Amanda's Circus

Two Poems in Survision
Published August 26, 2023 - No Comments
It is exciting to have two poems in Irish literary magazine Survision. Survision describe themselves as: SurVision is an international biannual online poetry magazine established in Ireland in March 2017 as a platform for new Irish and international Surrealist and Irrealist poetry in ...
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Poem in London Grip
Published December 7, 2022 - No Comments
How exciting! My poem ‘Is Gertrude Stein’s Frog Smoking in Your Attic Too?’ is now live at the excellent London Grip in their Winter issue along with many excellent poets. Many thanks to editor, Michael Bartholomew-Biggs. Take a look at London Grip here and why not look a ...
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Shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Novel Prize
Published September 26, 2019 - No Comments
I love Fitzcarraldo‘s books so it is fabulous news to discover that my novel has been shortlisted for the prestigious Fitzcarraldo Editions Novel Prize. It is a list of only five books so it’s a huge honour to be shortlisted, particularly since it is for the entire manuscript r ...
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Fish Poem at Atrium
Published July 3, 2019 - No Comments
The marvellous Atrium Poetry has published my poem ‘Watching a Fish on a Cutting Board‘ today. Very many thanks to Holly and Claire for picking it. I am so pleased. I wrote this one a while ago, I can’t remember why or when but I imagine I had been preparing fish for dinn ...
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Squid poem in The Ofi Press
Published June 24, 2019 - One Comment
The Ofi Press, edited by Jack Little, is based in Mexico. I am thrilled that they have published my poem ‘Squid of Nondescript Household Places’. Very many thanks to Jack. Here is the link to The Ofi Press Magazine Issue 63. I hope you enjoy it. ‘Squid of Nondescript Hous ...
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Story in Queen Mob’s Tea House
Published November 6, 2018 - No Comments
‘Brica-brica-brica on Mount Anvil‘ is now online, published by Queen Mob’s Tea House. Many, many thanks to Jessica Sequira. I am thrilled they got this one. It’s a particular kind of madness. I suppose, when you write, you choose your focus and you choose your lens, ...
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Story in Ambit 234
Published November 4, 2018 - No Comments
‘Distant View of a Thought Leaving*’ is now published in the beautiful Ambit Issue 234. Many thanks to all the Ambit staff – they are wonderful. The launch at Tate Modern was packed – all tickets were sold, and they were sending people away. I watched the security g ...
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Tired Old Meat in L.O.L.’s Halloween Special
Published October 31, 2018 - No Comments
It’s a gruesome little poem all right! Just right for Halloween! Tired Old Meat is popping up it’s nasty little nose tonight at Lonesome October Lit. Many thanks to Kate for including it.
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Concert at the Doge’s Palace with Fans at Ink, Sweat and Tears
Published October 10, 2018 - No Comments
‘Concert at the Doge’s Palace with Fans’, is now published on Ink, Sweat and Tears. Huge thanks to the fabulous Helen Ivory for selecting it. What’s more, it has been shortlisted for their Poem of the Month. Gosh! I’m so pleased that they picked this particula ...
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Girl in a Borrowed Cloak in Lonesome October Lit
Published October 10, 2018 - No Comments
‘Girl in a Borrowed Cloak’ was written for the 10Days project and was displayed for a while in Winchester Cathedral (see below). I am so pleased it has found a strange and lovely home at Lonesome October Lit. I don’t really know in which genre it’s written. It is b ...
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Words for the Wild
Published August 11, 2018 - No Comments
Words for the Wild is a website and print publication edited by myself and Louise Taylor. It is dedicated to writing rooted in the countryside with all profits from the sale of the book going to ADD – Action Against Destructive Development. We began all this because of Eastlei ...
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This Land of Dill in Under the Radar
Published August 2, 2018 - No Comments
‘This Land of Dill’ is in the latest issue of Under the Radar Issue 21 published by Nine Arches Press. Many thanks to Jane Commane. It is very exciting to be included in such a great literary magazine. What’s more, I am accompanied by friends Raine Geoghegan and Sue Spie ...
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My Greenland Halibut in LossLit Issue 8
Published August 1, 2018 - No Comments
It’s such brilliant news that this story has found a publisher, and extra great that it should be LossLit. ‘My Greenland Halibut‘ is about a door-to-door fish seller. He really does love his stock. On his rounds he comes across Terry, a poorly man and they establish a rel ...
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Temptation No. 3: Sunrise in The Cabinet of Heed
Published August 1, 2018 - No Comments
‘Temptation No. 3: Sunrise’ is now published in The Cabinet of Heed. Many thanks to Simon Webster and his fabulous cabinet. ‘Sunrise’ is one of several poems in a series of temptations of varying kinds, let’s face it, it’s a rich vein, and is the second ...
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Five Parts in Storgy
Published July 31, 2018 - No Comments
I am thrilled that my story, ‘Five Parts‘, has finally made its home in Storgy. They’re a brilliant magazine and I love reading the stories they publish. Many thanks to them. ‘Five Parts’ means a lot to me. When I first submitted it to (inflicted it upo ...
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White-Eyed Bird with Red Beak at Cosmonauts Avenue
Published July 3, 2018 - No Comments
‘White-Eyed Bird with Red Beak’ is an unusual story and I am absolutely delighted that the woniderful people of Cosmonauts Avenue have published it. Many thanks to them. It has been published on the same day as another story ‘Five Parts’, which is now live on th ...
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Flash Fiction in Ellipsis
Published June 22, 2018 - No Comments
‘Girl Wrapped in Beads‘ is now published by the marvellous Ellipsis Magazine. I have written a few of these ‘Girl…’ vignettes, flash fiction, stories and poems. It started with the 10 Days arts project a few years ago when ‘Girl in a Borrowed Cloa ...
