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buy the anthology - about the anthology - anthology video - book launch - anthology cover
I'm proud to present The To Hull & Back humorous short story competition anthology 2016. The book was released on All Hullows' Eve (31st October 2016 (Hulloween)) and is available to buy on Amazon. You can also buy a PDF copy of the book directly from me.
You'll find full details on how to purchase the book below.
Cover hand-painted by Steph Minns, featuring the fantabulous fizzog of winner Peter Ewing
You can purchase the anthology from Amazon in print or Kindle (eBook) formats, or you can buy PDF versions of the book from me.
You can purchase Kindle eBook copies of the anthology here.
The book is available on all of Amazon's country specific websites. Simply put the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN) for the book into the Amazon's search box:
B01M29P2SA
You can purchase printed paperback copies of the book on Amazon here.
Purchasing a PDF is the cheapest way to buy the 2016 To Hull & Back anthology. Pay via PayPal using the button below - I will then email you a PDF version of the book:
| 2016 Anthology PDF £3.99 |
The PDF will be sent to your registered PayPal email address within 48 hours.
If you want the PDF sent to a different email address, please let me know - you'll be able to do this in PayPal during the checkout process.
I’m proud to present the third ‘To Hull & Back’ humorous short story competition anthology. It contains a collection of 29 humorous short stories from the winning, highly commended and shortlisted entrants of the 2016 contest. The book also contains a story written by each of the judges.
The stories in this book are fun and quirky, written by writers with vivid imaginations. This means all the tales are highly original and entertaining to read. I predict that each will become a fable of mirth and legend in the future.
The authors featured in this anthology are:
Adena Graham, AH Cassells, Anita MacCallum, Christie Cluett, Christopher Fielden, C L Raven, Dan Brotzel, Dan Purdue, Dylan Balfour, Heather Reid, Helen Combe, Ian Tucker, Jim Horlock, Joe Richardson, John Holland, Jonathan Macho, Leah Eades, Mark Rutterford, Martin Strike, Mary D'Arcy, Mel Ciavucco, Peter Ewing, Radovana Jágriková, Sarah Hitchcock, Simon James, Steph Minns, ST Ranscht, Ted Myers and Thomas David Parker.
You can see all their biographies on the 2016 competition results page.
The anthology was first released on Hulloween (31st October) 2016. The winner’s copy of the book will make a journey on the Highway to Hull (see the video below), strapped to a two-wheeled chariot of rampant noisiness. You can learn more about the meaning of the previous sentence and the ‘To Hull & Back’ competition (which currently offers the most awesome prize in the field of literature) on the To Hull & Back short story competition page.
To Hull & Back - this is the third video - it was filmed in April 2017
The 2016 To Hull & Back anthology launch party took place at Left Bank, 128 Cheltenham Rd, Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS6 5RW, UK, on Saturday 10th December 2016.
From left to right: AH Cassells, Ian Tucker, Chris Fielden, Steph Minns, Martin Strike, Mel Ciavucco, Jonathan Macho, Thomas David Parker, John Holland & Mark Rutterford
The launch was run in conjunction with Talking Tales which is one of Bristol's most popular short story telling/reading events, put on by Stokes Croft Writers. The members of SCW help me judge the competition every year.
An array of To Hull & Back anthologies
There were some fabulous readings from authors featured in the book and from Talking Tales regulars. The set list looked like this:
Steph Minns, reading 'Trip To The Bank'
Martin Strike, reading 'Strange Goings on at Newbury Model Train Enthusiasts’ Society'
Nicolas Ridley, reading 'Moose Head, Doe Eyes, Shrew'
Jonathan Macho, reading 'Stranger than Strangers'
Jason Jackson, reading 'Fingers'
John Holland, reading 'The Night Ape'
Ali Bacon, reading 'Fork Less'
Thomas David Parker, Christopher Fielden and Mark Rutterford, reading 'King’s Gambit Declined' (by Peter Ewing)
I'd like to say a big thank you to Anita MacCallum, Christie Cluett, Leah Eades, Mark Rutterford, Mel Ciavucco, Radovana Jágriková, Steph Minns and Thomas David Parker for helping me judge the competition this year.
A second big thank you to Thomas David Parker for co-hosting the book launch/Talking Tales with me on the night, in a tag-team death match of literary devastation.
Tom, hosting like a pro
A second big thank you to Steph Minns, for creating such a fantastic cover for the book this year.
