Hysteria 2022 shortlist announced

The results are finally in, checked and double checked, and checked a third time just for good measure. And I’m so pleased to announce the 30 shortlisted entries in Hysteria 2022, 10 per category.

All our shortlisted writers and poets will all be published in this year’s anthology, Hysteria 9. The anthology will be published in early December when the overall category winners will be announced. All finalists will receive a free pdf copy and you can pre-order your copies as Christmas gifts for friends, relatives and yourself.

As usual, the standard of all entries was extremely high and everyone should be complimented on their work. The following entries are the best of the best and are listed in alphabetical order.

Poetry Category

• Julie Lockwood Austin – A drop of peace
• Megan Barber – Finding peace at the bottom of the bucket
• Penelope Blackburn – A nun’s reflection
• Heather Cook – Girl in a cathedral
• Maureen Cullen – River
• Christine Griffin – Peace offering
• Iain McGrath – 300789
• Val Ormerod – Unspoken
• Ana Reisens – Lessons
• Sue Spiers – Withheld voice

Flash Fiction

• Caroline Beuley – The healing power of salt
• Chris Cottom – The prayer of Annaliese Muller
• Tracy Davidson – Disturbing the peace
• Amy Howden – Sennen Cove
• Denny Jace – The woman who dropped a stitch
• Caroline Jenner – At peace with myself in the midst of the chaos of half started projects
• Helen Price – Pain and able
• Gillian Scholey – A bit of a pickle
• Julia Ruth Smith – A simple harem of seals
• Ray Taylor – Message from the sea of tranquillity

Short Stories

• Katherine Birditt – Peace on the Northern Line
• Yvonne Clark – Flights of fancy
• Heather Haigh – At the end of the day
• Valerie Hoare – Rest in peace
• Alex Goluszko – Et in arcadia ego
• Taria Karillion – In pursuit of peace
• Marie Keiding – A peace of chocolate
• Denarri Peters – Who are the witches
• Owen Wall – An abstract peace
• Jill Waters – Catching my breath