International Short Story Competition

iStock_windmills.jpgWe are pleased to announce the results of the International Short Story Competition 2008 as judged by Baden Prince Jnr.

There are those who stubbornly believe that the short story is a dying art form.  The short story has no place amongst the literary heavy weights of the novel crunching brigade.  Well, may they all choke on their words as competitions like ours reveal adamantly that the short story is alive and thriving. 

Our story readers revelled in the task of reading and re-reading all the submissions entered and then selecting the short list for Baden's attention.  As always the quality of the entries received were extremely high making the job of choosing those stories that best captured the essence of an engaging tale so difficult. 

This year we will be featuring the story reader's favourites that didn't quite make the short list but nevertheless caught their attention and felt that the stories merited a mention.

A few of the short stories have been entered into the competition in previous years and this year some of those made it into the top fifteen and some were also featured in the shortlist.  We can only assume that these writers re-worked and edited their stories and have now been rewarded as such.

We will be featuring a new judge for this year's competition.  Again this is an opportunity to impress new eyes with imaginative and original pieces of work. Writing is an art form that improves not only with age but with editing and crafting the story till it is well honed and seamlessly put together.  It is always a pleasure to read your work in progress and wonderfully humbling to be in the presence of such fine writers. 

Without further ado we announce the winners:

First Place:

 

Julian’s Yearbook by Jendi Reiter

 

Joint Second Place: 

 

The Cuckoo by Katherine Webb

 

Joint Second Place:

 

Valentine by Charles Pither

 

Joint Third Place:

 

Death by a Thousand Melons by Jonathan Haylett

 

Joint Third Place:

 

A Touch by James Lawless

 

 

 

Runners Up:

 

Rescue by Kevin Chant

 

The Trains Still Run on Time by Anthony Scott

 

Basket Case, Off his Trolley by Manda Rigby

 

Scars by Christopher Vanier

 

Secrets by Dennis Bailey

 

Pretty Luana & All Her Colours by Fiona Thackeray

 

My Wedding Day by Tamim Sadikali

 

The Chipper by Laurel Remington

 

Kisses When She Speaks by Douglas Bruton

 

In Search of the Plank by Mary Masaba

 

 

Highly Recommended:

 

A Roman Night by Rebekah Caudwell

 

 

Honourable Mention:

 

Thirst by Merryn Glover

 

Submissions are accepted for the International Short Story Competition 2009 from Monday 1 September 2008.

For more information or enquiries, please contact us or call us direct on 0845 456 5364.