Me, looking slightly mental, next to the banner of the book cover
And finally, a big thank you to all the performers and authors who journeyed from all over the UK, including Bristol, Bath, Stroud, Newbury, Cardiff and Scotland to be at the event. Your support is very much appreciated.
A gaggle of authors - John is the only one looking at the correct camera, which says a lot about the drinking habits of writers...
And here are some more pictures. Big thanks to Kath, Mel, Mum and Tom for their fantastic photography in limited light.
Me, doing an impression of a lunatic next to some books
A fine gaggle of authors
Mel Ciavucco, enjoying being attacked by sequins
The legend that is Thomas David Parker, doing a convincing impression of Dr Who
Another group shot, centred by an overexcited (or deranged...) Ms Minns
Me & Nicolas, deep in conversation about prose... or booze
Martin & Jo, with a rather delightful banner
Mark and me, looking suitably pleased with ourselves
A collection of the highly sought-after Talking Tales badges
The 2016 To Hull & Back anthology cover was created by Steph Minns. This is the first time an artist has hand painted the book cover. She's gone all Mad Max on us and it looks fabulous.
Steph Minns
Steph has been a keen painter from childhood. Her parents put up with an alien landscape she painted at age 14, complete with tree monsters, on the living room wall for years, before it was tastefully papered over. Her first custom spray paint efforts on the motorbikes of pals led to a few professional van spray paint jobs in her later teens, and a few book cover jobs too.
After attending the London College of Printing as a mature student, Steph worked as a print manager and designer in various public sector and charity posts, including Commissioning Editor for Assessment magazine, and Communications Officer for Stonham Housing Association and The Prostate Cancer Charity.
She still paints for enjoyment, while taking on the occasional book cover project, including this year's To Hull and Back, and would love to move into the book design market professionally, full-time. She also dabbles in several creative crafts, including fused glass and glass painting.
You can learn more about Steph and her awesome artwork on her website.
To Hull & Back Anthology 2016, Full Book Cover by Steph Minns
Susan R
It looks fabulous!
Chris Fielden
Thanks Susan :-)
John M
Wow, that was quick!
The website said the book will come within 48 hours and it was about 30 minutes. Excellent service.
I look forward to reading it. Good luck with the sales.
Chris Fielden
Hi John. They don't call me Speedy McFielden for nothing…
I hope you enjoy reading the book.
Martin S
Hi Chris. I have broken away from several hours deep sniffing of the glorious pages of not one but five (that's five) freshly and speedily delivered copies of the 2016 Anthology to me chosen location. I am delighted to find that my name appears on the back cover of each one (that's all five) whilst my story also takes up pages 178-185 in every one (ie 8 pages x 5 = 40. Forty).
Thank you for making an old man very happy - five times in one day (five). Yours inkily.
Chris Fielden
Hi Martin. That’s fabulous news. I hope the euphoria continues. It’s likely to prolong your life, which is an extra bonus I fail to mention on the competition page. Note to self to add it...
I’m also particularly pleased to hear that Messrs Amazon are presenting your story consistently on the same pages of each book they print – that’s a huge relief :-)
Duncan M
Hi Chris. Thanks very much for this, part of me now feels totally inadequate & the other part feels like coming home to a house full of like-minded friends and weirdos. I've only read the first two stories, which made me laugh out loud in places, but I am already tempted to submit something else. Can I just do it as a separate entry? Maybe use a pseudonym?
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this in your list of competitions - thank you, it's bonkers in a good way.
Chris Fielden
Hi Duncan. Oh good – glad you liked them :-) Humour is so subjective… it’s always nice to hear that other people enjoy the stories in the anthologies.
Each writer can submit up to 3 entries to each To Hull & Back competition, so feel free to send more stories.
Yes, I’m often accused of being bonkers, but it’s surprising how many likeminded souls are out there, once you start looking…
ST R
I wish I could have been there.
Hey, I know a young woman from Hull (no, that's not the start of a dirty limerick). She tells me Hull is the UK City of Culture this year, and suggests you contact the organisers to see if you can get some press for the book when you arrive there. Couldn't hurt!
Chris Fielden
Hi ST. No worries - I understand why you couldn't be there. The distance and cost would make it somewhat impractical...!
Yes, I saw that on the TV yesterday. What great news.
And what a great idea too - I'll ping them an email now.
Happy New Year - I hope 2017 is fabulous for you :-)
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