We are very excited to bring you Issue 3 of Frazzled Lit, which is a special edition to celebrate a selection of the stories we received for the Frazzled Lit Short Story Award 2025.
We have our three winning stories for you, two of our finalists, three of our shortlistees, and a selection of the highly commended stories. As a bonus, we have my interview with Gary Finnegan, our First Place winner.
All in all, Issue 3 is a bumper feast of the finest short stories we have read in a very long time, and it is truly an honour to feature them here.
Okay, let’s dive in!
First Place Winner
Limbo Nights
by Gary Finnegan
Nuala described this wonderful story as ‘… a word-perfect gallop through the highs and lows of a post-Leaving Cert trip, and the swift transition from irresponsible child to semi-responsible adult-in-training. Great imagery and dialogue.’
Jennifer said: ‘Limbo Nights is a masterful story, set amid the painful transition between school and university. The characters are beautifully rendered, their conflicts real and palpable, their joys and tragedies vividly painted. A stellar performance by a writer who is clearly a master of his craft, and a story that will stay with me for a very long time to come.’
Second Place Winner
Silfra
by Jess Dolan
Nuala described Silfra as ‘… a skilled, atmospheric meditation on absence and violence, set against a stark, broody landscape. Twisty and sensual. Great, intriguing title, too.’
Jennifer said: ‘Silfra is compelling and mercurial, and the writer shifts effortlessly between present and past, action and consequences, apathy and hope. The language is gorgeous, the observations poignant and meaningful, and the central metaphor blew my mind. Mark my words: Jess Dolan is a writer worth watching!’
Third Place Winner
Amy’s Mom
by Emily Rinkema
Nuala described Amy’s Mom as ‘… a perfectly pitched, voice-lead story of the luck of the draw, where teen girls get a dose of reality, and try to cope with it. Charming, moving, and irreverent.’
Jennifer said: ‘Amy’s Mom is as heartwrenching as it is endearing. The writer uses a light touch, which is just perfect for this story, and by so doing, she renders her characters in glorious 3D. And the voice; oh my! This is sublime writing, and I simply adored it!’
Nuala’s Highly Commended Finalists
The Canal
by Seamus Scanlon
Nuala described The Canal as ‘… a love letter to Galway city and a mourning of lost youth, and lives without opportunity. A moving story, with great language flourishes.’
Jennifer said: ‘The witty, deadpan delivery of the protagonist, who wishes his mother had named him Oasis like she wanted to, sold me on this story. In the space of surprisingly few words, the writer conjures a world and a panoply of chararacters. The emotions are rich and finely balanced, and the quiet devastation of the ending is perfect!’
Slasher Dream #2
by Robyn Jefferson
Nuala described Slasher Dream #2 as ‘A breathless, elliptical riot of a story, stuffed with American pop culture and youthful posturing and longing.’
Jennifer said: ‘Slasher Dream #2 is a personal favourite from the competition, and I have read it many times purely for the pleasure of enjoying its clever construction. This is a truly imaginative story, fresh, original, and deeply affecting. I’ll be watching out for other work from this writer!’
Shortlisted Stories
Gluebag // Riley Johnston
A Fate Like Gallus // Mike Corbett
The Bunker // Aisling Owens
Our Highly Commended Stories
Invisible Measures // Mizuki Yamagen
Basslines of War // Mark Burrow
Finding Voice // Seamus Moran
Linger // Geraldine McCarthy
EXPERIENCE SHARING ACTIVATED // Alison Langley
Young Enough // Jo Gatford
Such wonders // Ruby Allen-Cadman
An herbarium, to press and preserve words no longer spoken // Helen Kennedy
This is the Thing // Mary Coleman
Menwith Hill // Judy Birbeck
Virtual Reality Is a lonely Place // Thomas Kiernan
And finally, a message from the Frazzled Lit team:
It was a total blast running the Frazzled Lit Short Story Award, reading all the wonderful submissions we received, wrangling over our choices and engaging with you all. We think we did something good here, something that was of service to, and enhanced, the wonderful literary community we share in. It’s important to us that we contribute something to the body literary, and that’s a mission we can only succeed at with the help and support of our contributors, readers, supporters and friends. So, we really mean this when we say it:
We love you guys!
Jennifer & Laura
Can’t wait to read this!
So many amazing stories in here. Congrats to all the winners!