Book Cover

Paradise Press & Gay Authors Workshop

Issue 2: Winter 25/26

Welcome to Issue 2

Pine cones

Editorial

Flash PPink is the quarterly online magazine published by Paradise Press which is the publishing arm of Gay Authors Workshop (GAW).

First, we're delighted to welcome a little sibling into the Paradise Press family. On Shifting Sands is the latest Paradise Press anthology, this time about change, growth and transformation. The image above shows editors Hastie and Ian look justifiably smug at the results of three years' hard work. 304 pages, over thirty contributors, and available on the Paradise Press website.

It will soon be joined by Hot Flashes, the sequel to our first flash fiction anthology, Flash Dances. We've set up a competition offering £100 prizes in four categories – under 40 words; under 300 words; under 600 words; under 1000 words. There will be two professional judges, one of whom is writer and performer Clare Summer-skill, the other to be confirmed.

What makes a good piece of flash fiction? First, economy. Every word has to count. Second, vividness. FF (if we may call it that) needs bright colours, it doesn't have much time to make its mark. It needs a strong, well-shaped plot, with a telling opening and a satisfying pay-off. Originality of style is a bonus.

If you'd like to respond to the challenge, please see Flash Fiction Competition to submit your work. We're also eager for your contributions to Flash Pink, and there's no reason why something good shouldn't appear both here and in the anthology.

The deadline for the Spring issue of Flash Pink is Friday, 6 March 2026, so do please get writing! There is no particular theme, but  there are a few disclaimers and legal notices below.

This issue of the magazine has a Christmas/Winter feel about it, as you might guess from the pine cones. But for those of you who go 'Bah! Humbug!' at the prospect, I hope you find some of the contributions suitably acid. To those who have risen to the challenge, Muito Obrigado (that's Portuguese for Ta Muchly.)

Legal Notice:

All stories and other materials remain the copyright of the individual authors, and no downloading is permitted or licensed. If anyone wishes to use any of the material herein, they should apply to the author(s) via the publishers.

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the author/publisher.

No AI Training: 

Without in any way limiting the author's exclusive rights under copyright, any use of this publication to 'train' generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text is expressly prohibited. The publishers and the authors reserve all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

This publication is entirely created by humans.

If you would like to join Gay Authors Workshop see How to Join GAW.

If you would like to submit a story for the next edition, please see HERE for more information.

The deadline is 30 June 2026.

If you'd like details of future writing workshops, or to join the mailing list, please contact Peter Scott-Presland.

Like what you see? Think you can do just as well – or even better? 

We always welcome feedback, comments, brickbats, suggestions, or large boxes of chocolates. If you want to talk to us or send us stories, please contact us. We're hungry for stories – as well as chocolates!

© Paradise Press & Gay Authors Workshop