After taking early retirement, I quickly realised that I needed something more than hacking up the golf course to keep me occupied, so I started writing short stories. An eclectic mix, no particular genre, but no sci-fi. Definitely no sci-fi. I try to include an element of humour in all my stories. To date, they have been published by The Galway Review, Cork Holly Bough, Bandit Fiction, Cafelit, Spillwords, Hammond House, Clarendon House, Grindstone Literary, and Michael Terence Publishing. The highlight was winning the Southport International Short Story Competition last year. (I’m still playing terrible golf!) Almost Perfect Vinnie rolled … Continue reading Eamon O’Leary

My name is Ruth Holloway from Northern Ireland. I have been writing short stories since I was a little girl, now I’m 37 and still writing them. I am also interested in art and have done several courses in Fine Art. I also have a passion for animals and am particularly fond of the pangolin; the world’s most trafficked animal. I also like fashion and anything creative. I have always wanted to be a writer and I am inspired by the paranormal, true crime, urban legends, horror movies, strange creatures to name a few. Keeping the reader on the edge … Continue reading Ruth Holloway

Mihaela Melnic (born in Romania) is an Italian poetess and writer of short fictional stories. She currently lives in Rome, city that has often been, to a degree, her muse. The intricacy of human nature that often travels on a parallel path and at times intertwines with that of other natural elements are precious sources of inspiration for her verses. Mihaela’s first bilingual poetry collection, Change Of Seasons, written in English and Italian, was released in 2018. She is currently working on a collaborative book of poems and short stories titled Evermore, set to be published later this year through … Continue reading Mihaela Melnic

John Doyle is closing in on the big 5-0 (the age, not the police force) with seven books to his name and his first novel still begging the judge to let it out of jail. Originally from County Kildare in Ireland, he now resides somewhere on Planet Earth with his fiancé, his dreams, and a reasonably new car. Small Birds Will Fly Out In Front Of You When You’re Driving Small birds will fly out in front of you when you’re driving – Ad infinitum – take it as gospel. Every noon these casualties pile up in flocks of ten … Continue reading John Doyle

Ryan Quinn Flanagan is a Canadian-born author residing in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with his wife and many bears that rifle through his garbage.  His work can be found both in print and online in such places as: Evergreen Review, The New York Quarterly, Fixator Press, GloMag, Red Fez, and The Oklahoma Review.  Foothills A walking stick should have a companion. Something of worth, beyond words. And picking up the walking stick, I realize it has been carved along the bottom to make a sharp edge. Able to catch and turn the soil. A natural handle to steady the gait. My own inferior … Continue reading Ryan Quinn Flanagan

Edward Lee’s poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen and Smiths Knoll.  His debut poetry collection “Playing Poohsticks On Ha’Penny Bridge” was published in 2010. He is currently working towards a second collection.He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Lewis Milne, Orson Carroll, Blinded Architect, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy.His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com ONE WOUND TOO MANY The hinges on my chest have grown rusty from lack of use, my eagerness to open myself and give away … Continue reading Edward Lee

Antonio Eramo is the notoriously cryptic New England poet that hides behind 30+ internet alt accounts. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Southern New Hampshire University and holds a degree in creative writing with a concentration in poetry. His most notable publications include Prides Crossing, Momentary Monet, and Art of Sin.  Original Sin the leaves were climbing up the tree to keep the branches warm and whether man could understand, the clouds were not the storm the apple was quite devious and made us eat the snake which satiated artists and led to my big break a copy of … Continue reading Antonio Eramo

Anne Marie Byrne has recently retired from working as a student advisor in Dublin City University. She has attended Tanya Farrelly’s creative writing workshops at Purple House in Bray, Co Wicklow where this piece of flash fiction was developed.  Her research interests include criminology, incarceration, education and the role of drama in prisons.  Her M.Phil thesis (Trinity College, Dublin) focused on the Theatre Project in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin and her Ph.D  (Dublin City University) explored  education for juvenile offenders in Ireland. Her leisure interests include theatre, photography, reading, travel, cookery, swimming and enjoying nature, especially in her native county Wicklow. … Continue reading Anne Marie Byrne

Reece Beckett is a eighteen-year-old poet, film critic/director, music producer and artist. Filling free time with the arts has become his forte, and whilst he spends most of his time with films, He recently started attending the University of Southampton. The Lonely Path Anxiety begets depression, Have no answers to your questions, This sertraline won’t make me clean, These hedonistic shopping sprees Lure debts, No more and no less, I spend another session bedridden Trying to rid thoughts the same way that I gut myself of worth Like a fish, but with no gills And lungs overflowing with filthy water … Continue reading Reece Beckett

Mark Tarren is a poet and writer who lives on remote Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in various literary journals including The New Verse News, The Blue Nib, Poets Reading The News, Street Light Press, Spillwords Press, Tuck Magazine and Impspired Magazine. He is currently working on a collection of poetry and a novel. Mrs Waterson’s Dream Inside the edges of her dream in the stone — walled world across the sea of sheets, she stands beside her. She has fallen away from the branch in the moon and lives beneath the face … Continue reading Mark Tarren