Some exciting news to share…more in writing updates :-)

In this month’s newsletter I’m sharing a story I performed at the recent Southside Festival as part of the Frankston Writer’s Salon. I hope you have as much fun reading the story as I had writing it!

Stella stood amongst her small band of vigilantes. 

‘We’re in position,’ she whispered into her walkie talkie which hissed and crackled in response. ‘Moving up Balmoral Street now.’

‘Roger that,’ came a broken voice.

Stella glanced at the group who nodded their readiness. She switched on her head torch and waved a hand forwards, her shock of short spiky grey hair shining faintly in the moonlight. Further behind, the news crew followed a respectable distance behind. Stella strode down the dim laneway oblivious to the hum of cars and sirens that gave the night an eerie quality, her eyes fixed on one building.

The Bayside Shopping Mall’s South Car Park entrance was transformed from a dull grey into a mural depicting a path leading through a mass of forest green, its vanishing point suggesting a place of peace, and rest. Stella ran her torch over the artwork and sighed.

‘The best of this year’s Art as Protest Festival,’ said a voice from behind.

Stella nodded. Then the walkie talkie crackled, breaking the moment.

‘Stella,’ it burbled. ‘Come in Stella.’

Stella held the walkie talkie to her mouth.

‘Receiving. Over.’

‘You’d better come here.’

‘Roger that.’

Stella swung her torch into the crowd. Their grim expressions gave her pause.

‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘He’s not going to beat us.’

The group parted as Stella strode down Clyde Street Mall and along the ‘Mall of Fame’ where the mural continued, its tendrils weaving their way downwards to the street.

‘Where’re you going?’

The reporter, a fresh-faced young woman, hurried along side Stella.

‘There’s been another incident.’

‘And you’re hoping to catch him?’

‘Absolutely. As you can see, we’ve pooled all our resources to catch this fiend.’

‘Some people say he’s done you a favour.’

Stella screeched to a halt.

‘What d’you mean, favour?’

The reporter teetered over Stella on heels too impossible for the dark streets of Frankston.

‘Look around you. Your town’s the talk of the nation thanks to —‘

‘Thanks to our fabulous artists, their murals, our festival.’

‘Yes, but —‘

‘But nothing. This is a criminal we’re talking about, a glorified tagger. I allowed you to come to showcase our incredible festival, not to give a platform to an obnoxious delinquent who vandalises our beautiful artwork, like this so called —‘

‘Frankston Banksy.’

‘Right.

‘What d’you say to the allegation the Frankston Banksy’s been targeting your group and you in particular?’

Stella opened her mouth but just then the walkie talkie spat to life.

‘Stella.’

‘Righto. I mean, Roger. I mean Over.’

‘We’re here.’

Stella looked up to see the other half of the vigilantes arriving. She hurried over. The news cameras whirred. The reporter’s heels click-clacked.

‘We missed him,’ said the leader of the other group.

The crowd groaned then gasped as Stella’s torch flicked over the mural and paused, where a collection of freshly stencilled worms stared out. Each worm had a shot of spiked grey hair and wore an expression of shock.

‘There,’ said the reporter. ‘Zoom in on Stella. Cut from her face to the worms and back. See if you can catch the same expression.’

The cameras whirred. The walkie talkies buzzed and zapped. The vigilantes whispered while Stella stood as if frozen. Only her torch shook.

The reporter sidled up to Stella.

‘What d’you say now.’

Stella snapped her head up and stared straight into the camera.

‘You’re right,’ she said, forcing a smile. ‘I can’t unmask the Frankston Banksy but if you’re watching this, why don’t you come down to Frankston and see if you can catch him? Even if you don’t, you’re sure to have a magical time looking at all the artwork, especially the Stella Worms, thanks to our very own Frankston Banksy.’

Stella’s smile faded to a grimace as she turned to the reporter.

‘Got all that?’ 

‘Roger that,’ the reporter nodded. ‘Received and understood.’

So proud to have had my short story ‘Dancing in Spain’ awarded a Highly Commended in this year’s Stringybark competition.

I received a copy of the ebook short story collection in which my story features (‘Thanks for Asking’) and I have to say, the book looks great!

Stringybark have kindly provided authors with a code to share so you can buy a copy for yourself at a discount of 25%. The coupon code is GLWAE and is good for as many uses as you wish but please note it expires on 31 July 2026.

Printed copies are available at the normal rate and can be ordered via the Bookshop. 

The story is special to me because of my long time love of Flamenco, and of Granada in Southern Spain. I’d love it if you bought yourself a copy :-)

I’ve also had success in the US which feels very special. I sent off a piece of flash fiction to a literary magazine called ‘Bottle Rocket’ and they kindly published my story, calling it ‘wonderful’. Needless to say, that feedback gave me a huge boost.

You can read the story by clicking on this link:

AWAKENING by Jacqueline Hodder

I’ve had a lot of fun attempting to write poetry over the past few months.

The Flight of the Bar-tailed Godwit poetry project has certainly inspired me to express myself by writing poems. I’ve found the experience a real challenge but wonderfully liberating too.

I may have some great news to share about a poetry submission soon. Stay tuned :-)

You may remember that I set a goal of 100 rejections by the end of the year.

The aim is to increase the number of submissions I make as well as to dilute some of the sting which comes with multiple rejections.

My project is going very well!

So far I am on track to meet the mini-target of 50 rejections by the end of June, with 40 rejections so far and I am well on the way to reaching 100 by December.

The project may seem counterintuitive but I have to say, my hit rate has improved slightly (4 acceptances/competition win versus 2 for all of 2025).

I read an article recently about the 100 rejections method and really appreciated the extra insight into how this strategy can help a writer understand the literary landscape they’re entering.

Trying to keep it real here 😁

Until next time,