Allen Ashley

Collective on You Tube

Allen Ashley — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:45:21 +0000

I don’t do that much in terms of videos and recordings – I’m more of a turn-up and read on the spot kind of guy. But I’m also an experienced editor within the broad SFFH genre and I am delighted to be one of the contributors to a major new non-fiction book called “Collective – The Collaborative Art of the Anthology”, from the wonderful Luna Press. The editors are Dan Coxon and Pete Sutton. The focus is on illuminating all the work that goes into editing short story anthologies. Other contributors include Ellen Datlow, Anne VanderMeer, Paul Kane, Sophie Essex, Donna Scott AKA Donna Bond, Neil Williamson, Teika Marija Smits, Steve Shaw, Maxim Jakubowski, Mark Morris and Lee Murray. The official publication date is Saturday 10th October at Fantasy Con. Ahead of this, we have recorded a multi-author interview which is now available to view in full on You Tube.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu2RX8mgfTc

And you can purchase the book direct from Luna Press at:

https://www.lunapresspublishing.com/product-page/collective-the-collaborative-art-of-the-anthology

World of Myth special issue

Allen Ashley — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 15:20:36 +0000

I am very pleased to report that my poem “Flourish and Promise” has been published in the 150^th issue of “The World of Myth”. It is a piece that I wrote especially for this issue. Many thanks to editor Stephanie Bardy. Poem link: https://jayzomondarkmyth.com/darkmythproductions/theworldofmyth/150/poems/007.html

Stephanie has also made me the subject of this issue’s “Featured Article”. That latter details the reprinting of my story “Merlin’s Hole” from “The World of Myth” into “The Best British Science Fiction 2025”. Featured article link: https://www.jayzomondarkmyth.com/darkmythproductions/theworldofmyth/150/featured.html

Lastly, I am pleased to note that my friends Mangal, Tricia and Sultana have also been published in this issue. Great stuff.

Proud tutor

Allen Ashley — Sat, 23 May 2026 10:04:48 +0000

I took the callout for The Swaledale Literary Festival to my Enfield Town creative writing group and Bowes Spark Writers; I wrote prompts and offered guidance. I have just learnt that five of my writers have had poems published in the festival’s competition anthology “The Four Seasons anthology” and I am so proud of my writers for their achievements. What’s better than my own success as a writer? Success for the writers in my groups. Congratulations all round. Scroll down here if you’d like to download the anthology:

https://www.swalefest.org/stories/details/celebrating-the-four-seasons-poetry-call

In the new “Sein”

Allen Ashley — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:39:58 +0000

I am pleased to report that I have a story called “Allure of the Gorgon” published in the new issue of the wonderful “Sein und Werden” journal. The link will enable you to download the whole issue (for free), which includes work by several fantastic friends such as Stephen Oram, Robin Riback, Dharmavadana Penn, Mark Kirkbride, Marion Pitman, Rachel Kendall and Nick Jackson. Wow.

Verschränkung

London Calling!!!

Allen Ashley — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:12:36 +0000

I treated this callout for “Great Cities Vol II – London” as a personal mission, so I am pleased to say that my poem “The Other Waterloo” had been duly included. Phew! Glad to see my friend Tricia Waller also featured within. Have a look at:

London Great Cities Vol. 2

And if you are the Kindle type: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRSLZ792/

Sixth in the series published

Allen Ashley — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:26:54 +0000

I am the only person who could squeeze Covid, cakes, Procol Harum and The Traitors into the same film review! So, I’m very pleased to report that my article on “The Masque of the Red Death” has been published on the British Fantasy Society website. Huge thanks as ever to Blog editor Lauren McMenemy. Hope you all enjoy it.

Classic Genre Films: The Masque of the Red Death (1964)

First publication of 2026

Allen Ashley — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:33:27 +0000

I am happy to report that the fifth instalment in my “Classic Genre Films” series has been published online at The British Fantasy Society Blog. This time, I consider Francois Truffaut’s version of “Fahrenheit 451”. Thanks as ever to editor Lauren McMenemy. Enjoy!

Direct link to Classic Genre Films Five Fahrenheit 451 at BFS Blog

Classic Genre Films: Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

Flash fiction reprint

Allen Ashley — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:33:57 +0000

Every author loves to get reprinted. So, I’m pleased to say that my flash fiction “She long for bees” (319 words) has just been reprinted in “The World of Myth 144 – December 2025”. Link to read it is here:

https://jayzomondarkmyth.com/darkmythproductions/theworldofmyth/144/drabble/005.html

The piece previously appeared in “Dyst Journal #10” in 2022.

Classic Films

Allen Ashley — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:37:14 +0000

You might have seen that I am revisiting classic films for the British Fantasy Society Blog. My latest article is on the 1960 version of “The Time Machine” and the direct link is here:

Classic Genre Films: The Time Machine (1960)

Test run

Allen Ashley — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 13:45:41 +0000

OK, the test run seems to have worked so I will update fully over the next couple of days.