Authors can share a link to their short stories (less than 2000 words please) or poetry, and it won’t cost you a penny! The deadline is 30th October. Stories or poems can be on any subject, but please keep them reasonably family friendly – nothing too graphic!  On that day I will pick a winner and a runner up and share the links to the stories on my social media sites. The winner also has the choice of their story being included in an anthology of winners that I will compile when I have enough stories.

Please ensure that you add the link to your story to October’s submission page and not any previous month, or it may be missed.

I look forward to reading your efforts. The winners can use these laurels below to add to their story:

Short Story Winner Sept 2019Short Story Runner up Sept 2019

Good luck!  Here’s a snippet from my latest manuscript:

EXAMINING KITCHEN CUPBOARDS

Copyright 2019 Stevie Turner

JILL HAYES

MAY 1999

“In effect, you’ve misled me on your CV.”  Sue Young’s artificially enhanced blonde bob oscillated as she shook her head and gave an audible sigh. “Did you know that out of all the applicants you were taken on because you’d stated how you’d built an in-house database in your previous job?”

Jill Hayes detected a frisson of dislike flit in her direction from the exam manager’s face before the woman continued her diatribe.

“And don’t forget, what goes on here in Daxton College stays in the college.  Not a word breathed to the press about exam results unless the principal agrees first.”

The dislike had rapidly become mutual.  Only two days of being an exams administrator had convinced Jill that her new manager was a genuine, first-class daughter of a bitch.

“I- It was a slip of the pen.”  Jill faltered. “I meant I had built up an in-house database of sponsors at the charity before it closed down.  I didn’t build the actual database; I’m not that technically minded.  Sorry.”

Jill noticed how Sue’s lips had set into a straight line.

“You’re supposed to stand in for me when I’m on holiday.”

“Yes I know.”  Jill tried to stare the woman out. “Perhaps give me a chance to see what I can do?”

“Let’s start with the Fideliter Board; the first lot of students will be down in half an hour to pay for their Health and Carers’ exams taking place in July.  I assume Marion has shown you how to use the till outside?”

The dressing-down in front of her colleague had made Jill feel about two inches tall.  She nodded.

“Yes, once, but I might have to ask her again as I only watched yesterday.”

With a tut of disapproval Sue turned on her heel and marched out of the room.

“Take no notice.” Marion Riley shrugged as she watched Sue’s retreating back. “She gets on my tits sometimes too.”

“My stomach’s in knots.”  Jill gave a mock shudder. “I can’t seem to do anything right.”

“If you have trouble with the till, just give me a shout.”  Marion’s voice was reassuring. “Don’t forget, they ring the bell when they arrive at the counter; you don’t have to stand out there.  Make sure they’ve filled in their entry forms properly.”

“Thanks.  I’ll continue on with getting my head around putting last month’s exam results on the database then, shall I?”

“Sure; ask if you’ve got a problem.”  Marion nodded. “Don’t worry about Sue, she’ll come round eventually.”

Jill settled down but leapt up as soon as the bell rung, pleased that Sue had not returned from wherever she had gone.  When she opened the office door she tried not to panic at the queue of students lining up at the counter.

“Okay.”  She smiled with a confidence she did not have. “Who’s first?”

An oriental-looking young man held up his entry form.

“Me.”

She checked the spidery writing on the front of the form.

“You haven’t filled in your details properly.”  Jill waved the form about. “What’s your name?”

“Dingxiang Zhang.”

“Can you fill in the top line please?”  She quickly returned the form to him together with a pen. “And that’ll be eight pounds fifty.”