Stringybark Stories

12/09/2023

The Black Stump - September 2023 📚 -

25/07/2023

The Black Stump - July 2023 📚 -

17/07/2023

Feral has arrived and will be being posted out to all those who pre-ordered this week. It looks brilliant!

27/06/2023

The Stringybark Erotic Short Story Award 2023

Stringybark Stories is proud to announce its 41st short story competition. The Stringybark Erotic Short Story Award 2023 is now accepting entries. So clean the spilt coffee out of your keyboard (or sharpen your goose quill — whichever is more appropriate) and start writing a 1800 word (max) story that will enthuse the judges. We are looking for great erotic tales.

We have an award pool of over $1000 in cash and books to encourage you in this endeavour, provided by our sponsor Stringybark Publishing. Entries close 13 August 2023.

Opens: 20 June 2023
Closes: 11:59 pm AEST 13 August 2023
Length: ≤1800 words
Award value: Over $1000 in cash and books.

Entry fees: $15 for one story, $28 for two stories, $39 for three stories (max). Details and content rules at: https://www.stringybarkstories.net

22/06/2023

The Black Stump - June 2023 📚 -

13/06/2023

360 short stories later, here are the fabulous winners and highly commended writers. Congratulations all!

25/05/2023

The Black Stump - May 2023 -

01/03/2023

The Black Stump - March 2023 -

15/01/2023

The Black Stump - January 2023 -

12/12/2022

Phew! All remaining 90 pre-orders of "Like Clockwork" are off to the post office. Time to order your other books to fill Christmas stockings. Drop by our website to find books to support great Australian writing

08/12/2022

Look what has arrived! Boxes of "Like Clockwork" are now being readied for dispatch to all those that pre-ordered. If you were waiting to see them in real life before ordering then please visit our website and order now so you can have them before Christmas.

21/11/2022

The Black Stump - November 2022 -

16/11/2022

*DRUM ROLL* Here we are folks - the winners and commended in the 2022 Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing, proudly presented by the New England Writers' Centre.

Please join us in congratulating:

FICTION category
Sponsored by New England Brewing Company - Australia
First Prize: “Dear Sir,” by David Grey (NSW)
Highly Commended: “The Turning Tide” by Bob Topping (QLD)
Commended: “Red Flags” by Dan Davies (NSW)

NON-FICTION category
Sponsored by Golden Orb Creative
First Prize: “Justice” by David Vernon (ACT)
Highly Commended: “Lunch with Andrew Kaljzich” by Pippa Kay (NSW)
Commended: “Jungle Beast” by Robin Hammond (NSW)

POETRY category
Sponsored by the University of New England School of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences
First Prize: “A Cautionary Tale” by Paris Rosemont (NSW)
Highly Commended: “Guillotine Act” by Jennifer Harrison (VIC)
Commended: “Six O’Clock” by Dr Verity Laughton (SA)
Commended: “Missing the Ruby” by Richenda Rudman (VIC)
Commended: “I Witness” by Jane O’Sullivan (NSW)

YOUTH Award (Under 18 yrs)
Sponsored by ADFAS Armidale
First Prize: “Regret” by Kiki Chen (NSW)
Highly Commended: “League of Criminals” by Ebony Hill (VIC)
Commended: “Encounter” by Aaron Lee (NSW)

EMERGING AUTHOR Award
Sponsored by Burnet's Books Uralla
“Red Flags” by Dan Davies (NSW)

NEW ENGLAND Award
Sponsored by New England Writers' Centre - NEWC
“I Witness” by Jane O’Sullivan (NSW)

Please visit the NEWC's website for details on this year's Award Winners, their submissions, and also our incredible panel of judges, with thanks to:

FICTION: Benjamin Stevenson
NON-FICTION: Dan Box
POETRY: Kit Kelen
YOUTH: Belinda Murrell

https://www.newc.org.au/2022-thunderbolt-winners.html

16/11/2022

We had a good month at Stringybark Stories in October. Not only did we complete the judging of the Twisted Stringybark Competition but I was lucky enough to win the non-fiction category of the Thunderbolt Award. It was great to be joined by Stringybark authors Robin Hammond, Pippa Kay and Bob Topping.

*DRUM ROLL* Here we are folks - the winners and commended in the 2022 Thunderbolt Prize for Crime Writing, proudly presented by the New England Writers' Centre.

Please join us in congratulating:

FICTION category
Sponsored by New England Brewing Company - Australia
First Prize: “Dear Sir,” by David Grey (NSW)
Highly Commended: “The Turning Tide” by Bob Topping (QLD)
Commended: “Red Flags” by Dan Davies (NSW)

NON-FICTION category
Sponsored by Golden Orb Creative
First Prize: “Justice” by David Vernon (ACT)
Highly Commended: “Lunch with Andrew Kaljzich” by Pippa Kay (NSW)
Commended: “Jungle Beast” by Robin Hammond (NSW)

POETRY category
Sponsored by the University of New England School of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences
First Prize: “A Cautionary Tale” by Paris Rosemont (NSW)
Highly Commended: “Guillotine Act” by Jennifer Harrison (VIC)
Commended: “Six O’Clock” by Dr Verity Laughton (SA)
Commended: “Missing the Ruby” by Richenda Rudman (VIC)
Commended: “I Witness” by Jane O’Sullivan (NSW)

