It’s never too late to have a fling . . . for autumn is just as nice as spring . . . it’s never too late to fall in love! (Sandy Wilson, The Boyfriend)
We have had a huge response to our call for short romantic stories. A short list of 44 stories (see below) were judged by a panel of experienced writers and 20 have been chosen to be published in an anthology on November 1st 2011.
Those chosen are (in the order they will appear in the anthology)
Life Class Peter Johnson
A Cat About the House Norma Murray
Copperplate Sue Wilson
Life Without Grace Ed Lane
Spot On Jane Walker
Dancing Round The Med Denise West
Lightning Never Strikes Twice Paul Chiswick
The Last Verse Margaret Foggo
An Estate of the Heart Brenda Jackson
Collectability Denis Marsden
Predictive Text Heather Shaw
The Secret Life of Madeline Greatorex Patricia Stoner
How Little Time Cedric Parcell
A Good Sense of Humour Margaret Kitchen
Stranger Love Carol Homer
Rendezvous Malcolm Peake
In Sickness and In Health Gwen Anderson
Second Time Around Gillian Lazar
Ménage à Troisième Age Stephanie Richards
Stardust Jean Dorricott
SHORT LISTED STORIES
|
Gwen |
Anderson |
In Sickness and in Health |
|
Paul |
Chiswick |
Lightning Never Strikes Twice? |
|
Howard |
Cooley |
Caroline and the Widower |
|
John |
Dimiter-Murray |
No Regrets |
|
Jenny |
Dorricott |
Stardust |
|
Micky |
Dugan |
Do you smile to tempt a lover Mona Lisa |
|
Margorie |
Fisher |
A Secret Affair |
|
Margaret |
Foggo |
The Last Verse |
|
Jennie |
Fursland |
Dear Alice |
|
Wendy |
Gayler |
Never Never Land |
|
Chris |
Hazelgrove |
Do it Yourself |
|
Barbara |
Hendrick |
Best of Foes |
|
Anthea |
Holland |
Deliberation |
|
Carol |
Homer |
Stranger Love |
|
Brenda |
Jackson |
An Estate of the Heart |
|
Cheryl |
Jeffrey |
In Sunshine and in Shade |
|
Peter |
Johnson |
Life Class |
|
Carolina |
Kenealy |
No Man Land |
|
Margaret |
Kitchen |
A Good sense of Humour |
|
Ed |
Lane |
Life Without Grace |
|
Gillian |
Lazar |
Second Time Around |
|
John Margeryson |
Lord |
Dear, Oh Dear |
|
Sarah |
Lovett |
The Lady and the Knight |
|
Denis |
Marsden |
Collectability |
|
Denis |
Marsden |
There’s Always Brian |
|
Norma |
Murray |
A Cat About the House |
|
Cedric |
Parcell |
How Little Time |
|
Helen J |
Park |
Alexander’s Choice |
|
Malcolm |
Peake |
Losing Harriet |
|
Malcolm |
Peake |
Rendezvous |
|
Judith |
Rhodes |
Best Man |
|
Stephanie |
Richards |
Menage a Troisieme Age |
|
Valerie |
Sabir-Ali |
The Promise |
|
Jule |
Saunders |
Easy as ABC |
|
Heather |
Shaw |
Predictive Text |
|
Ann |
Smith |
The Flood |
|
Patricia |
Stoner |
The Secret Life of Madeline Greatorex |
|
Gordon |
Thynne |
The Autocrat of the Dinner Table |
|
Jane |
Walker |
Mysterious Ways |
|
Jane |
Walker |
Spot On |
|
Jane |
Wells |
Grand Circles and Gowns |
|
Denise |
West |
Waltzing Round the Med |
|
Beryl |
Wilkins |
4:20 from Victoria |
|
Deriel |
Williams |
A Different Time Frame |
|
Sue |
Wilson |
Copperplate |
The Judging Panel
Mary Essinger-Rogers
My first novel, Wounded Bird of Paradise, was published when I was 68; nice things: DO happen to older people. Note the semi colon; I do not use it enough. In My Fashion, about starting work in a dress factory cme next followed by How to be a Merry Widow (published by Third Age Press) but I had to use my maiden name for that, didn’t want men queuing up at the door wanting to marry me. My latest book is Mary Writes Comedy. It has just occurred to me that I have not written any fiction since I became a widow. I wonder why?
Amanda Sington-Williams
Amanda is the author of The Eloquence of Desire published in 2010 by Sparkling Books. She won an award from The Royal Literary Fund whilst writing this novel. Her short stories have been published by Ether Books, Sentinel Literary Quarterly, Writing Raw, Bridge House Publishing and selected for readings at several literary events. Her poetry has also been read out on BBC radio. She has an MA in Creative Writing and Authorship and teaches novel writing in Brighton. More information about her can be seen on her website: www.amandasingtonwilliams.co.uk
Maggie Smith
The author of three books on Mid-life Career Change, for the past ten years Maggie has been National Adviser for Creative Writing for the University of the Third Age. She tutors at Summer Schools and study days and has compiled a handbook for U3A Writers Groups. Maggie recently had a story in Story Slam at Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the Festival of Britain 60th Anniversary. She is attempting to make time for her own writing and intends to complete her memoirs while there is still time.
Alan Wallace
Alan Wallace has a varied background in theatre. Three years ago, he joined the U3A Forest Hill Writers’ Group, which produced Deadline Thursday, a collection of stories and verse by its members. His account of a trip to China is shortly to appear in another U3A anthology, this one devoted to travel writing.
Dianne Norton Managing Editor, Third Age Press 6 Parkside Gardens London SW19 5EY Email: dnort@globalnet.co.uk