Category: News

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When you believe in your story, try, try and try again

In early 2020, before the Covid pandemic led to the first lockdown in the UK, I started work on a short story inspired by what the media showed us was happening in other countries. This story, At the Hotel Swinburne, was about a married couple holidaying in Switzerland. What happened exposed the cracks in their relationship.

I worked on the story and sent it out to various magazines and competitions, without success, although I received some favourable feedback and encouragement from some. I revised the story, sent it out again, tweaked it some more, sent it out again, and so forth. I believed in this story, even if no-one else seemed to do so.

And then someone did! Stephen Moran, who selects and edits the Short Story of the Month for the Willesden Herald online, said he really liked my story. He asked for some minor edits, which I was happy to make. And he accepted the story as his May 2024 Story of the Month. I am very happy that it has found a home and that you can read it too.

Here’s where you can find it – https://newshortstories.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/story-of-the-month-may-2024

Do leave a comment if you have one!

Kandersteg, in the Swiss Alps

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Tu-whit Tu-whoo!

That’s the cry of the owls. And there are a lot of owls in my new short story collection, published this month by the independent Welsh publisher Atomic Bohemian and available on pre-order from them now.

The nine stories in the book are all inspired by the paintings and drawings of the Northern Renaissance artist Hieronymus Bosch. His most famous work is the extranordinary The Garden of Earthly Delights. And yes, it does feature in the collection. Or rather, characters from it do.

Look in almost any Bosch painting or drawing and you’ll find an owl peeking out. I love their mystery and their stealthy flight. They found their way into my stories by chance rather than design, but I ‘m so happy to have them there.

I’m thrilled that this collection is finally out in the world. It has found its perfect publisher.

I’d love you to read it.

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New year, new writing

Time for a little competition….visual prompt coming soon…

Meantime, here’s a little burst of new year sunshine amongst all the rain.

Happy New Year!

Looking down over Abergavenny (Photo copyright Cath Barton)

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The Geography of the Heart

I am interrupting my series of snapshots of 2023 to bring you news of my new novella-in-flash. Copies have arrived unexpectedly early, so I will be able to start sending them out after Christmas!

After The Geography of the Heart was longlisted for the Bath Novella-in-Flash Award 2023, judge John Brantingham suggested other publishers I might try with the book. I was delighted when Arroyo Seco Press in California offered me publication.

This – like my other novellas – is the story of a family, this time set in my hometown of Abergavenny. featuring real places and events. The characters are fictional, but draw on my own experiences living here. I hope it will appeal to readers in Abergavenny, California and all places in between and beyond!

John Brantingham says of the book:

‘The Geography of the Heart is an exceptional collection, and Cath Barton uses the novella-in-flash form to do what could not be achieved so well in any other form, giving us an insider’s look at the way the people in a small town in Wales live. This is an intimate book and a beautiful one too. It is one I have lingered over a few times now because it asks us to spend some long quiet moments with the inhabitants of Abergavenny, and these are people worth spending time with.’

I am so grateful to John for his generous words, and to Thomas Thomas of Arroyo Seco Press for working with me to bring this book into the world.

The book is available in print only.

US readers can buy it online here for $15.

UK readers can also buy it online here for £11.95. However you can get it directly from me for £9.50 incl p&p. (Multiple copies will be a little cheaper – contact me for details.)

I will also be handselling copies locally for £7. I am planning a launch in Abergavenny Library on Saturday, 20th January, where I will be in conversation with fellow local author Nigel Jarrett, reading extracts from the book and answering questions about it.

However you purchase it, I will be donating all profits which I make from sales of this book to Abergavenny Foodbank.

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Calling all readers

You may know already that Louise Walters is closing her publishing company at the end of June. This will be a huge loss to the world of independent publishing. She has been indefatigable in her support of her authors over the past 6 years, but everyone has their limit.

There is much to say about this, but for now I just urge to take advantage of last opportunity to buy from Louise Walters Books. All her books are on sale from her online bookshop with a 25% discount until the end of June. After that, they will no longer be available.

Maybe you already have my book, In the Sweep of the Bay. Maybe you have all the other books Louise has published. If so, thank you, that’s great, but now you could do one or more of the following:

  • buy a book for a friend
  • ask your local library to buy one or more books – or a set for bookclubs. If their budget does not permit this, you could buy one or more yourself and donate them.
  • spread the word on social media
  • tell your friends who don’t use social media

This is not about me wanting money. This is about me wanting to support excellence. And it’s about kindness. Something that is easily forgotten in the world of publishing.

I leave you with a rose from my garden. Thank you for reading this and take care.