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Bells and Marigolds success in The Pre-Raphaelite Society Poetry Competition
Published May 25, 2018 - No Comments
The richness and beauty of this painting by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) belie its subject matter. It is entitled ‘The Awakening Conscience’. The young woman in the picture has been sitting on her lover’s lap singing Thomas Moore’s Oft, in the Stilly Night, whe ...
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Winchester Poetry Prize
Published November 11, 2017 - No Comments
A double success in The Winchester Poetry Prize! One poem was highly commended overall and won the Hampshire Prize; another was commended. What a fantastic surprise! Many thanks to WPF for a wonderful occasion. I’m so thrilled Sarah Howe enjoyed the poems. It was great to hear ...
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Poem on The Molotov Cocktail Shortlist
Published July 18, 2017 - No Comments
‘Close but no cigar’ is how the folk at The Molotov Cocktail describe their shortlist. Thank you to Molotov. I’m proud, and marginally healthier even, without the cigar, and am glad they enjoyed the poem. Here is the link to the shortlist. They had their biggest entry yet ...
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Work in the New Welsh Review Writing Awards
Published May 11, 2017 - One Comment
It seems I have two successes in the New Welsh Review Awards! Two! Happy days! Many thanks to Gwen Davies and her team. Extracts from my novella, ‘Carving Strangers’, set in 1950s South Africa, and a memoir I’ve written about Bob’s childhood in South Africa will b ...
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Poem in The Woven Tale Press
Published March 31, 2017 - 2 Comments
Many thanks to Sandra Tyler at Woven Tale. I’m thrilled that my poem is included in the latest issue of The Woven Tale Press. It’s a stunning fine art and literary magazine. A visual banquet. You can subscribe here, it’s free and fab. I’ve picked out a few items i ...
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Two Poems for Prelude
Published March 24, 2017 - One Comment
Two of my poems have been published in Prelude‘s print edition. Prelude was established in 2014 and is based in New York, which is extra exciting somehow. They publish contemporary experimental poetry and criticism. This is how Prelude describes itself: Prelude is a poetry journal co ...
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Pieces of Eight at Bampton
Published March 9, 2017 - No Comments
Ten of my poems have been on display at a gallery in Oxfordshire. Ten is a lot – it’s also a thrill and a fair bit of work. A few months ago artist, Lucy Ash, and I agreed that I’d send her some poems. It always surprises me how paintings can trigger a poem or […]
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Story Shortlisted in The London Magazine Competition
Published January 17, 2017 - No Comments
I’m thrilled to have a story on The London Magazine Short Story Competition shortlist. You can take a look at the list here. Equally thrilling was the do, held at the Houses of Parliament The London Magazine is a prestigious magazine and has been going for a very long time. Apparentl ...
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Alzheimer’s story at Literary Mama
Published December 10, 2016 - No Comments
‘A Winding Silver Path’ was ‘shortlisted’ (‘longlisted’ really) for the Asham Award but renamed and rewritten. It is a story about a family living with a mother/grandmother whose identity is slowly being eroded by Alzheimer’s. It shows th ...
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3:AM Magazine – my story goes live
Published November 1, 2016 - 2 Comments
It is fantastic to have a story in 3:AM. My piece, ‘Three Girls Sing a Sutartine’ is now published. Many thanks to Hestia and the wonderful 3:AM folk for producing such a fascinating magazine – it’s full of challenge and discovery. Here is the link if you’d li ...
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Poetry Success in the Magma / Winchester Poetry Festival Pop-up Competition
Published October 11, 2016 - 6 Comments
I have a poem on the Magma website. Click on the link if you’d like to read it. How surprised was I when, as I was casually sitting at a table at Loose Muse, Joan McGavin came over and told me my ‘Dear John’ poem had won third place in the festival pop-up competition run ...
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Story and Poem Shortlisted for Paragram Paradox Prize
Published August 23, 2016 - 2 Comments
Absolutely delighted to have a poem and a flash shortlisted for the Paragram Paradox Prize. Many thanks to them. Such great news! The list is here if you want to check it out. I’ve been working really hard on a new set of music theory books over the summer holidays and I can&# ...
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Madam Tulip at Visual Verse
Published August 8, 2016 - No Comments
I’ve been thinking about taking up the Visual Verse challenge for a few months and I finally got round to it. My poem ‘Madam Tulip’, inspired by August’s summery image, is now published on their website. Every month they produce a picture, and you’re challenge ...
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Peculiar Story up at Flashflood
Published August 8, 2016 - No Comments
My flash fiction piece is up at Flashflood. I wrote E.X.O.C.E.T. a couple of days before National Flash Fiction Day at a workshop given by the organiser and all-round excellent chap, Calum Kerr, and wonderful novelist, Claire Fuller. Calum suggested I send it in, which was decent of him. I ...
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The Laundry at Spelk
Published August 8, 2016 - No Comments
‘The Laundry’ is up at the wonderful Spelk website. This little story was written as part of the 10 Days Chalk project when I was trying to write a piece everyday, usually late at night. It’s surprising how the day’s dregs cough up oddities. It’s here ...
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Vine Leaves Literary Journal
Published April 1, 2016 - No Comments
My vignette ‘Balancing on Ladders’ is up today on the absolutely gorgeous Issue 6 of Vine Leaves. It can be read here on Page 8: but there are loads of beautiful, strange vignettes and poetry to be read in this magazine. The vines are lush and fecund.
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Three Dark Steps and the Parrot is published
Published March 1, 2016 - No Comments
‘Three Dark Steps and the Parrot’ has been published in the wonderful Medulla Review. It is about a woman whose reality is gradually being eroded and she finds herself changing into a parrot. I hope you enjoy it. Here’s the link: http://themedullareview.com/Amanda_Oosthu ...
