About:
Quick links on this page:
Chris's biography - find Chris on Amazon - find Chris on social media - publishing history
Stokes Croft Writers - see Chris at / book Chris for events & readings
Christopher Fielden the wine writer
About:
I'm an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author, and an award-winning editor. As a writer, I've been an Award-Winning Finalist in the 'Fiction: Short Story' category of the International Book Awards. As an editor, a book I compiled won the 'Best Anthology' category of the Saboteur Awards.
My long-term aim is to grow the site into a writing community that people can be proud to be a part of.
I'm represented by Victorina Press, an independent UK publisher.
I play drums in many bands and regularly tour all over the world.
As a writer, I'm a member of the ALCS, Clockhouse London Writers and Stokes Croft Writers. As a musician, I'm a member of ASCAP and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
I was born in the 1970's, which is too long ago for my liking.
Photo by Thomas David Parker, taken at The King William in Bristol
When I left school I played in a rock band called Airbus full time for 15 years. We toured and played gigs all over the world, most notably Glastonbury Music Festival in 1999.
Photo by Simon Hedges, taken on tour in Germany
The band's most notable recording was the Portishead B-Side of 'Sourtimes', from their album Dummy.
We were based in California for a couple of years (2000 to 2002) and were fortunate enough to record with record producer Richard Dashut, who produced Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album.
Airbus still record, put out albums and perform.
You can learn a lot more about Airbus and my other music projects in the music section of the website.
Airbus band logo by Marc Bessant
As I'm a drummer, I own a van - it's part of the job description.
When the band became a part time project, rather than a full-time job, I started my own removal business, trading as 'Van Man! – Driving Superhero' (the joy of being self-employed is that you’re allowed to think up your own job title).
Van Man business logo
I ran the business for 7 years in Bristol. During this time, I worked for Beast Clothing and was used as one of their T-shirt models (I use the term 'model' loosely...). You can learn about that here.
One summer, I was hired to move a beehive. I’d assumed the hive would be empty. I was wrong – the hive contained 5,000 tenants. Having been given a bee keeping suit, I was asked to drive them to Devon. For some reason which eludes me now, I accepted. The bees were fork-lifted onto the van and gassed. This was supposed to calm them, making them drowsy. Unfortunately, it just seemed to infuriate them.
It transpired that bees which have been shoved into the back of a Ford Transit and poisoned don’t like to travel. I was distracted and became lost. Whilst trying to read a map amidst a swarm of buzzing death, I decided a change of vocation was paramount.
Photo by Marc Bessant, taken at the Fleece & Firkin in Bristol
I undertook a correspondence writing course. As part of the course, I started writing newspaper articles. Some of them were published. I wrote some blog posts. Some of those were published too.
As my writing developed, I got a job working in digital marketing and closed my removal business. The decision I'd made in the swarm of bees had become a reality.
I quickly progressed in the industry and within a few years became Operations Director at Fat Media, an award-winning digital agency. My job was to make shit happen. I worked in digital marketing for 6 years.
I used to have to pretend to be sensible. I sometimes wore a suit.
Me, looking uncomfortable in smart clothing
Despite enjoying my job, after much deliberation I decided to pursue my passion - writing. I left my day job in February 2016 and now concentrate on writing and running my website. I also undertake part-time work to help make ends meet.
OK, back to writing - rewind back a few years...
As part of the correspondence writing course, I'd also written a synopsis for a novel. My tutor was very positive about it, so once the course was completed I decided to write the book. It's called Wicked Game and was published in 2010.
Wicked Game book cover by Christopher Fielden
70,000-word novels aren't easy to complete. Around work and gigging and life in general, the book took me 3 years to write, edit, get critiqued, rewrite and publish.
3,000-word short stories are much easier to finish. They're also much more likely to be published as there are so many opportunities out there for short fiction. So, to avoid a mental breakdown, I decided to concentrate on shorter tales.
Photo by Jean-Marc, taken at the Bath Fringe Festival
While developing my short story writing style, I started working on this website. I launched it in October 2011.
Christopher Fielden website logo by Dave Fielden of Bluetree
Because no one knew about the website, no one looked at it. I decided I needed to develop some content that would attract an audience for the site.
