Mike Fox
@polyscribe70.bsky.social
Short story writer, delinquent poetry reader. Fictive Dream, The Lonely Press, Confingo, Fragmented Voices, Structo, Nightjar Press, Salt Publishing, Exacting Clam
polyscribe.co.uk
polyscribe.co.uk
Pinned
Mike Fox
@polyscribe70.bsky.social
· Jun 19
Huge thanks to Joe Darlington and Manchester Review of books for this stunning review of my collection Things Grown Distant, still available from @confingopublishing.bsky.social manchestereviewofbooks.wordpress.com/2024/10/15/t...
Reposted by Mike Fox
I chatted to @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social about short stories www.spreaker.com/episode/like...
Like Old Photographs in Second-hand Books (With Nicholas Royle) - A Small, Good Thing
www.spreaker.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
I chatted to @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social about short stories www.spreaker.com/episode/like...
Reposted by Mike Fox
The finished article
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 PM
The finished article
Reposted by Mike Fox
A model of Rhayader war memorial in the workshop during construction of the monument in 1923 - sculptor Benjamin Lloyd, builder Morgan Lloyd
You can see hands and feet and so on hanging on the walls in the background
You can see hands and feet and so on hanging on the walls in the background
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
A model of Rhayader war memorial in the workshop during construction of the monument in 1923 - sculptor Benjamin Lloyd, builder Morgan Lloyd
You can see hands and feet and so on hanging on the walls in the background
You can see hands and feet and so on hanging on the walls in the background
Reposted by Mike Fox
Join us this Thursday for the launch of Paris Fantastique by Nicholas Royle, the final volume in his city-based story collections. Date: 13 November. Time: 7 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Venue: Pizza Express, Corn Exchange, Manchester. Free entry but RSVP.
confingopublishing.uk/event-list
confingopublishing.uk/event-list
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Join us this Thursday for the launch of Paris Fantastique by Nicholas Royle, the final volume in his city-based story collections. Date: 13 November. Time: 7 p.m. – 8.30 p.m. Venue: Pizza Express, Corn Exchange, Manchester. Free entry but RSVP.
confingopublishing.uk/event-list
confingopublishing.uk/event-list
Reposted by Mike Fox
An entire show dedicated to the short story (and every story read with great skill and care by the likes of @churchofben.bsky.social). Not only that, but broadcast for the benefit of hospital patients. @uksherka.bsky.social is doing a magnificent job. Happy first birthday Sherry's Shorts!
We're still celebrating turning *1* with 1 terrific story by Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social & read by Benjamine L Wray @churchofben.bsky.social. Find out what happens when a man realises the commune he joined on a small Scottish island isn't the tranquility he imagined. Listen Again link ⬇️.
W🤩W! Sherry's Shorts turns 1 this month! 🎉To mark the event, we have 1 terrific story from Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social. In 'The Apparent World', a man joins a commune on a small Scottish island where all is not as it seems...Listen Again anytime via the link.
www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
November 9, 2025 at 1:44 PM
An entire show dedicated to the short story (and every story read with great skill and care by the likes of @churchofben.bsky.social). Not only that, but broadcast for the benefit of hospital patients. @uksherka.bsky.social is doing a magnificent job. Happy first birthday Sherry's Shorts!
Reposted by Mike Fox
Coming soon: the DADA issue!
November 8, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Coming soon: the DADA issue!
Reposted by Mike Fox
There's still time to sign up for @pippagoldschmidt.bsky.social's A Personal Anthology, her pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories.
Hitting inboxes at 2pm. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
Hitting inboxes at 2pm. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
apersonalanthology.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
There's still time to sign up for @pippagoldschmidt.bsky.social's A Personal Anthology, her pick of and introduction to a dozen favourite short stories.
Hitting inboxes at 2pm. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
Hitting inboxes at 2pm. Sign up here:
apersonalanthology.substack.com/about
Reposted by Mike Fox
The Lonely Crowd will feature new work by a different poet each month throughout 2025. For November, we are delighted to publish 3 new works by Brian Kirk. The first of these, ‘Keepsakes‘, is published today with two more poems to follow throughout the month.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/11/07/p...
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/11/07/p...
Poet of the Month, November: Brian Kirk
The Lonely Crowd will feature new work by a different poet each month throughout 2025. For November, we are delighted to publish three new works by Brian Kirk. The first of these, ‘Keepsakes&…
thelonelycrowd.org
November 7, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The Lonely Crowd will feature new work by a different poet each month throughout 2025. For November, we are delighted to publish 3 new works by Brian Kirk. The first of these, ‘Keepsakes‘, is published today with two more poems to follow throughout the month.
