Hi Everyone – delighted to post that my new collection of short stories and creative memoir is available now from Linen Press. You can purchase it HERE
I will be launching it officially in October at the Weardale WordFest and would love to see there – all events are free.
”This new collection of stories from Avril Joy brings together her finest published and unpublished work. From the Costa winning Mille and Bird, to the recent Morning Tide, listed for the Fish Short memoir Prize, she weaves narratives of hope in the face of loss, of transformation and redemption, and writes of the enduring power of love.”
Includes stories previously published and/or listed for awards – How the River Breaks Your Heart, For Book’s Sake, Weekend Reads 2016, longlisted Raymond Carver Prize 2015. Small Town Looks, shortlisted Bridport Prize 2014. Crane, shortlisted Words and Women competition 2018. White Feather Girl, shortlisted Historical Writers Association Prize 2017. Flood, longlisted Historical Writers Association Prize 2018. A Morning Tide, listed Fish Short Memoir Prize 2021, Millie and Bird, winner Costa Short Story Award 2012 published,The Story, Love, Loss and the Lives of Women, Head of Zeus 2013. Dancing With Mr Benn, finalist Granta Garden Memoir competition 2013, What is There to Cry About Today? Fine Line Competition anthology. Tokyo Dreaming , Structo Lit Magazine 2012, Newcastle Journal 2014
I’ve just finished reading this collection and I’m set to read it again. There is magic in these stories, scratch and sniff magic lifting off the page, and space within the writing to give the rooted, wings. Your pen has written around the world Avril. I wonder now if like Wallflower, you have unearthed truffles closer to home? This region, and the war time voice you depict speaks to me especially. I love White Feather Girl.
So kind of you Warren, first to buy and then read the collection. Thank you for the comments, like you White Feather girl is a favourite, and I don’t really know where it came from. When I was considering what to read for my online launch 29th Oct (link to come soon) I was considering a passage from it. I think my editor has made a different choice – maybe that’s how it is with stories, we all have our own favourites, those that speak to us in some way.