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The Street of Crocodiles
Published March 1, 2016 - No Comments
If you haven’t read ‘The Street of Crocodiles’ by Bruno Schulz, head on to Over the Red Line, where my review is up. It will give you a taste of what to expect. Schulz is an extraordinary writer and whilst I’m reading the mostly ‘indoor’ life of these st ...
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Chalk Trilogy and Winchester Cathedral
Published October 17, 2015 - No Comments
My story has been on display at Winchester Cathedral and I, along with other members of the Taverners writers group, have been involved in readings, workshops and interviews as a part of the 10 Days arts project. At the time of writing, my ‘Girl in a Borrowed Cloak̵ ...
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Volare in Synaesthesia Magazine
Published September 1, 2015 - No Comments
Hurray! My story ‘Volare‘, about Venice, is now live at the wonderful and very beautiful Synaesthesia Magazine, in their ‘Cities’ issue. It is the most visually stunning literary magazine I have seen. The photographs and art are devastatingly good, a real feast of i ...
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Story in Unthology 7, the Venice Biennale and Norwich.
Published July 5, 2015 - 2 Comments
My story, ‘The Harp and the Thorn Tree’, has been published in Unthology 7 along with the work of a dozen other writers. It’s a brilliantly diverse collection of stories that confronts contemporary life and provokes a dialogue. I’ve been thinking about contemporary fict ...
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The Mount – in White Review/Lawrence Lek collaboration ‘Pyramid Schemes’
Published September 24, 2014 - No Comments
I’m so pleased that a piece of text I submitted to ‘The White Review’ earlier this year was accepted for inclusion in Lawrence Lek’s installation and artist’s book, Pyramid Schemes. This is how the work is described: ”Pyramid Schemes’ is a collabor ...
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SLS Fellowship
Published April 15, 2014 - 2 Comments
I am really surprised to hear that I’ve been awarded a Summer Literary Seminars Fellowship. It has been awarded on the strength of an excerpt from my novel which I submitted to SLS in February (obviously I was hoping, although not expecting, to win the full amount, but you have to tr ...
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‘Minute Music’ Runner-up in the Writers & Artists Short Story Competition
Published March 21, 2014 - 4 Comments
Well I never, my story, ‘Minute Music’, was placed second runner-up in the Writers and Artists Yearbook competition. I am very surprised, particularly since they had 3,000 entries. Thank you to the W&A readers, what a lot of stories to read.e ten of us. Yay! Good news! I ...
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Story on the InkTears Shortlist
Published March 14, 2014 - No Comments
Hurray! I’m thrilled that I have a story on the InkTears Short Story Competition shortlist. Many thanks to the readers. I had two stories on the long list, which was a marvellous surprise, and now one of them, Volare, has made has made it through. The shortlist is here. There are tw ...
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My Winning Story – Synaesthesia Magazine
Published February 27, 2014 - 2 Comments
Here’s the link to my story ‘Love and Glitter’, winner of the Synaesthesia Magazine Short Story Competition, along with comments from the judge, Adam Marek, an interview with me (don’t worry, I kept my answers short), lots of ‘nonsensical’ poetry and stu ...
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I’ve just finished – The Blue Book by A.L. Kennedy
Published February 12, 2014 - No Comments
This is a weird book, weird and somehow I want to kiss it. Strange. I admit I’m a fan of weird books – I particularly enjoyed Jonathan Safran Foer’s Tree of Codes which is exhumed from Schulz’s Street of Crocodiles and is, I suppose, a piece of sculpture as well ...
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My story wins the Synaesthesia Magazine Competition
Published February 9, 2014 - 4 Comments
Here’s the link to my story ‘Love and Glitter’, winner of the Synaesthesia Magazine Short Story Competition, along with comments from the judge, Adam Marek, an interview with me (don’t worry, I kept my answers short), lots of ‘nonsensical’ poetry and stu ...
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Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology 2013
Published October 31, 2013 - 2 Comments
I’m thrilled that my story, Poison Hands, is included in this anthology, and it was great to meet so many of the writers at the awards ceremony at the Arnolfini Centre in Bristol’s docklands. Amazing views of the city from the fifth floor. We were frolicking (sorry, engagin ...
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My Novel an Eludia Award Finalist
Published October 14, 2013 - No Comments
Well, well, well, another piece of remarkably good news; my novel, The Cherrywood Box, is a finalist in the Eludia Award competition. It is particularly good news because I submitted the entire manuscript for this contest, rather than an extract, so it implies, to me anyway, that the entir ...
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Lightship Memoir Shortlisted
Published October 12, 2013 - 4 Comments
Hurray! My memoir has been shortlisted for the Lightship Prize. They’ve whittled it down to ten stories – there were originally thirty longlistees. I’ve no idea how many entered but I’m thrilled and amazed that it has got this far. I think it’s fair to say, it ...
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Flash Slam in Brighton
Published September 30, 2013 - No Comments
Great fun! I actually read at a flash slam in Brighton last Thursday. It was held at the Latest Bar and brilliantly organised by Grit Lit and Story Studio, Tara Gould and Richard Hearn as part of the Brighton Digital Festival. What’s a flash slam? On this occasion, nine write ...
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Lakeview Journal has published my story
Published September 6, 2013 - No Comments
I am honoured that my story ‘A Pylon, a Dress and the Rattle of Reeds’ is now live at Lakeview Journal here. It is a fantastic literary magazine packed with stories, poetry and art. The magazine is international but based in India so I am doubly honoured to be included. It is ...
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Latest News – diary of the odd success and interesting event

