Ailsa Cox

@ailsacox.bsky.social

370 followers 370 following 130 posts

Writer and critic, Emerita Professor of Short Fiction at Edge Hill University UK.
Short stories, Precipitation, https://www.confingopublishing.uk/
https://www.routledge.com/Writing-Short-Stories-A-Routledge-Writers-Guide/Cox/p/book/9781032582481. .. more

Videos

Art 45%

Communication & Media Studies 23%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 16h

Tonight! @ensfr.bsky.social @intellectbooks.bsky.social
ensfr.univ-angers.fr/event/materi...

Event: Materiality in the Short Fiction of Alice Munro: Special Issue Launch

This launch event celebrates the publication of a new Short Fiction in Theory and Practice special issue which critically examines materiality in the short fiction of Alice Munro (1931-2024). Throu…

ensfr.univ-angers.fr

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Fly on the Wall Press @flyonthewallpress.bsky.social · 1d

Just over a week until short story collection submissions close!
Then we will have a month of reading - before novel and novella submissions open :)

www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/manuscript-s...

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Paul McAuley @unlikelyworlds.bsky.social · 3d

@jonathangibbs.bsky.social 's A Personal Anthology project now features over 300 guest editors. I'm honoured to be the latest -- my selection of 12 stories that have taken up permanent residence in my head can be found here:

A Personal Anthology, by Paul McAuley

‘A Way Home’ by Theodore Sturgeon (First published in Amazing Stories, 1953.

apersonalanthology.substack.com

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 7d

Congratulations Livi! Looking forward to the launch @blackwellsmcr.bsky.social

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Livi Michael @livimichael.bsky.social · 7d

Publication Day!
livimichael.co.uk/2026/02/08/p...
@clairedean.bsky.social
@xanbrooks.bsky.social @uniofmanchester.bsky.social
@saltpublishing.com @nicholasroyle.bsky.social
@ailsacox.bsky.social @dickenssociety.bsky.social
@eilzabethgaskellsh.bsky.social
@polyscribe70.bsky.social

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 19d

Pre-ordered my @elizabethbaines.bsky.social @confingopublishing.bsky.social

Elizabeth Baines @elizabethbaines.bsky.social · 19d

My author copies arrived

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Elizabeth Baines @elizabethbaines.bsky.social · 19d

My author copies arrived

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 20d

Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp.

To commemorate, we’re sharing a small selection of survivors’ stories from our collection – voices preserved in memory and testimony.

Read here: link.bl.uk/hij

An illustrated manuscript of a single candle on a table.

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 22d

Echoes of Jay Kelly, but this is a better film. And there are funny bits...honestly there are.....

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social · 22d

Finally saw Sentimental Value. I want to watch this again, but there are parts of it that I really don't want to have to sit through, for that to happen.

boxd.it/cP0VmD

A ★★★★½ review of Sentimental Value (2025)

Something of a gruelling watch. I only realised afterwards how tense I'd been in the cinema. Tense, I suppose, because I knew it was going to put me through the wringer (similar to Matthias Glasner's ...

boxd.it

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 22d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My home town, top of the league every time.

Walsall residents respond to a survey naming it the most deprived town in the UK - BBC News

Walsall residents respond to reports living there is like "an episode of Shameless".

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Livi Michael @livimichael.bsky.social · 22d

livimichael.co.uk/2026/01/20/w...
@onpolitics.news @clairedean.bsky.social
@xanbrooks.bsky.social @uniofmanchester.bsky.social
@saltpublishing.com @nicholasroyle.bsky.social
@ailsacox.bsky.social @dickenssociety.bsky.social
@eilzabethgaskellsh.bsky.social

Reposted by Michael Larkin, Ailsa Cox

Carol-Anne Lennie @carolannelennie.bsky.social · 24d

A message from Eliza Carthy about her dad, #MartinCarthy

A message from Eliza Carthy-
"Dear everyone, A month ago, Martin, at 84, was diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimers Disease. While his doctor initially suggested that Dad would and should be able to tour in the Spring, and we were hoping to use the tour to say goodbye0 to Dad's many fans, it now appears that this won't be possible or advisable for his health Dad sends his love and regrets to everyone hoping to see him one more time. Eliza will fulfil these shows, and will try to honour his legacy as much as possible. Our family thanks you for your patience and love."

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Wild Hunt Books @wildhuntbooks.bsky.social · 28d

Wild Hunt Books are seeking short stories (1500-5000 words) for our upcoming anthology, Modern Decadent. The anthology embraces the fin de siècle literary and arts of the decadents & more

Submissions are now open and close on 1st February 2026, 20:00 GMT 🖤

www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog/now-ope...