To get my stories published, I had to do a lot of research to find short story competitions and magazines. I thought other writers might find the lists I'd compiled useful, so I shared them on my website as free writing resources. Because of this, lots of people started visiting my website, my stories got read and I started selling more books.
To see all the writing competition lists, visit the Writing Advice section of my website.
Because my website was enjoying a growing audience of writers, I decided to try and write a book they might like, find useful and be interested in buying.
I've been very fortunate and have had many of my stories published and/or performed on radio or at reading events (you can see where in my publishing history). Because of this, I wrote a book called How to Write a Short Story, Get Published & Make Money.
How to Write a Short Story book cover by Lukas Miguel
The book shares all my experiences and uses my published short stories as case-studies so writers can clearly see how I used all the advice and tips in the book in real life to get my stories published. I also share how much I have earned from writing stories, setting realistic expectations for other writers.
Because the site was attracting a lot of writers that were interested in short story competitions, I decided to start running one.
To Hull And Back anthology 2019 book cover by David Whitlam
The annual To Hull And Back humorous short story competition has been running since 2014. It offers the most amazing literary prize in the known universe. I'm not biased at all. Honest. It really is amazing. Check the competition out here.
In the spring of 2016, Mike Scott Thomson, winner of the inaugural To Hull And Back competition, wrote a guest post for my website about his experiences of being published by Fiction Desk. Part of the post focussed on the 'rules' of writing. Mike and I decided to challenge readers to break one of these rules by submitting flash fiction stories crammed with as many adverbs as humanly possible.
The challenge proved to be very popular, so we gave it a proper launch, promising to publish every entry in support of charity. Due to the increasing popularity of the challenge, I've now launched many more with other writers and have raised lots of money for charity.
You can learn more about the flash fiction writing challenges here.
Photo by Thomas David Parker, taken in Bristol
Arkbound is an independent publisher based in Bristol. They publish Boundless, a magazine which operates in a similar way to The Big Issue - helping the disadvantaged.
I first met Steve, the editor, at an event in Bristol and we got chatting about a mentoring program he was planning. Somehow, that ended up with us registering a charity called the Arkbound Foundation. I was one of the Founding Trustees and held the position of Chair during the charity's first year of operation.
Due to commitments to new writing and music projects, I had to step down as a trustee. I didn't have the time to perform my duties or give my role at the charity the attention it needed.
I'm very proud to have been a founding trustee and worked on some amazing projects during my time there. Being involved with the charity helped me understand that there is so much more to writing than seeking perfection and getting published - it can also have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing.
I am still involved with the charity and continue to undertake fundraising activities for them. I hope to re-join the board in the future, when time allows.
You can learn more about the charity on the Arkbound Foundation website: www.arkfound.org
Arkbound also run Crowdbound. This platform aims to support books, and other projects, that cover important social or environmental themes. The initiative has match funding opportunities available and dedicated support to make sure each campaign hits its target.
In March 2019 I signed a publishing contract with Victorina Press, an independent UK publisher whose mission is to publish inspirational and great books while following principles of bibliodiversity.
They are publishing my first short story collection, Book of the Bloodless Volume 1: Alternative Afterlives.
The book has been awarded the title of "Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Short Story category of the 2019 International Book Awards", sponsored by American Book Fest.
In 2019 I started playing drums with Little Villains, a rock band that originally featured the late, great Philthy Animal Taylor from Motörhead.
You can learn more about the band and our current tour schedule on the Little Villains website and on the page about Little Villains in the Music section of this website.
I hope I can develop my website and writing so I'm able to earn a reasonable living from it. That's the dream. I have a way to go, but things are moving in the right direction.
I need to invest another year or two into developing the website to increase the audience and revenue it generates. Eventually, I hope to be able to employ other people to help me run the site.
At present the website turns a profit, before I am paid anything, but it still doesn't earn me enough to live from (you can learn more about that here). I have a team of freelancers who help me provide top quality writing services.
I have also developed a short story writing course. You can find out more in the new Learn section of the website.
I'm a self-professed Word Geek. Stories bubble in my brain constantly and sometimes they ooze out of me onto paper. On occasion, other people like to read them, which pleases me immensely. Sometimes I get paid when they're published. I'm trying to make that happen more often.
