National Writing Day fell on the longest and muggiest day of the year, but thankfully the Pimms flowed freely at Bromley House Library in Nottingham on Wednesday 21 June for the second Aurora Poetry and Fiction Prize Awards...
The evening, which drew a large audience, commenced with drinks in the walled garden before moving upstairs where strategically placed fans and wide-open windows were no match for the tropical heat.
Jacqueline Gabbitas from Writing East Midlands introduced the event, before handing over to judges Jacob Ross (fiction) and Penelope Shuttle (poetry). Both praised the high standard of entries and gave generous feedback on the winning stories and poems, offering insights into their decision-making and the process of long-listing and short-listing submissions.
In selecting the winning poems, Shuttle said they felt like poems that “needed to be written” and quoted Nottinghamshire writer D.H Lawrence, “If writing isn’t fun, don’t do it”. Shuttle commented that she was pleased to see The Stonewood Press Regional Writing Prize offered a particular opportunity for writers from the East Midlands to shine, as they are the people working to promote literature in their geographic area.
The event culminated in poetry and short story readings from the winning and commended writers, alongside Penelope Shuttle and Jacob Ross, who read from their newest titles. Despite the competition attracting international and national entries, Nottinghamshire writers were well represented in the final selection, with the evening featuring readings from Lynda Clarke, Panya Banjoko and Roberta Dewa among others.
You can read all the winning and commended poems and stories in a free online anthology, Cut the Clouds
The winning poems and short stories selected by judges Penelope Shuttle and Jacob Ross are:
Poetry
1st Prize: Valli Takes a Bath by Mab Jones
2nd Prize: Croissant by Peter Wallis
3rd Prize: Grains by A.F. Paterson
Stonewood Press Prize for Regional Writing: Fallopian Tubes on a Scan by Caroline Stancer
Highly Commended
Sphagnum Moss by Kerry Darbishire
A Place Called Solomon by Liz Lefroy
Ravens at the Tower by Jan Norton
The drum and the settlement by Caroline Gilfillan
Commended
Forecaster by Caroline Price
One of a Kind by Panya Banjoko
Bubble casting in the Kingdom of the Bears by Charlotte Baldwin
Something Like Dawn by Roberta Dewa
The Songbird by Maria Taylor
Mote by Mr Peacock
Short Fiction
1st Prize: Breathing Exercises by Caroline Price
2nd Prize: All the Young Dudes by Glenda Young
3rd Prize: Lust for Life by D.R.D Bruton
Stonewood Press Prize for Regional Writing: Hope, Endings and Salvation by Judith Cooper
Highly Commended
Selling Up by Karen Winyard
A Brief Meditation of Fear and the Cockroach by C. Hart
Pilgrimage by Alex Reece Abbott
Commended
Sidhe Wood by Lynda Clarke
Loving Icarus by Alex Reece Abbott
Rooting by C.S. Mee
Mentions
Short Fiction:
Daisy Banks by Sheila Blackburn
Mirror, Mirror by Rob Bray
Suicide Vending Machine by Thomas Welsh
The Tent Of Wonders by David C. Williams
Lucky by Caroline Gilfillan
Bouillabaisse by David Butler
Poetry:
Palette by Peter Broome
Mr Moby’s Plea by Mamie Wilkinson
My Damn Awake by Astra Bloom Mackay
Cyclops by Vikki Morley
Clutter by Pat Borthwick
Wallet by Peter Wallis
Her Kitchen by Barbara Cathcart
The Pail by Lucy Crispin
Waking by Judy O’Kane
Off Site Christmas Party by Ian Dudley
The Elephant by Roy Marshall
My Stepdad Drive Me Home Following His Second Round of Chemotherapy by Jake Reynolds
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide by Claire Williamson
No access by Margaret Wilmot
Bear by Pat Borthwick
Grasscutter, Framlingham Castle by Caroline Price
The Aurora Poetry and Short Fiction Open Competition 2017 Prize Awards took place at Bromley House Library in Nottingham, on Wednesday 21 June
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