Published 12-10 at - No Comments

January 2023: I am very excited to have poems published in Issue 12 of Survision. Many thanks to editor, Tony Kitt. December 2022: Really delighted to have a poem published in the brilliant London Grip. Many thanks to Michael Bartholomew-Biggs. November 2022: My interview with poet, Kathryn Bevis, about her debut pamphlet is live at […] IWEBIX Webdesign

Links to published stories and poems

Published 04-04 at - No Comments

Here are links to stories, poetry and articles that I’ve had published. I’ve included forthcoming work and a list of competition successes. If you read any of them, I hope you enjoy them: Published Stories ‘Brica-brica-brica on Mount Anvil‘ in Queen Mob’s Tea House ‘The Tower’ longlisted for Arachne Press’ Solstice Shorts Festival. ‘Distant View of […]

Latest Articles

Latest Articles from the Blog

Two Poems in SurvisionPublished 08-26 at
Poem in London GripPublished 12-07 at
Shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Novel PrizePublished 09-26 at
Fish Poem at AtriumPublished 07-03 at
Squid poem in The Ofi PressPublished 06-24 at
Poem in Riggwelter 17Published 03-05 at
Poem in HumanageriePublished 03-05 at
Girl Who Spiralled in Lonesome October LitPublished 11-12 at

About writing, trickery and a little music