You can read some of my short stories for free in the short stories section of the website.
Photo by Rob Rowles, taken at the Somerset Hall in Portishead
Due to my addiction to playing rock music in various bands, there are rather a large number of photos of me playing drums on this page. They tend to make more interesting viewing than me holding a pen while trying to look thoughtful...
Photo by Nigel Adams, taken at the Reckless Engineer in Bristol
I've littered this page with pictures of my ugly mug for anyone who wants to stalk me.
Photo by Rob Rowles, taken at my pad
Me, doing drum sound check at Toybox Studios, Bristol, for a Ye Gods! recording session
You can see my glorious Amazon UK profile here. And my equally glorious Amazon USA profile here. They contain details of all the books I've published.
Photo taken at Talking Tales, a Stokes Croft Writers reading event
Here are links to all my social media profiles:
Here is a record of the various publications that have published my fiction and non-fiction work. I have also worked with many of them as an editor.
You can find out more about the short fiction I've written and edited in the short stories section of the website.
You can find links to a lot of the blog posts I've written and edited for other websites on my portfolio page.
You can find more information about the books I've written and edited in the books section of my website.
You can find more information about the bands I've played in the music section of my website.
I'm the member of a fabulous writing group called Stokes Croft Writers. We're based in Bristol in the UK and our meetings are often held in cafes just off of Stokes Croft, a road known for its graffiti and artistry in the heart of the city. Hence the name of the group.
From left to right, Chris Fielden, Christie Cluett, Tom Parker, Mel Ciavucco, Nick Edwards, Steph Minns, Andy Melhuish and Leah Eades
We run a regular short story reading event in Bristol called Talking Tales. You can find out more and listen to all the podcasts from our previous events by visiting my page about Stokes Croft Writers & Talking Tales.
Here is a list of reading events that I can be found at. Sometimes I speak. Sometimes I read stories. Sometimes I'm just there to annoy other people. I like a chat. Feel free to come and speak to me.
If you would like me to do a presentation on short story writing for your event, writing group or literary festival, please see my author talks and presentations page.
Here is a review, kindly supplied by Rushmoor Writers:
"Massive thank you to author Christopher Fielden for coming to speak to Rushmoor Writers this evening. He gave an insightful, engaging and useful presentation about writing and selling short stories. Bloody nice chap too :-)" Christopher Berry, Club Chairman
Elegant Literature online workshop "How to Earn Money Writing" - 13th January 2024
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, The Small City Bookshop, Bristol - Thursday 25th January 2024
PAST EVENTS
Elegant Literature online workshop "Humour Writing" - 21st October 2023
Elegant Literature online workshop "Art of the Short Story" - 23rd September 2023
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, The Small City Bookshop, Bristol - 7th September 2023
Elegant Literature online workshop "Flash Fiction Writing" - 26th August 2023
TogetherintheUK Zoom workshop "Publishing and producing an anthology" - 29th June 2023
Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Writers Room - 18th May 2023
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, The Small City Bookshop, Bristol - 10th May 2023
Cardiff 75 launch, Waterstones, Cardiff - Wednesday 26th April 2023
Book of Bristol launch, Holden Foyer, Bristol Central Library - 14th March 2023
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, The Small City Bookshop, Bristol - 23rd February 2023
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, The Wild Goose, Bristol - 23rd September 2022
NAWGFest 2022, Yarnfield Park Training and Conference Centre, Staffordshire - 2nd to 4th September 2022
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, online via Zoom - Saturday 15th January 2022
The Cosy Gang, online via Zoom - Monday 10th January 2022
Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales, online via Zoom - Saturday 11th December 2021
St Padarn's Institute, The Metropole Hotel and Spa, Llandrindod Wells - Monday 22nd November 2021
The British Fantasy Society Convention, Birmingham - 24th to 26th September 2021
Sensorially Challenged Volume 3 book launch 0n Zoom - Friday 21st May 2021
