# Misheard Fiction

> Misheard Fiction is the author website of Karen Heard (the fiction pen name of Karen Sheard), a London-based, award-winning writer of dark literary fantasy and a theatre director. The site offers free short stories to read online, an overview of her writing and theatre work, and a record of her publishing credits and awards.

Karen Heard writes literary fiction with a dark fantasy sensibility: psychological, conceptual, uncanny, and often laced with humour, turning abstract questions into characters, worlds and places. She has published short fiction across a range of horror and fantasy anthologies and is currently completing her debut novel, a work of dark literary fantasy. Alongside prose she works as a theatre director and trained dramaturg (trained at Royal Holloway with practitioners associated with the Royal Court, the National Theatre, Forest Fringe and Goat Island), and professionally as a content and SEO manager.

## Main pages

- [Home](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/): Introduction to Karen Heard and an overview of her fiction and theatre work.
- [About](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/about_karen_heard/): Biography and background, including her training, her move from prose into theatre, and how the two disciplines inform each other.
- [Writing](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_by_karen_heard/): A selection of short fiction, published books and anthologies, and magazine journalism, with links to read online and on Amazon.
- [Theatre](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/theatre_work_karen_heard/): Past theatrical productions directed by Karen, with production images and director's notes.
- [Awards and Credits](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_credits_karen_heard/): A full list of writing awards, competition wins and publication credits.
- [Contact](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/contact_karen_heard/): How literary agents, theatres and collaborators can get in touch.

## Awards and competition recognition

- [The Cold Face of the Mountain](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_credits_karen_heard/): short story, winner of the Toasted Cheese Literary Journal competition.
- [Itch](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_credits_karen_heard/): short story, award winner in the Twisted 50 (Create 50) competition, published in Twisted 50: Contemporary Shockers.
- [The Guardians of Misty Head](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_credits_karen_heard/): short story, honourable mention in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest.
- [The Longest Night](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/writing_credits_karen_heard/): short story, shortlisted in the Globe Soup Genre Smash competition.

## Theatre productions

- [Frankenstein](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/stage-play-creation-frankenstein/): Nick Dear's adaptation, directed by Karen Sheard at Tower Theatre / Theatro Technis.
- [Educating Rita](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/stage-play-creation-educating-rita/): Willy Russell's two-hander, directed by Karen Sheard at Network Theatre.
- [The Lion in Winter](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/stage-play-creation-the-lion-in-winter/): James Goldman's drama, directed by Karen Sheard (upcoming) at Hampton Hill Theatre.
- [Let Us Make the Flames of the Revolution Rage Furiously](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/stage-play-creation-let-us-make-the-flames-of-the-revolution-rage-furiously/): new writing by Tom Pauk, directed by Karen Sheard for Saw It Here First Productions at Theatro Technis.

## Stories to read online

- [Out of Order](https://www.misheardfiction.co.uk/out-of-order-short-story-by-karen-heard/): a free dark short story by Karen Heard, available to read online.

## Find author online

- [Author page on Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Karen-Heard/author/B0089ANS7U): books and short fiction by Karen Heard, including the collection It's Dark Inside.
- [Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/17559609-it-s-dark-inside): reader reviews and ratings for It's Dark Inside.