Tag Archives: Publication

Poems Published in Cable Street Press: Issue 9

Four of my poems have been published in the marvellous Summer Edition of Cable Street Press, Issue 9.

A word from the editor on Issue 9:

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Sage Flowers, Marigolds.

Bastille Day has come and with it, the explosion of writing and art that is the latest Cable Street Issue. I’ll be frank with you—every issue blows my mind. I see all the pieces one by one and they are surprising, delightful, shocking, thought provoking. But then they all come together, and each and every time, I’m moved by the web of art in conversation that is created...And these are only some of the many treasures of this issue. Storm into this tower at your own speed, making sure to check out the poetry of F.C. Malby and Roberta Schultz…There is plenty to enjoy on this Bastille Day weekend.

— Hardy Griffin for the editors

Poems by F C Malby

My poems, Crossing, I Have Already Gone, Moths, and Where Have All the Birds Gone feature a range of themes, including the contentious issue of immigration. Through Crossing, I wanted to give a voice to the voiceless; this is a particularly exigent issue.

Crossing

I line up with other bedraggled bodies,
some look as though they might be dying,

others carry the weight of grief. I watched
a child slip away while we waited yesterday,

saw the life leave its lungs, the mother clung
to its body, tears wet the child’s face. It’s not

pretty, it’s worse than they tell you. I don’t
know whether we will make it or whether

we might be taken back. I don’t speak
the language, few of us do. It matters.

The look on the guard’s faces is difficult
to read, tells me they’ve seen so much

of this. None of us know what to do or
what’s next. Clothes dry on a makeshift

line between tents, next to plastic bags
of what we have left after the police take

anything else. Some of us camp under
bridges, avoiding the boulders that stop

us settling on softer ground. We wait for
the next boat, for a better life. The

mother is still holding the child. We
wait. Some of us won’t make it.

Read my other three poems here.

Exciting News: Four Poems to be published in Cable Street Literary Journal

I’m thrilled to have an acceptance of four poems to be published in International Literary Journal, Cable Street, in July. They only publish work three times a year, so I’m happy that my poems have found their way into this wonderful journal. I don’t know about you, but I love a backstory, so I thought I’d share a little about the publishers ahead of the publication.

CABLE STREET


“We are, first and foremost, an international, online journal fostering exchange among writers and readers of many languages. We post new issues three times a year: on or about May 1, Bastille Day, and Thanksgiving.

Our name reflects the essence of our journal: a festival of communication across nations and traditions, a chance to wander the byways of art from many hands and many lands. 

Cable Street is a road in London’s East End. It takes its name from the ships’ cables once made there—cables that traveled the world on British fleets. A place enlivened, then and now, by the dozens of languages spoken by sailors, traders, and immigrants. A place where, in 1936, a coalition of antifascists took a stand against the British Union of Fascists, turning back the tide of repression and ethnocentric dominion.

Like our namesake thoroughfare, Cable Street embraces the human family in its multitude of cultures.“

Photo credit: Cable Street Journal, Cable Street, London

More news in July!

Review copies have arrived!

Opening a hard copy of your work is always a thrill. This is my fourth book (or seventh, nearly eighth, if you count the anthologies which include my work) and my second anthology of short stories; and it’s no less exciting. These are review pre-publication copies to go out to reviewers. I can’t wait to share my stories with you. Many have been placed in competitions and published in international journals, and many are new to this collection.

This collection covers themes of relationships and memory, exploring what happens when memory fails. It looks at beginnings and endings, weaving through themes of generations, family, uncertainty, and what happens when experiences change us. I’m looking forward to hearing what might resonate with you and to discovering how these stories land.

I have dedicated two stories to those who are no longer with us: one to my dear friend, Meriel, gone too soon, and the other is in memory of Sarah Everard. These stories are important to me because their memories must live on. If you’d like to read more about what inspired these stories and much of my writing, you can read more in this recent post.

While you’re here, don’t forget to find out about these two wonderful bookshops in Italy. Also, you can sign up to my mailing list for pre-publication news and subscriber bonuses, and follow me on social media and subscribe to my blog at the bottom of this post. Thanks for journeying with me. Drop a comment below and tell me a little about yourself. Are you a book lover? What do you enjoy reading?

Five Minute Literary Magazine – Forthcoming Publication

Five Minutes features micro-memoirs, hundred-word pieces about five minutes in a life. I’m thrilled to share the wonderful news that my short story, ‘Cellophane Wrapped,’ about the controversy and conscience around eating meat, has been accepted by Five Minute Lit and will be published in February 2024.

Reading team comments included “kept me thinking after” and “witty, relevant, well-written.”

They have also invited me to be an editorial reader for future submissions in 2024. I will share the publication once it is published at Five Minute Lit. You can read some of their micro stories online and read Karen Zey’s useful article, The Art and Craft of Writing Micro.

Dead Drop – Book group visit and reviews

This week I was invited to a book group to discussion about my latest book, Dead Drop, published by Linen Press in October. The Q&A session was interesting with lots of interesting questions from readers. A few people asked whether there would be a sequel. Several people said that they had explored more information about the paintings, or visited Vienna, after reading the book. Many shared that they loved the descriptions of the city, the changing seasons, the cafe culture and details about the art and artists, as well as the history.

Some readers asked how Leisl had managed her conscience while stealing priceless works of art and why she had a moral dilemma as the story unfolded. Others wanted to know about the transfer of art to and from galleries, and about my research and writing processes. Many people are unaware of the sheer volume of priceless art which remains missing from galleries. I discussed global art theft, as well as the Art Loss Register and the FBI Art Crime Team.

I also want to share some wonderful recent reviews from readers:

BARNES AND NOBLE –

Jomaghs

5 stars A descriptive masterpiece

“I usually speed read books and whizz through them in no time at all but this book was different. The descriptions were so detailed and captivating that I needed/wanted to take my time and savour every page. It’s beautiful and intriguing at the same time…Couldn’t put it down.”

AMAZON –

Andrea Barton

5.0 out of 5 stars A nail-biting thriller that makes you think Reviewed in Australia on June 19, 2023

“Dead Drop, by F.C. Malby, is a nail-biting thriller that makes you think. Liesl loves her solitary life as an art thief in Vienna, thriving on bursts of adrenaline from rehoming valuable artwork based on clandestine instructions from her illusive employer. But when one of her contacts ends up dead, she realises that she, too, may be in danger.
Dead Drop demonstrates that even art thieves have morals, and I found myself questioning the ethics of art ownership.”

Shal Buy

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 May 2023

“A very enjoyable read, I quickly warmed to the main character, Liesl and her involvement in the main plot. Keen to unfold the mystery, didn’t put the book down until I had finished it!”