New website on its way

Hi all,

I've been a little quiet on here of late, but am currently building a new website, www.thepauldraper.com. It should be ready soon.

In the meantime you can contact me on twitter @theblackgate

Paul

Through the Streets and Along the Lanes

I'm currently writing a story for the Fiction Writers' Group's "Anything Goes" anthology, called "Through the Streets and Along the Lanes".

It's an expansion of the untitled story that won the Grey Matter Press competition this month, although set in the UK and Australia. A nicely dark chiller.

Grey Matter Press - Success!

I'm very happy to share that the below flash tale "He Walks in My Black" won the Grey Matter Press Flash Fiction Contest for November. Great start to the weekend!

He Walks In My Black

He Walks In My Black

“When I close my eyes he walks,” said the old woman. She said she was eighty but her eyes looked many times that age. “When I open them, he stops. He’s walked my whole life, starting in the desert when I was just a girl.”
I was passing through the tiny village on my way to the Alps, and had got chatting to this frail, fatigued lady in the sunny square. I wondered what she meant, but with my drink finished and cycle tyre changed, I needed to leave.
“They’ll not see me again,” she looked beyond the village sign to the forest. “He’s in the trees now.” She stood and hobbled that way, southwards down the lane.
It took a while to pack up, but by early evening I glided south towards Monpartre.
At the head of the valley I stopped to check the map and noticed an enormous figure striding across the field way below. He wore what appeared to be wide hat and, as impossible as it might seem, was easily the height of nearby mature trees. I saw a cottage beyond. Smoke rose in the chimney, but there were no lamps lit.
Shuddering, I cycled on.

- submitted to the Grey Matter Press Masters of Flash competition for November (200 words exactly needed)

Writer's Anarchy Flash Anthology - Published!

I'm delighted to say that Writer's Anarchy have accepted my short story The Icon of the Fool to be included in their "Send in the Clowns" anthology to be published later this year.

Really fine news as it will be out in both e-book and paperback format.

The Librarian's Stamp

I've just popped a ghost story over to The Scottish Book Trust's 50 Word Fiction competition

- - -

The Librarian's Stamp

Six new children, sitting glumly in detention. The only sound was the librarian's stamp behind.

"I'm surprised we're in the library,” said Connor.

"How come?" whispered another.

“The previous librarian drowned saving a boy in the pond, been shut since.”

The five children smelled weeds. The stamp continued its thump.

American Success!

An excellent week concludes as my sci-fi flash fiction story RENDER//UNRENDER grabs first place amongst a field of 42 writers in the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge, scoring the maximum 15 points.

I was pretty pleased with it when it went out, but to have it top a host of very talented international writers is fantastic news - I was looking for top ten this time around. 

I move on to round two, and am writing an as-yet untitled historical fiction piece based at St Pancras railway station this weekend. So far it features a theft and a fair bit of opium use.

Deadline is tomorrow at midnight!