JS Apsley
The Long List

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"Immersion" – a woman becomes obsessed with Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali

Winner, Ringwood Publishing Short Story Contest, Published 9 January 2025

 

“Let the River Speak” – a man considers ending his life, but then the river speaks. Published by Lowlife Lit Press on 26 April 2025

 

“Smell is a Superpower” – a widower reflects on his wife’s ability to remember things by smell. Published by Lowlife Lit Press on 26 April 2025

 

"The Shape at the Finnieston Crane" – A police officer interviews a man with a very strange story. Published by Underside Stories on 1 May 2025

 

“Old Man” – a grandfather reflects on his love for his granddaughter. Published by Bright Flash Literary Review on 2 May 2025

 

"The Burned Man" – a story of terrible vengeance. Published by Trashlight Press on7 August 2025. Also performed by actor Val Cole via Wildsound Horror Festival, 5 May 2025. 

 

"Gleamers" - a Glaswegian vampire tale. Published by Suburban Witchcraft (Issue 9) on 15 June 2025.

 

"Another One of the Missing" - a hobbyist detective thinks she has solved a local murder. Published by Litbreak Magazine on 3 June 2025.

 

“The Last Free Wolf in Scotland” – a young man falls under the spell of a re-wilder. Published by Trashlight Press on 5 June 2025.

 

"The Shore at the End of the Black Lake" - an experimental science fiction story. Published by Bewildering Stories, 16 June 2025.

 

"The Last Conversation" - a speculative short story about two strangers at the end of the world, to be published by literary journal The Pointed Circle, from Oregon, US, Summer 2025.

 

"The Secret of Glasgow's Gold" - a comic, character driven short story about gold beneath George Square. Published by Litbreak Magazine 17 June 2025.

 

“Under Exam Conditions” – a graduate looking for Government work takes a very strange exam. Published by Muleskinner Journal (Issue 14), 1 July 2025.

 

“All the Dead Beasts” – a nightclub PR checks out an unusual location for a new venue. Published by Flash Phantoms on 1 July 2025.

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“Dustworld” – a dystopian science fiction crime story, published by Corner Bar Magazine, 1 August 2025.

 

“Auld Sneaky” – a couple retreating from loss in a small fishing village discover it is hiding a dark secret. Published in Tales of the Unreal, 2 August 2025.

 

“Government Business” – an old man watches some strange goings on at the old Dixon Blazes. Published by MiniMAG, 1 August 2025 (Issue 161), and was performed live at the Flash Fiction Forum in San Diego on 13 August 2025.

 

“Bright Pools of Solace” – a man contemplates the fate of his neighbour. Published by Sudden Flash, 6 August 2025.

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"Destroyer of Worlds" - the creator of all life destroys all worlds - all but one. Published by Paragraph Planet, 11 August 2025.

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"We Choose to Dare" - a micro fiction piece about mortality. Published by Loft Books (Issue VII), 21 August 2025.

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"I'll Always have my Boys" - a retired policeman is haunted by his past. Published by The Orange Rose Lit Magazine, 22 August 2025

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“The Last Letter of Papa Pat” – a woman finds a hidden letter written to her by her grandfather after he dies. To be published in MiniMAG, 29 August 2025 (Issue 165).

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“Imprints” – a woman promises vengeance on her attacker. Published by Lilomul Journal, 1 September 2025.

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“Troll” – a man reaches a bitter conclusion. Published by Sudden Flash, 10 September 2025

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“Home and Away” – a story about dementia and dialect. To be published by Scottish literary magazine Causeway/Cabhsair, 1 October 2025.

 

"Jenny Greenteeth" - a crime/fantasy tale about missing children and an old folk tale, set in Glasgow. To be published by Necessary Fiction: Spooky Stories, on 8 October 2025.

This story will also be performed on the North American Podcast "Tales to Terrify" in Winter 2025.

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“A Black Water Adventure” - a young adult fantasy story, will be published by Spaceports & Spidersilk, October 2025.

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“The Glasgow Ghoul”, a horror story set at ‘the Shows’ of 1990. Will

be published by Fiction on the Web on 27 October 2025

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“Margot Morgana” - a man strikes a bargain with a fortune teller who claims she can take his fears away, will be published by Flora Fiction early November 2025. 

 

"Salvage" - a dystopian science fiction story, will be published November 2025 by literary journal The Colored Lens, based in Fort Worth, Texas, US.

 

"The Thunderbird of Ailsa Craig" - a poignant story about loss and mystery, to be published by the Brussels Review literary magazine, Autumn/Winter 2025.

 

“The Night Crew” – a pulp horror short story, will be published by Lowlife Lit Press, Autumn/Winter 2025.​

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"Needle's Eye" - a modern Scottish supernatural tale, will be published in December 2025 by Tampa Bay, US, based literary journal Creation, Winter 2025.

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"Sandy Bane" - a rock band plays an exclusive gig for a MC in remote Scottish woods, and get more than they bargained for. To be published by Mobius blvd, Winter 2025.

 

"God of Soil - Trilogy" - a three-part novella which will be published by specialist horror magazine Lovecraftiana across their April, August and October issues in 2026.

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"Mister Coincidence" - a strange tale of fortune and misadventure, will be published by Shlock! in June 2026.