Herefordshire and Wye Valley Life short story comp winners

Winners of the Short Story Competition run in National Short Story Week, November 2012, have now been published in the March edition of Herefordshire and Wye Valley Life. The standard of entries was excellent and we had a difficult time deciding on the winners. We had a shortlist of 9 from which we selected the top three.

 

Helping to run and judge the competition was a privilege and great fun. Reading the stories, which were both varied and entertaining, was an added bonus.  

 

The winner, Rainbow Ride by Jennifer Holland is a lovely story set in Herefordshire. Judges comment:

 

‘Rainbow Ride captures the reader in the first paragraph. The child's voice is authentic and the characters skilfully portrayed. The comparison between God and Mr Hope in the child's mind is beautifully interwoven throughout. The dialogue, particularly in the playground scene, is realistic. This is a warm, believable story that left me with a smile on my face.'

 

2^nd place: Ancient and Modern by Arianne Forrester

‘Well written, a story that the reader can relate to, with an endearing ending.’

 

3^rd place: Following the Hunt by Campbell Page

‘Excellent Herefordshire dialogue; it captures a true picture of the old-timers that follow the hunt.’

 

All three stories can be read on the magazine’s website: www.herefordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk

Fay Wentworth
http://faywentworth.wordpress.com