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/11/07/p...
thelonelycrowd.org/2025/11/07/p...
Reposted by Mike Fox
The Carbon Arc will launch in Manchester November 12th, published by @richardnskinner.bsky.social work by @anne-worthington.bsky.social @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social @ggaffa.bsky.social @nicholasroyle.bsky.social Maria Fusco, Gareth Evans, Sam Mills et al. richardskinner.weebly.com/lsquothe-car...
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The Carbon Arc will launch in Manchester November 12th, published by @richardnskinner.bsky.social work by @anne-worthington.bsky.social @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social @ggaffa.bsky.social @nicholasroyle.bsky.social Maria Fusco, Gareth Evans, Sam Mills et al. richardskinner.weebly.com/lsquothe-car...
Reposted by Mike Fox
My new short story colllection The Building Inspector is now available from @nightjarpress.bsky.social on nightjarpress.weebly.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:32 AM
My new short story colllection The Building Inspector is now available from @nightjarpress.bsky.social on nightjarpress.weebly.com
Grateful thanks to @amantineb.bsky.social for adding Benjamin L Wray's fine reading of my story The Apparent World, broadcast on Sherry's Shorts, Highland Hospital Radio, hosted by the wonderful @uksherka.bsky.social
literarygypsy.substack.com/p/talking-st...
literarygypsy.substack.com/p/talking-st...
Talking Stories with Mike Fox
Listen now to Amantine Brodeur read from Dissolving Sand from the new short story collection THINGS GROWN DISTANT by Mike Fox
literarygypsy.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Grateful thanks to @amantineb.bsky.social for adding Benjamin L Wray's fine reading of my story The Apparent World, broadcast on Sherry's Shorts, Highland Hospital Radio, hosted by the wonderful @uksherka.bsky.social
literarygypsy.substack.com/p/talking-st...
literarygypsy.substack.com/p/talking-st...
Reposted by Mike Fox
💡 ANNOUNCEMENT! 💡
Bulb Culture Collective will be reopening for submissions on NOVEMBER 24, 2025!
We can't wait to read your incredible previously published work!
Bulb Culture Collective will be reopening for submissions on NOVEMBER 24, 2025!
We can't wait to read your incredible previously published work!
Submission Guidelines — Bulb Culture Collective
www.bulbculturecollective.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
💡 ANNOUNCEMENT! 💡
Bulb Culture Collective will be reopening for submissions on NOVEMBER 24, 2025!
We can't wait to read your incredible previously published work!
Bulb Culture Collective will be reopening for submissions on NOVEMBER 24, 2025!
We can't wait to read your incredible previously published work!
Reposted by Mike Fox
Absolutely thrilled that Black Gables has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Huge thanks to all the librarians and readers @carnegiemedals.bsky.social
Special thanks to @everywithwords.bsky.social and Silvia @pfd
Congrats to all the nominees!
#Carnegies2026
Huge thanks to all the librarians and readers @carnegiemedals.bsky.social
Special thanks to @everywithwords.bsky.social and Silvia @pfd
Congrats to all the nominees!
#Carnegies2026
November 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Absolutely thrilled that Black Gables has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing.
Huge thanks to all the librarians and readers @carnegiemedals.bsky.social
Special thanks to @everywithwords.bsky.social and Silvia @pfd
Congrats to all the nominees!
#Carnegies2026
Huge thanks to all the librarians and readers @carnegiemedals.bsky.social
Special thanks to @everywithwords.bsky.social and Silvia @pfd
Congrats to all the nominees!
#Carnegies2026
I was privileged to see him in concert. Great singer, fine player. RIP Archie.
November 2, 2025 at 7:46 AM
I was privileged to see him in concert. Great singer, fine player. RIP Archie.
Reposted by Mike Fox
A poem in answer to Charles Causley’s poem On All Souls Night – and also to celebrate the birth of my daughter on All Souls Day. From ‘Red House’ @carcanet.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 AM
A poem in answer to Charles Causley’s poem On All Souls Night – and also to celebrate the birth of my daughter on All Souls Day. From ‘Red House’ @carcanet.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Fox
@jancarsonwrites.bsky.social - have you seen this?? (You probably have!)
MISS PYM’s DAY OUT, on the iPlayer for the next 26 days, is delightful!
