact us. It is your responsibility to confirm your entry has been received.

No alterations can be made after receipt, nor fees refunded. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence can be entered into. No entrant may win more than one prize.

Due to the anticipated number of submissions, we cannot accept any that do not follow submissions guidelines and rules.

Good luck!

Enquiries may be forwarded to ps@blackpear.net

You may wish to see the first winning short story in the Black Pear Press Short Story Anthology, Seaglass, available direct from the publishers via PayPal:

UK customers:

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