British Fantasy Society 'President’s Spoken Word Special' - Tuesday 19th January 2021
Reading Writers Annual Writing Day (Zoom) - Sunday 29th November 2020
2020 COVID-19 Cancellations 😔
NAWGFest, Yarnfield, Stone, Staffs - Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September 2020
New College, Swindon - Friday 20th March 2020
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 14th April 2020
End of 2020 COVID-19 Cancellations 😊
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 11th February 2020
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 10th December 2019
Alternative Afterlives book launch, Max Minerva's, Bristol - Saturday 30th November 2019
FantasyCon, Glasgow - Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October 2019
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 8th October 2019
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 20th August 2019
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 11th June 2019
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Tuesday 9th April 2019
Presentation for Caerphilly Scribes, Caerphilly Library, Wales - Thursday 28th March 2019
Flash Fiction and Poetry, Storysmith, Bristol - Wednesday 20th March 2019
Daisy Garland charity cheque presentation, Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, Port Talbot, Wales - Sunday 27th January 2019
Flash Fiction Festival double book launch, St James Wine Vaults, 10 St James Street, Bath - Saturday 19th January 2019
Newbury Book Fair - Saturday 15th December 2018
The unveiling of Captain Beany's head tattoo, Newbury - Friday 14th December 2018
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales & the 2018 To Hull And Back short story anthology book launch - Saturday 8th December 2018
Cafe Kino, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales as part of the Bristol Festival of Literature - 27th October 2018
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - 16th June 2018
Writing Challenge TRIPLE Book Launch, The Colonel Fawcett, London - Sunday 10th June 2018
Daisy Garland Ball & Auction, The Belvedere, London - Saturday 19th May 2018
Allenthology Book Launch, The King's Head, Enfield, London - 12th May 2018
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - 21st April 2018
Society of Medical Writers Spring Conference and Writing Workshop - The Art Workers Guild, London - Wednesday 18th April 2018
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - 17th February 2018
Launch of Flash Festival One, Beaufort Bookshop, Bath - 27th January 2018
Back row: Grace Palmer, Jude Higgins, Anna Nazarova-Evans, Meg Pokrass, Jocelyn Barker, John Wheway and Matthew Thorpe-Coles
Front row: Barbara Renel, Christopher Fielden and Kevlin Henney
The Squat Pen Rests, The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon - 26th January 2018
The fabulous audience at The Squat Pen Rests live short story competition
Caring in Bristol Survival Handbook workshop #3, Arkbound, Bristol - 26th January 2018
Sensorially Challenged Vol 1 book launch, Alexandra Park Library, Alexandra Park Road, London, N22 7JU - Sunday 14th January 2018
Many of the writers who performed their work at the launch
James Woolf In Denial script reading, Park Theatre, Finsbury Park, London - 8th Jan 2018
The Script Readers, who performed James Woolf's play In Denial at the Park Theatre, London
InkTears book launch, The Sun Pub, Drury Lane, London - 4.30pm, Sat 16th December 2017
Chris, reading at the launch event in London
Caring in Bristol Survival Handbook workshop #2, St Mungos, Bristol - Thurs 14th December 2017
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales & the 2017 To Hull And Back short story anthology book launch - Saturday 9th December 2017
Lots of lovely writers at the To Hull And Back 2017 anthology book launch
Rhiannon Lewis book launch, Embassy of Chile, London - Thurs 7th December 2017
Rhiannon Lewis and Christopher Fielden, at the Embassy of Chile in London
Caring in Bristol Survival Handbook workshop #1, St Mungos, Bristol - Weds 29th November 2017
New College LitFest, Swindon - Wednesday 8th November 2017
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales as part of the Bristol Festival of Literature - Sat 28th October 2017
Book Busk at the Bristol Festival of Literature - Sat 28th October 2017
Mark Rutterford and Chris Fielden at the Bristol Festival of Literature Book Bust, Millennium Square, Bristol
No. 51, Stokes Croft - The Bristol Festival of Literature Flash Slam - Fri 20th October 2017
Christie Cluett, Mark Rutterford, Mel Ciavucco and Christopher Fielden, pictured at the 2017 Bristol Festival of Literature Flash Slam - we bloody won it, whoop!