YOUTH Award (Under 18 yrs)
Sponsored by ADFAS Armidale
First Prize: “Regret” by Kiki Chen (NSW)
Highly Commended: “League of Criminals” by Ebony Hill (VIC)
Commended: “Encounter” by Aaron Lee (NSW)

EMERGING AUTHOR Award
Sponsored by Burnet's Books Uralla
“Red Flags” by Dan Davies (NSW)

NEW ENGLAND Award
Sponsored by New England Writers' Centre - NEWC
“I Witness” by Jane O’Sullivan (NSW)

Please visit the NEWC's website for details on this year's Award Winners, their submissions, and also our incredible panel of judges, with thanks to:

FICTION: Benjamin Stevenson
NON-FICTION: Dan Box
POETRY: Kit Kelen
YOUTH: Belinda Murrell

https://www.newc.org.au/2022-thunderbolt-winners.html

08/11/2022

The winners and highly commended stories from the Twisted Stringybark Short Story Award 2022 have been announced. Congratulations all!

12/10/2022

The Black Stump - October 2022 -

01/09/2022

How very true!

He he, excellent bookshelf humour!

12/08/2022

Don't Panic! Our Twisted Stringybark Short Story Award 2022 with over $1000 in cash and books closes this Sunday the 14th of August at midnight AEST. So please get your entry in now. 1500 words and $14 entry fee will do it. Details can be found at: https://www.stringybarkstories.net

03/08/2022

The Black Stump - August 2022 - https://mailchi.mp/8f23c3ae3b01/the-black-stump-may-15917235

30/05/2022

Every donation in the next 24 hours is doubled. And it's tax deductible! Please help out.

How high can you climb to fight climate change?

19/05/2022

The Black Stump - May 2022 - https://mailchi.mp/296eb4e08e1c/the-black-stump-may-15671483

13/05/2022

A Frenzy of Fruitcakes (well, 'Fruitcake Frenzy' actually) has arrived! Preorders will be sent out early next week. Otherwise, new orders can be made on the Stringybark Stories website. It's a beaut read!

03/05/2022

Our latest anthology, 'Fruitcake Frenzy' was sent to the printer today! All going well, those who have pre-ordered will get their book(s) by end of May. This book contains the fantastic winning and highly-commended stories from the 'Stringybark Short Story Award 2022" and they were chosen from 287 entries. Bravo to all the authors. Orders can be made via our website: www.stringybarkstories.net

26/04/2022

Congratulations all! This was a huge competition with 287 entries. Whether or not you gained a place or a highly commended, bravo on writing and offering it up for judging - a task that is never easy. The anthology is available on our website and is a beaut read.

25/02/2022

The Black Stump - February 2022 - https://mailchi.mp/29bae01f7d21/the-black-stump-may-15326679

09/02/2022

Closing Sunday night [13 Feb] at midnight (AEST), the Stringybark Short Story Award 2022 has over $1000 in cash and book prizes. Details at: http://www.stringybarkstories.net

If you are a prize-winner or a highly commended author in one of our competitions then we are proud to publish your work.  Whether you want to read a great story just for fun, or wish to see what kinds of stories win our competitions then take time to peruse our bookshop and buy one or two, or eve...

02/02/2022

Eleven days to go until the Stringybark Short Story Award 2022 closes. Over $1000 in cash and books for the winners. Details at http://www.stringybarkstories.net

If you are a prize-winner or a highly commended author in one of our competitions then we are proud to publish your work.  Whether you want to read a great story just for fun, or wish to see what kinds of stories win our competitions then take time to peruse our bookshop and buy one or two, or eve...

20/01/2022

The Black Stump - 20 January 2022 - https://mailchi.mp/95f697abe3b2/the-black-stump-may-15094992

19/11/2021

Our latest anthology, "The Lighthouse - thirty-two award-winning stories from the Stringybark S*x and Gender Awards" has arrived! Pre-orders will be sent out next week. If you want one of these marvellous books head over to our website: www.stringybarkstories.net

09/11/2021

The Black Stump - 9 November 2021 - https://mailchi.mp/912929201b30/the-black-stump-may-10540320

01/11/2021

I like this one.

26/10/2021

The Stringybark S*x and Gender Awards have been announced. What a journey! What soul writers put into their entries! Some were personal. Many were tough to read and probably tougher to write. Many of our entrants showed great courage in sharing their stories particularly when they touched upon their own deep experiences. From 162 entries, the four judges chose 32 highly commended and winning stories to publish. Whether or not you made it this time around, thank you for your efforts, they are appreciated. Visit our website to purchase a copy, or for more details including the judges' report. www.stringybarkstories.net

25/10/2021

Dear Stringybark Stories friends. Unfortunately owing to a website problem we will not be in a position to announce the winners and highly commended writers until late Tuesday 26 October 2021 (AEST). Please accept our humble technical apologies!

29/09/2021

With the judges meeting in a couple of weeks to finalise the results for the Stringybark S*x and Gender Award this cartoon from the incredible Judy Horacek seems particularly apt.

via ​
“It’s 2021, when will we stop punishing dominant women for violating outdated stereotypes”💭 by 🎨 by
“The subtle suspension of backlash: A meta-analysis of penalties for women’s implicit and explicit dominance behavior” by Williams and Tiedens in Psych Bulletin