(vol 3) CHAPTER 02 – “It Is FLASH Time”

It’s been just over a year since the incredible folks at FDHQ unleashed the first ever FlashDogs Flash Fiction anthology upon the world, and in less than a weeks’ time, you’ll get to see their next step for total Flash Fiction domination.

THESE DAYS, YOU’VE GOTTA HAVE A THEME

The first anthology, released back in December 2014, was a broad collection of tales, ranging from love stories and character studies to haunting horror and mind bending sci-fi. Some were brief, yet left their mark, while others were longer, more epic, using the extra words to build up a world around the reader.

(If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I’ve been reading one story a day since the very start of the year).

The folks at FDHQ decided that the next time they put together an anthology, things would need tightening up with a theme. So last summer, they brought you the two-parter (a left hook and a right upper cut) based on the Solstice. Book One carried the Light tales (the hope and the happiness), while Book Two was more about the Dark (the horror, the desperation, the downright terror that only mankind can bring upon itself).

Which brings us to Anthology number three, due to hit digital bookshelves on February 8^th 2016.

TIME

This time around it’s all about . . . well TIME. We were all given three photos and asked to write up to three tales based on either Past, Present, or Future.

The deal is the same as with the previous anthologies. As I mentioned, the book is to be released on February 8^th. You can preorder you digital copy now over at Amazon (£2.06, or free with Kindle Unlimited). There will also be a paperback version available, for all you touchy feely book people out there (like me), priced at £6.84.

The proceeds will be going to The Book Bus, a charity that helps get books into the hands of less fortunate children around the world. So you read a great book, and it helps others have the opportunity to read books. Can’t say fairer than that.

FOR MY PART

Once again I’m over the moon to have had the opportunity to be part of this. While I busy myself this year to get my own solo project out into the world, I can’t overlook just how cool it is to have my work included in these anthologies. They’re not little vanity projects hastily mashed together. These books are quality throughout, from the formatting of Emily June Street, to the design work produced by Tamara Rogers, these books sit on your bookshelf and look as good as anything else you own. And, on top of that, they’re full of great stories written by up and coming authors who I hope to join before this year is out.

I enjoyed working with the Time theme, surprising myself with my end results. I don’t hide the fact that I love Sci-Fi and Fantasy, and my gut led me straight towards time travel with a big old grin on my face. But the last two years of Flash Fiction hasn’t brushed past me without leaving its mark and I found that I can do more than just aliens, monsters, robots and twists.

So, with the help of my wife, as well as the patience and guidance of fellow FlashDog Geoff Holme, I managed to put together three tales I’m particularly proud of.

REGRET: The story of a man looking back over his life, wondering how things could been have different if he’d not made one stupid mistake.

THE LONGEST DAY: What do you do when you no longer have family, or friends, or a job? Or any responsibilities whatsoever? One man decides to pack up and finally see America, with no one to get in his way.

A FISTFUL OF FUTURE: Did your father ever tell you that if you didn’t stop crying, he’d knock you into next week? What if that actually happened?

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Beyond my three tales, the book will contain many more stories 

of pure awesomeness. Trust me, I write beside these people. They’re really, really good.

ROUNDUP

And that’s all, for now. I’m off to write some more CHRIS AND MIKE vs THE WORLD (you didn’t think I’d forgotten about those two, did you). The count down to the third FlashDogs anthology continues.

5 days to go.

Until then, get writing.