Professional Writing Academy student Q&A, Ireland - Weds 27th September 2017
A Nonsensical Reading Extravaganza, the Donnington Grove, Newbury - Sun 9th July 2017
Martin Strike, Captain Beany and Christopher Fielden
Presentation to students at St Brendan's 6th Form College, Bristol - Mon 3rd July 2017
Christopher Fielden, presenting to creative writing students at St Brendan's 6th Form College in Bristol
2 x Cliché Workshop, Bath Flash Fiction Festival - Sat 24th & Sun 25th June 2017
Christopher Fielden, reading at the inaugural Flash Fiction Festival in Bath
Arkbound & First Story's National Writing Day Workshops, Bristol Energy Hub, BS1 5UH - Wednesday 21st June 2017
Professional Writing Academy Interview, Ireland - Sun 11th June 2017
Professional Writing Academy Interview #1
Professional Writing Academy Interview #2
Satellite of Love's Wordathon, The Dark Studio, The Arnolfini, BS1 4QA - Sat 10th June 2017
Burdall’s Yard, Bath - SCW present Talking Tales @ The Bath Fringe Festival - 2nd June 2017
Some of SCW at Talking Tales at the Bath Fringe Festival - Mark looks like he's having a stroke...
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - 22nd April 2017
Talk for Croydon Writers, Croydon, London - Monday 10th April 2017
Author Presentation at St Marys CEVA Primary School, Portbury - Monday 27th March 2017
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Saturday 18th February 2017
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales & the 2016 To Hull & Back short story anthology book launch - Saturday 10th December 2016
All the writers and judges that attended the To Hull And Back 2016 anthology launch
Trade Secrets Short Story Writing Workshop at Chip Lit Fest - Tuesday 29th November 2016
Sharing secrets at Chip Lit Fest
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales as part of the Bristol Festival of Literature - Saturday 22nd October 2016
Reading 'Death of a Superhero' at the Bristol Festival of Literature
No. 51, Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP - The Flash Slam @ the Bristol Festival of Literature - Friday 21st October 2016
We only bloody won it...!
Talk for Rushmoor Writers @ Farnborough Community Centre - Weds 12th October 2016
Me and the members of Rushmoor Writers
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Saturday 13th August 2016
John, me and Christie being rude after too much beer
Arkbound 'Boundless Magazine' launch, Bristol - Friday 10th June 2016
Burdall’s Yard, Bath - SCW present Talking Tales @ The Bath Fringe Festival - 5th June 2016
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Saturday 16th April 2016
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Saturday 20th February 2016
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Monday 14th December 2015
Café Kino, Bristol - To Hull & Back Anthology Launch - Friday 27th November 2015
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales (The Speakeasy) as part of the Bristol Festival of Literature - Saturday 24th October 2015
Bristol Fest of Literature Flash Slam, The Crofter's Rights, Bristol - Friday 23rd October 2015
Bristol Book Bazaar Day 2, The Green Lab, Bristol - Sunday 18th October 2015
Bristol Book Bazaar Day 1, The Green Lab, Bristol - Saturday 17th October 2015
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - 17th August 2015
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Monday 15th June 2015
Left Bank, Bristol - Stokes Croft Writers present Talking Tales - Monday 13th April 2015
Reading 'Zombies on a Boat' with Mel Ciavucco at the inaugural Talking Tales
Small Bar, Bristol - Small Stories reading - Monday 2nd February 2015
Foyles, Bristol - To Hull & Back Anthology Launch - Friday 28th November 2014
I have recently become aware of an author that shares my name who writes books about wine. I am NOT that Christopher Fielden. If you are looking for books by Christopher Fielden the wine author, you can find them on Amazon.
Sheena
Hi, just read your story, 'The Cat, The Bull & The Madman'. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it, I needed to share that I have been left mildly concerned about my own psyche. Why? Well, probably because the part I found most disturbing was the bit about the cat putting his paw, and subsequently his claw into the guys mouth...ewwwwwww. Anyway, thanks for brightening up my morning & helping my procrastinations. Sheena
Thanks Sheena - even more disturbingly, the cat's paw part of that story is based on real life experience. I was house sitting in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, and one of the cats I was looking after used to stick it's paw in my mouth to wake me up when it was hungry. It didn't talk though... :-) Sorry if that information has grossed you out even further!
Al C
Re: stalking. Be careful what you wish for! Thanks for all the advice, though - good website!