A drama doc about Barbara Pym’s trip to London for the Booker Prize ceremony - featuring Patricia Routledge as Pym, various Excellent Women and cameos from Jilly Cooper & Penelope Lively! #BookSky
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
A drama doc about Barbara Pym’s trip to London for the Booker Prize ceremony - featuring Patricia Routledge as Pym, various Excellent Women and cameos from Jilly Cooper & Penelope Lively! #BookSky
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Miss Pym's Day Out: Bookmark
Dramatised documentary about the writer Barbara Pym, depicting one day in her life - 23 November 1977 - when she travelled to London to attend the Booker Prize ceremony.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:11 AM
@jancarsonwrites.bsky.social - have you seen this?? (You probably have!)
This morning, Richmond park. Three does stepped in front of me, followed by this chap. It being rutting season, I was keen not to offend...
October 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This morning, Richmond park. Three does stepped in front of me, followed by this chap. It being rutting season, I was keen not to offend...
Reposted by Mike Fox
Some lovely choices here - apersonalanthology.substack.com/p/a-personal...
Tho' I'll say again, it's totally cheating to include unpublished stories! Even by Ben Pester! Will be illegal when I'm queen of the world etc etc
Tho' I'll say again, it's totally cheating to include unpublished stories! Even by Ben Pester! Will be illegal when I'm queen of the world etc etc
And off it goes, Tim MacGabhann’s Personal Anthology, boogying on the margins, filling the bowls with boiled sweets, down on its back on the filthy, sticky supermarket linoleum, three sports bags and a yellow inflated dinghy on the pavement in front of it, hearing the crowd above it erupt again…
A Personal Anthology, by Tim MacGabhann
'sustainable, infinite, inspiring...'
apersonalanthology.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Some lovely choices here - apersonalanthology.substack.com/p/a-personal...
Tho' I'll say again, it's totally cheating to include unpublished stories! Even by Ben Pester! Will be illegal when I'm queen of the world etc etc
Tho' I'll say again, it's totally cheating to include unpublished stories! Even by Ben Pester! Will be illegal when I'm queen of the world etc etc
'In the dream she is not really herself at all, but a product of his subconscious, that part of him that recognises his guilt and seeks to find a way to expiate it.' Loved reading this reverie by Brian Kirk about memory and the scope of a life. A novel in a short story.
"He never hurt her, no, not physically. But he knew that he inflicted pain in other ways." A Haircut by Brian Kirk #shortstory #fiction. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2025/10/26/a...
October 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
'In the dream she is not really herself at all, but a product of his subconscious, that part of him that recognises his guilt and seeks to find a way to expiate it.' Loved reading this reverie by Brian Kirk about memory and the scope of a life. A novel in a short story.
Reposted by Mike Fox
A wonderful article from Julian Barnes, and a reminder that writers are not alway likeable or virtuous, and that publishers are not all bad.
‘Today’s publishers must be relieved they do not have to deal with Flaubert, or some mutant facsimile of him; at worst, they have to put up with writers who are crazy, or criminal, or incorrigible hermits.’
Julian Barnes on Flaubert’s relationship with his publisher.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Julian Barnes on Flaubert’s relationship with his publisher.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Julian Barnes · Ouvriers de luxe: Author v. Publisher
Gustave Flaubert’s first three novels, Madame Bovary, Salammbô and L’Éducation sentimentale, were all published by...
www.lrb.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A wonderful article from Julian Barnes, and a reminder that writers are not alway likeable or virtuous, and that publishers are not all bad.
Reposted by Mike Fox
On Fridays, there are 2 ways to listen to Sherry's Shorts: live on HHR.Scot at noon UK time. Or anytime with the Listen Again link ⬇️. This month, Sherry's Shorts turns 1! 🥳 We celebrate with 1 terrific story by @polyscribe70.bsky.social, read by @churchofben.bsky.social. Come join the party!
W🤩W! Sherry's Shorts turns 1 this month! 🎉To mark the event, we have 1 terrific story from Mike Fox @polyscribe70.bsky.social. In 'The Apparent World', a man joins a commune on a small Scottish island where all is not as it seems...Listen Again anytime via the link.
www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
www.mixcloud.com/invernesshr/...
October 24, 2025 at 9:36 AM
On Fridays, there are 2 ways to listen to Sherry's Shorts: live on HHR.Scot at noon UK time. Or anytime with the Listen Again link ⬇️. This month, Sherry's Shorts turns 1! 🥳 We celebrate with 1 terrific story by @polyscribe70.bsky.social, read by @churchofben.bsky.social. Come join the party!