MLF and the Manchester Writing School at MMU are delighted to present this gala event to celebrate the international Manchester Fiction Prize for best new short story. The evening will feature readings from the six shortlisted entrants and the distinguished judges – John Burnside, Alison MacLeod and Nicholas Royle – before the winner, who receives £10,000, is announced. John Burnside is the award-winning author of 12 books of poetry, six novels, two memoirs and a short story collection, Burning Elvis. Alison MacLeod received the 2008 Society of Authors’ award for short fiction and her collection Fifteen Modern Tales of Attraction was one of the ‘top ten books to talk about’ on World Book Day 2009. Nicholas Royle has published five novels and more than 100 short stories, and has edited 14 collections including The Best British Short Stories 2011.