Chris Fielden
LOL - thanks Al :-)
Philip S
Dear Christopher. A good Website. I like your sense of humour and story about the bees. If you think your mum is the only one to look at your website it must be safe!! Um, must admit I do enjoy a glass of wine and my eyes did look at the wrong name first. Interesting about Stokes Croft, as I was born and raised in Bristol from zero to twenty five. I'm afraid I am just a poor old retired geezer now. I don't use on-line for writing, but noticed a writing competition for postal submissions. I'll mention the source if I enter.
Chris Fielden
Thanks Philip, much appreciated :-)
Peter K
For starters you are wearing my Batman t-shirt and you ride on my favourite HOG. If you were the right sex I'd obviously marry you but you aren't so I'll just weep into my beer and enter your Hull and back competition.
Chris Fielden
Excellent! I'll look forward to reading your story :)
Les C
What stops other people nicking my stories if I submit them for publishing.
I'm new to the game, never had anything published before.
Also, your website in amazingly helpful - is there a charge for using all its facilities?
Chris Fielden
Les, it's highly unlikely anyone will nick your stories - as long as they are your original work, you are the recognised copyright owner. I've been submitting stories for years and never encountered a problem. If it was a problem, I guess no one would ever submit anything anywhere!
The information on my site is provided for free - I'm glad you find it useful :-)
Joseph K
Your journey from school to writer is impressive.
Keep up the creative spirit.
God is alive because he is writing his short stories on the wall of his creation.
We can copy, imitate, edit and recreate.
And we live.
Chris Fielden
Thanks JK :-)
Jerry W
Hi, Chris. A drummer? A drummer? This helps explain the appeal of your website. In spite of their stepping on my best guitar and vocal solos, getting all the chicks, and causing me permanent hearing damage, some of my favourite people, aside from real musicians, are drummers. Rock on. Thanks for your site; encouraging and educating.
Chris Fielden
Jerry, we drummers do have a habit of damaging ears (our own included) stealing women (well, attempting to) and destroying instruments that are not designed to be struck with lumps of wood. But we don't do it maliciously; it's the love of rock and roll that leads us to undertake these acts.
Glad to hear you like the site :-)
Rhiannon L
Hi Christopher. Two quick things:
- firstly, thank you for your really useful website and especially for your list of competitions which is the most useful and up to date list that I have found
- I just wanted to ask why you don\'t appear to list the Raymond Carver short story competition? It seems reputable, but perhaps I\'m wrong? Have you had any experience of it?
By the way, your feedback on Writers' Forum was incredibly useful. You were totally right about the valuable feedback they provide for a very small fee. The magazine is interesting and winning one of the competitions (which I did after reading your advice - 1st prize, November 2016) came at a very important time, just when I was flagging and losing hope that anyone would ever want to read my stories. So thank you again!
Best wishes, Rhiannon
Chris Fielden
Hi Rhiannon. Great, I'm so pleased to hear you find the site useful :-)
I hadn't heard of the Raymond Carver competition. Most of the comps are listed because the people that run them approach me for a listing, so I guess I haven't been approached by the administrators. I'll take a look at the contest next time I update the page.
I'm really pleased to hear you've found Writers' Forum so useful. And congratulations on winning their competition - that's great news.
Thanks for your kind words about the site and advice - it's very much appreciated :-)
Kenn H
Hi Chris. My apologies for contacting you directly. I got your email address from your website.
I just discovered that you have written this book: "Yet another Road to Cross, Ten Generations of the Carrau Family In Wine, 1752-2012", but I am unable to order the only copy left on Amazon, because it can't be delivered to Australia. Is there any way of buying a copy? Even an electronic copy would be appreciated. I am researching my grandmother's family who's surname was Carrau. She always thought she was French, but after a DNA test, I have confirmed my suspicions that she has Spanish heritage. I thought maybe your book and research might help my research, and help me understand the family origins.
I would appreciate any help you can give.
Chris Fielden
Hi Kenn. I’m afraid you have the wrong Christopher Fielden. I’m a short story writer and blogger, not a wine writer.
I’m afraid I don’t know how to put you in touch with the right CF – Google brings up a phone number, so you could try that?
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Kenn H
Hi Chris. Thank you so much for your quick reply, I really appreciate it.
