Wednesday 28 May 2014

Uncharted territory


We're back from Sicily: goodness, an island of such utter beauty; it leaves you weak-kneed, and as surprised as a child. England, on the other hand, was as stolid as a black umbrella on a soggy day. The plane landed through dark grey clouds, on a wet tarmac, into a damp chill - the usual suspects really, but home still. Never a bad thing.

I'm going to put together a post on our lazy-hazy-crazy days in the Sicilian sun, but before that I thought I'd share something else.

Some months ago, I terrified myself by writing my first short story. And then I wrote another. One of those stories was shortlisted for the Words And Women Competition, 2014. It's a story called Mrs. Sen. I'll be reading from it at the launch of the Words And Women Anthology next week.

You can read about it, and about the wonderfully gifted authors I'll be reading with, here:
http://wordsandwomennorwich.blogspot.co.uk/p/words-and-womens-firstreading-event-in.html

If you have nothing better to do, and are anywhere near the event, do pop in and watch me walk into uncharted territory. In a different kind of weak-kneed.


36 comments:

  1. The trip sounds wonderful, I look forward to reading more about it. Congratulations on your shortlisted story, wishing you all the best!

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    1. Thanks so much, Leaf :)
      The Sicily photographs are being sorted (very slowly)!

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  2. Congratulations!!

    ~Linda

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  3. Congrats. Congrats. Ki darun khobor. Ami oikhane thakle thik jetam noyto mone mone pouche jabo. All the best

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  4. Yayyy... Attagirl! How I wish to be there to hear you read! I am sure this is first of many wonderful things to come. I am very sure that soon the day will come when I'll be holding the book full of your stories :)

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    1. Thanks Sia! Sending you a big hug for those words of encouragement. A book might be a long way away, but your note means much.

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  5. Congratulations, Way to go!

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  6. Yay! Hearty Congratulations. Given how beautiful your writing is, I am not surprised with your win. :-) You go girl!

    Siri

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  7. I would love to read your short story somewhere online. Is it available?

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    1. Thanks so very much, Siri! *hugs* Your kind words are always appreciated.
      The story is not online yet, but I'll link up on the blog as soon as it is. You must tell me what you think.

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  8. Congratulations, Pia! :) That's lovely.

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  9. Well, first off, so glad you got so child like amusement in Sicily. It is an island of wonders!
    Second, but not last, so excited to hear of your newly minted short story writer career! I uaed to write short stories as an adolescent...and then? What happened? Why did I stop? Not quite sure, life maybe, so you inspired me to think about startibng again!

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    1. To the first: Sicily, ah, Sicily. I'd like to move there, Amelia. The people, the land, the food - don't get me started!
      And to the second: Don't stop! Start again. I'd love to read one of your stories.

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  10. Oh how I'd love to attend your reading, Pia. Will we be able to purchase this anthology online? I hope to read your contribution soon.

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    1. And I'd have loved to hear you read 'After the Sour Lemon Moon' :) Someday, maybe.

      Not online yet, Denise. And this story isn't part of this anthology. But will give you a shout when it's out. Would love you to read it.

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  11. Woo hoo! Congratulations Pia. Will you post your shortie on this blog or is there an online link to your writing?

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    1. Thanks Pratirupa! Unfortunately, I can't publish it on the blog - that stops it from being published elsewhere. But will put up details here once it's available online.

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  12. This is such wonderful news! I wish you all the best. You will rock the reading for sure.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Anita; and not read like a rock, I hope :)

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  13. Lovely to read this. Enjoy Tuesday every bit as much as those there will I'm sure enjoy your words. Look forward to reading it soon.

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    1. Thanks Matt. Enjoy Tuesday - yes, I must remind myself to do that x

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  14. Congrats, Pia !

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  15. How wonderful, congratulations! Can't wait to hear all about Sicily too, it sounds like you had a great time! :) xx

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    1. Thanks Emma!
      The mound of photos from Sicily are currently being sorted - argh, my least favourite job! :)

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  16. wow !! darun..thakle nishchoi aashtam, taar pore ek cup chaa khey goppo martaam..but none the same, best wishes Pia :) khub bhalo hobey

    Sicily pics awaited and so are CM's stories revolving around it

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    1. Thanks for the wishes, Sulagna! Ek cup cha and goppo sounds good :)
      Sicily's coming up soon!

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  17. Fantastic news! You are a delight to read, and I'll be keeping a lookout for the anthology. I hope it appears in a Spanish bookstore one day very soon (until then, yes, online linkage, please!) Glad I'm not too late to say break a leg tomorrow. X

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    1. Thanks so much, Kyra! No not late at all. It's just the message I needed this morning - the reading's today. Hugs x

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  18. How exciting! It takes courage to take that step out of the known!

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    1. Thanks Nicole. Glad to report that is went wonderfully well! I surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying the read :)

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  19. Oh wow! Proud of U! Really awesome....ami kobe theke bhavei cholechi likhbo, kintu hoye ar otheni, So glad that u got recognised in the first effort. Always devoured ur writings on the blog, now can't wait to read a full length story! whoooooooohhh! , hugs n muahhhhs too

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