Two Birmingham writers feature in the latest edition of the critically acclaimed national anthology Best British Short Stories.

The 2014 version will be launched at the Library of Birmingham on October 30 with the event and book dedicated to local author Joel Lane who died last year aged 50.

Mr Lane had just won a World Fantasy Award for his final collection of short stories and writers remembered his work as part of the recent Birmingham Literature Festival.

An exhibition of art and photography inspired by his writing will form part of the readings at the event.

Best British Short Stories 2014 aims to present the most exciting short fiction voices from the current literary scene.

Series editor Nicholas Royle scours online and print publications to find work by new and established British writers.

The Birmingham launch will feature Mr Lane's work, plus readings from the anthology by M John Harrison, and Birmingham authors Mick Scully and Louise Palfreyman.

Nicholas Royle will also be at the event to answer questions on the short story form and how to get published.

Mick Scully, whose latest novel The Norway Room was published in March, is part of Tindal Street Fiction Group and considers it a fitting tribute that Best British Short Stories is dedicated to Joel Lane this year.

"Joel was an astonishingly clever writer. He was a master of the short story, whether it be weird fiction, crime stories or the stark realities and struggles of everyday life," he said.

"The bleak poetic quality of his prose has been commented on by many since his death but in a lot of his writing shrewd, wry humour is never very far away."

Ms Palfreyman added: "Joel wrote so evocatively about the Midlands and his work roots you in places that would otherwise remain undiscovered.

"His collection The Lost District was the inspiration for a recent online competition encouraging artists and photographers to respond to his work.

"What resulted was a collection of powerful images and paintings that really capture the mood of his fiction."

The free event starts at 6.30pm and tickets are available online from www.libraryofbirmingham.com/bestbritishshortstories or 0121 245 4455.