Best of 2025?

So, it's that time of year already, and websites, magazines and literary organisations are preparing their best-of lists for 2025, even though there's two and a half months of the year left to go.

J.S. has selected her most enjoyed reads in 2025 (well, the first nine months of 2025, to be precise) 

for Shepherd. You can read about her three chosen reads here, though the photo below may give you a clue as to what she has selected.

They Came for Me At Dusk

A dark, one minute, horror flash fiction read, written by J.S.Watts and published by Dream Theory Media - They Came For Me At Dusk. Read for free here

An Easy Life

In the October issue (#20) of Corncrake Magazine you can find a new, between-the-wars, short story by J.S.Watts. Described as "a playful vignette of a socialite" by the magazine's editor, even a sweet cocktail can contain bitter undernotes. 

You can read An Easy Life by J.S. Watts via the magazines' website: https://corncrakemag.com/

A September Flurry of Poems

J.S. has a flurry of brand new poems falling into publication this month. First, it was Falling like Feathers in the month's issue of Acumen (# 113). Now it's two crisp new poems in #106 of The Frogmore Papers. The poems are Fen Shadow and Swimming Through a Hot Summer Night and they are in a pile of stunning poems in the September issue.

Acumen 113

J.S. has a new poem, Falling Like Feathers, in the September issue of Acumen, Issue 113. 

Royston Book Fair

 

J.S. is attending the Book Fair to sell and sign her books (both novels and poetry), plus she will be giving a short reading of her poetry at 13:20 on the day.

The fair, and the talks and readings, are all free. So, why not come along? You could also check out some of the other creative events taking place as part of this year's Royston Arts Festival.

High Window - Autumn 2025

The Autumn 2025 issue of The High Window is now available to read online. Everything can be accessed via the top menu: https://thehighwindowpress.com/

The reviews section includes a review by J.S. Watts of Malcolm Carson's poetry collection Winging It. Just scroll down from this link. It's the second review in.