Michael Collins comes up with the results of the 2012 

Fish Poetry Prize.

1st  

Serene Suburban Sunday, Spring Street by John Mulligan (Ireland)

2nd 

Hard Times 2 by Mark Fiddes (England)

3rd  

Give a Sucker an Even Break by John Mulligan (Ireland)

HONORARY MENTIONS: 

Birthday Letters by Jennifer Cairns (England)

Ferrets by Amalia Burne

To Rhonda by Sean Murphy (USA)

Neighbourhood Watch by Lezanne Clannachan (Denmark)

The Taste of Death by Mo Loughlin (England)

My Bag by Fiona Price (Ireland)

In The Beginning by Danielle McLoughlin (Ireland)

NOTES:

Many thanks to Michael Collins for his time and wisdom. We appreciate his interest in emerging writers and in Fish’s efforts to bring the best of them to publication.

First prize is €1,000. All of the ten stories selected by Michael Collins will be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology. The launch and award ceremony will take place on 11 July at the West Cork Literary Festival. Chris Stewart, author and travel writer, will launch the Anthology. All are welcome.

The West Cork Literary Festival is a wonderful week for writers, readers, and revelers. Clem Cairns was the festival Director for 11 years before giving it up to run Fish Publishing full-time, so Fish’s involvement with it is long and deep. It is worth a visit for umpteen reasons – many of the readings are free, the workshops are varied and far-ranging in theme, and very reasonably priced, the line-up is superb, the festival is as small and friendly as the town it is in – the small fishing town of Bantry in West Cork, one of Ireland’s most beautiful places. Don’t miss it!

HELP!

We have not been able to contact the author of Ferrets, one of the Honorary Mentions. The name we have is Amalia Burne, though its possible it may be Burnet or something like it. We are appealing for anyone who knows the author to ask her to contact Fish Publishing.

ABOUT THE WINNER:

Author, journalist and Human-Rights activist John Mulligan is from Boyle in County Roscommon. He has had two non-fiction books published; “Dancing on the Waves”, and “Following in the Footsteps of the Four famous Flannerys” in 2007. His debut novel “No Place in the Sun” was published in 2010, and his latest novel “No Place Like Home” is available from Amazon in Kindle format. One of his song lyrics will be recorded by former Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan in August of this year. As well as writing newspaper features, John is working on a book about the Irish in Britain. www.johnmulligan.net

John is in the unprecedented position of coming both first and third in the Fish Flash Fiction Prize.

Visit the website: http://www.fishpublishing.com/short-stories-news.php#flashwinners2012