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · 29d

Good news for Scottish writers. Kirsty Gunn's also a great short story writer, former winner of @edgehillprize.bsky.social.

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 29d

ICYMI: A new publisher called North House Press has been founded by David Graham, formerly of BT Batsford, Pavilion and Canongate Books, and award-winning novelist Kirsty Gunn 👇 #BookSky

New publisher North House Press founded to 'engage in the culture of Scotland'

ebx.sh

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 29d

ICYMI: A new publisher called North House Press has been founded by David Graham, formerly of BT Batsford, Pavilion and Canongate Books, and award-winning novelist Kirsty Gunn 👇 #BookSky

New publisher North House Press founded to 'engage in the culture of Scotland'

ebx.sh

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social · Jan 16

Hey, cool cats! This is to let you know that A Personal Anthology is back, baby! Yes: back! Back! BACK!

Today's anthology features a dozen favourite short stories picked and introduced by Mike Fox (@polyscribe70.bsky.social), and hits inboxes at 2pm.

Sign up here, and RT if you already subscribe!

About - A Personal Anthology

A weekly guest-editor picks and introduces a personal anthology of twelve favourite short stories. Click to read A Personal Anthology, by Jonathan Gibbs, a Substack publication with thousands of subsc...

apersonalanthology.substack.com

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Jan 15

My thoughts exactly, remembering how hard I used to be on students who use Wikipedia. At least it wasn't AI scraping my books and garbling them.

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · Jan 15

Out today! Meet Alexander Manshel, Associate Professor of English at McGill University. How is contemporary short fiction in America influenced by the people and institutions that contribute to its production, circulation, and reception? Listen here to find out:

www.spreaker.com/episode/the-...

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · Jan 13

How is contemporary short fiction in America influenced by the people and institutions that contribute to its production, circulation, and reception? Stay tuned to find out! Alexander Manshel is Associate Professor of English at McGill University in Montreal (Canada).

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Jan 12

Tonight @ensfr.bsky.social

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Jan 7

Join me online next Monday for an @ensfr.bsky.social chat about this great book, with Michael Basseler, Michael Collins and Andrea Marzocchi @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social.

Event: Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories’ 50th Anniversary Roundtable

Join us as we honour the enduring legacy of Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories (1976), a landmark work that reshaped how we read, teach, and think about short fiction. This special event …

ensfr.univ-angers.fr

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · Jan 9

Do come along on Monday 12th January to this online event to honour the enduring legacy of Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories (1976)!

It’s a true honour to be part of this event together with @ailsacox.bsky.social, Michael Basseler and Michael Collins!

ensfr.univ-angers.fr/event/charle...

Event: Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories’ 50th Anniversary Roundtable

Join us as we honour the enduring legacy of Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories (1976), a landmark work that reshaped how we read, teach, and think about short fiction. This special event …

ensfr.univ-angers.fr

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Jan 8

Congratulations! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Jan 7

Join me online next Monday for an @ensfr.bsky.social chat about this great book, with Michael Basseler, Michael Collins and Andrea Marzocchi @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social.

Event: Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories’ 50th Anniversary Roundtable

Join us as we honour the enduring legacy of Charles E. May’s Short Story Theories (1976), a landmark work that reshaped how we read, teach, and think about short fiction. This special event …

ensfr.univ-angers.fr

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

confingopublishing.bsky.social @confingopublishing.bsky.social · Dec 29

‘“The Hands” moves from the slightly mysterious to the downright sinister’ - Anna Aslanyan reviews Paris Fantastique by @nicholasroyle.bsky.social for @thetls.bsky.social

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Dec 24

There was a great production once at the Royal Exchange in Manchester with David Threlfall. Hoping some one has bought me tickets for his King Lear @rxtheatre.bsky.social

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · Dec 24

Long dismissed by the French intellectual class, the author of Count of Monte Cristo is enjoying a revival as TV, film and theatre embrace his work

Swashbuckling Dumas has last laugh over elite

Long dismissed by the French intellectual class, the author of Count of Monte Cristo is enjoying a revival as TV, film and theatre embrace his work

www.thetimes.com

Ailsa Cox @ailsacox.bsky.social · Dec 24

Want to hear a story? www.spreaker.com/episode/smal...

www.spreaker.com

Reposted by Ailsa Cox

A Small, Good Thing @smallgoodpodcast.bsky.social · Dec 24

Out today!

Looking for a festive treat? Listen to this very special episode with twelve authors reading their own stories!

www.spreaker.com/episode/smal...