Blog Moving Stories | Peter Barry

Peter Barry Short Story Competition – Results

Friday, 10th February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
Our judge Anne Aylor has now reviewed the shortlisted entries so I’m pleased to announce the results of our recent short story competition.

Justin Burns

Time to Move On

Friday, 3rd February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
How quickly the years pass, May thought, gazing at her John in the hospital bed. If she didn’t know, he could be back at their home, sleeping off an extra Sunday pint; the pint Ted Lake at The Rose would’ve ‘insisted’ on.

Justin Burns

Paper Castle

Friday, 3rd February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
From her peripheral vision Irena saw the boys stop playing and stare at her as she walked past. Not today, please not today. She focussed on the footpath, bag clutched against her chest, and kept walking. Only a few more steps until she was in the safety of her home….her castle.

Justin Burns

Neighbourhood Watch 1998

Thursday, 2nd February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
Gary moved in six months ago, January sixth to be precise. I remember the date because that’s when George passed away. Elaine was beside herself of course, she‘d always loved that dog, but I’d persuaded her to go to work as usual. Easier to have her out of the way when I dug a grave for the little fellow in the front garden.

Justin Burns

Martin's Holly

Thursday, 2nd February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
My name is Martin Kelly. I'm nine years old, and I don’t want to move house. At all. Of course, being nine, my opinion doesn’t actually count for much when these things are decided.

Justin Burns

Lifelines

Wednesday, 1st February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
Three items, all ticked off. My bag’s packed and I took the spare keys up the lane to Jenny’s this morning. It’s a proper spring morning and everything’s looking brand new and shiny. Except me. I look particularly grey, but Jenny, bless her, said she thought I was looking a bit better. She wished me luck, like I was going into an exam or something.

Justin Burns

Goodbye

Wednesday, 1st February 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
I beg my feet to just get on with it but instead I resemble a granite carved statue. I will them to move up the stairs yet they disobey me. I inhale sharply; my cold hand clutches the wooden banister, steadying the nauseating butterflies that crash against my empty stomach.

Justin Burns

Good Intentions

Monday, 30th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
My daughter, Elspeth, has just finished adjusting the drapes for me, and I’m stepping back to admire the subtle combination of dove grey and pink when my new neighbour appears on the doorstep, bearing gifts.

Justin Burns

Driven

Monday, 30th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
The keychain—the one he’d given her months ago when they’d picked up that package at the Fort Pierce truck stop—hung from the ignition, vibrating with the idling engine. F-L-O-R-I-D-A, each letter a different color, arched over a pair of tiny crossed palm trees.

Justin Burns

Peter Barry Short Story Competition: by the Numbers

Saturday, 28th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
217 Submissions 58 Submissions on the final day 18 Submissions during the final hour 1406 Average word count 206 Lowest word count

Justin Burns

Behind the Flock

Friday, 27th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
“Mum, I’ve got some details of houses that you might be interested in.” I waved a clutch of brochures from the local Estate Agent. “One looks just perfect. It’s only round the corner from us. Nice and handy for babysitting!”

Justin Burns

A Room for Freya

Friday, 27th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
“We should paint this room. Yellow. Freya always liked yellow.” “When she was little, yes.” “She still does. I’m sure of it. Besides, it will brighten the place up a bit.”

Justin Burns

Peter Barry Short Story Competition - Shortlist

Thursday, 26th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
We had a fantastic response to our short story competition, there were in excess of 200 submissions, so it took a little bit longer than expected to read them all.

Justin Burns

A Place in the Sun

Thursday, 26th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
“For goodness sake put down your paper and listen to me for once in your life!” snapped Barbara. “Mmm…” The paper rustled with a sound like dry leaves as Doug moved it towards the kitchen table, continuing to skim the report on Liverpool’s game with Chelsea.

Justin Burns

A Constant Heart

Thursday, 26th January 2012

Categories: Moving Stories
Picture the scene, if you will. A shabby terraced house in a rundown area of London. It’s 1962 and in the scullery, pretty little Rose is washing dishes and silently weeping into the soapsuds.

Justin Burns

Moving Stories - The Peter Barry Short Story Competition

Thursday, 6th October 2011

Categories: Moving Stories
I'm delighted to announce the launch of the Peter Barry Short Story Competition. The theme of the competion is 'Moving Home'. That might be leaving home for the first time, buying your first property or tales of rogue Landlords; it's entirely up to you.

Justin Burns

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