Kerissa
A
Just a little first thing, my name - it's pronounced Kuh-rih-sah, but, like, at a normal clip that doesn't make people start trying to take sharp objects from you. I have a pretty amusing backstory for this intro, but I only have a few minutes before I have to rescue my dog from what I'm sure is the bane of her existence: nail trimming.
So I, you know, did a cursory sweep of the comments and your responses, just to be sure my Hey-Dar was on the right channel, which I'm happy to report - it could be. It all hinges on whether or not your gut response to Kenn's comment was something like, "For fuck's sake, you're a researcher and you failed to uncover the mystery that is that I am not the Wine Writer you seek? Methinks perhaps you should reconsider a path in research." The Bitchy Queen in me that I reserve only for myself and a few in the Trust Ring, would have added, "You fucken moron." Or, if I were English, maybe 'Bloody' moron? Or is that just too many pints past cliche? *sigh* Give me a break, I was born, raised, and still live on what is arguably the most isolated volcanic rock that's the most non-state of all the Un-united States, on the planet (sometimes I say, "Grew up," but then that Bitchy Queen snort-laughs at me and makes some catty remark like, "Grew up? Really? Is that what you're calling this? Whatever." That bitch. She probably knows that Demon of Doubt dude. They'd make a great arch nemesis/secret BFF team, hahaha! Hmmmm. Anyway, shit. I gotta go. She's looking at me like I left her at some - well, anywhere that does not serve Rachael Ray gourmet dog snacks. My dog, I mean. OK, um... cheers? I was gonna go with 'Ciao' but that would make the BQ foam at the mouth. HA! Aloha! K
Chris Fielden
Hi Kuh-rih-sah (I hope I pronounced that
correctly)
My gut instinct on people assuming me to be the wine writer who shares my name simply makes me sigh. I receive invites to many wine launches and restaurant openings as I seem to have ended up on some PR email lists, so it happens quite a lot and I've become used to it. I suppose I could turn up and eat all the food and drink all the wine, but then my BMI would probably become similar to that of a small planet, so, for health reasons, I don't. I hope that answer meets with your satisfaction and I have a chance of being accepted into the Trust Ring.
Your Bitchy Queen sounds like better company than the Demon of Doubt. At least she has a sense of humour...
Anyway. I hope your dog isn't mentally scarred from her nail trimming experience.
Cheers (me dears, as we say in the fair city of Brizzle), Chris
Glen D
Hi Chris, several pictures of you adorned in ACDC clothing have naturally caught by eye. I say 'naturally' since being an Aussie, these guys are amongst rock royalty over here. My question to you is - have you ever counted yourself as a KISS fan?
I saw them in concert two weeks ago in Brisbane, Australia and they did not disappoint. In fact, if I may be so bold Chris, these are my thoughts on this close-to-my-heart subject in more detail.
The concert included an eight-minute drum solo by Eric Singer. Being a former drummer myself, I was in heaven. So... any thoughts on KISS you care to share?
Chris Fielden
Hi Glen. Thanks for your message.
I think AC/DC are regarded as rock royalty all over the world, not just in Australia. And rightly so. In my humble opinion, they're the greatest rock band ever to take the stage.
I've seen Kiss in concert - Donnington, way back in 1988. They were really good live. I wouldn't regard myself as a huge fan, but I do enjoy their music. And I like their stage shows - they go all out to entertain the audience. You have to respect that.
Thanks for sharing your concert write up. Sounds like it was a great night. You said you enjoyed the drum solo. I'm not a big fan of drum solos, especially long ones. I guess that's odd coming from a drummer... but when I go to see a band, I go to see the band. Not individuals showing off. It's another reason I like AC/DC so much. I've never seen Phil Rudd do a drum solo. Thin Lizzie's Brian Downey does a good solo - short and sweet. And Roger Taylor, when he does them, keeps them short and interesting. The best drum soloist I've seen is Joe Morello. He was one of the few drummers that can get away with long solos, but it's because he is arguably the best drummer that's ever lived. His solos are interesting because he is so skilled and diverse. Anyway... I'm waffling.
All the best to you - looks like the blog is going well, which is great - keep up the good work :-)
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