The DLF Local Writing Prize

This year’s Hall and Woodhouse DLF Writing Prize is open for submissions until 20th March 2020. My novella Travelling in the Dark was lucky enough to win last year’s prize, which aims to bring to wider attention writing from or about the West Country.

The prize is open to book length submissions of works of fiction, non-fiction, or short stories published by a local independent publisher or self-published, from any writer based in Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall or with a close connection to those counties.

Further information and a submission form can be found here.

Kind sponsors Hall and Woodhouse, whose brewery was established in 1777, have been supporting writers in various ways over their many years of business. Thomas Hardy was apparently very fond of their famous Badger Beer.

Hall and Woodhouse DLF Writing Prize 2019

I am absolutely delighted that Travelling in the Dark has won this year’s Hall and Woodhouse DLF Writing Prize. The prize was set up in 2018 by Dorchester Literary Festival organisers Janet Gleeson and Paul Atterbury to celebrate writing from the West Country.

The £1000 prize was awarded by guest of honour Minette Walters at a ceremony held in the Duchess of Cornwall Inn, Poundbury, Dorset on 18 July 2019. My thanks to Lucinda Gray and Anthony Woodhouse of Hall and Woodhouse who kindly sponsor this award.

It was lovely to meet the other shortlisted writers and hear readings from their books. They were Susmita Bhattacharya for her short story collection Table Manners, Dee La Vardera for her work of non-fiction The Road to Civitella, and runner up Maria Donovan for The Chicken Soup Murder.

The DLF announcement can be found here.

July 2019

Landscapes of Mind and Memory, with Emma Timpany and Tom Vowler, Penzance Litfest, Friday 5 July

Emma and Tom will discuss how their fictional writings portray natural environments that are almost characters in themselves, creating complex ‘psychogeographies’ that reflect emotional and psychological landscapes, as well as investigating the unstable boundaries between past and present, and reality and fantasy

1pm to 2.30pm, St John’s Hall, Alverton St, Penzance. £4.00. Concessions available.

Cornish Short Stories nominated for a Holyer an Gof Award 2019, 10 July at Royal Cornwall Museum

Organised by the Gorsedh Kernow and now in its 23rd year, this award is for books by writers from Cornwall, about Cornwall or written in Cornish. There are many fine books amongst this year’s nominations.

Travelling in the Dark Shortlisted for the DLF Writing Prize, 18 July 2018

The other shortlistees are Dee La Vardera, Susmita Bhattacharya and Maria Donovan. The Award Ceremony, with guest Minette Walters, will take place at the Duchess of Cornwall, Poundbury, Dorset at 6pm.

June 2019

There are two lovely events taking place in June.

The Callington Book Fair will be held on Saturday 8 June from 10am to 3.30pm in Callington Town Hall. Entry is by donation to Cornwall Air Ambulance. The authors Lilian Henry, Anthony Fagin and Mark Simmons are also taking part along with a number of book dealers.

The following day, Sunday 9 June, Cornish Shorts is on at Greenway Literary Festival, Greenway House. From 2.30 to 3.30pm, Tom Vowler, Heather Norman and I will be discussing the importance of place in short stories. Admission charges apply.

May 2019

I’m delighted that Travelling in the Dark is on the long-list for the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2019. Now in its second year, the prize is for works of fiction and non fiction by writers from, or connected to, the South West.

Another book which is close to my heart is also on the long-list – Corpse Path Cottage by Margaret Scutt. Margaret was an accomplished author of two historical novels, but her crime novels failed to find a publisher during her life time. Set in the 1950s, an era it captures perfectly, Corpse Path Cottage was finally published last year more than six decades after it was written.

It’s just over a month until the inaugural Greenway Literary Festival. I’ll be discussing the importance of place in stories with Tom Vowler on Sunday 9 June at 2.30pm. Details here.

 

 

 

April 2019

On 9 June, Tom Vowler and I will be discussing the importance of place in short stories at the inaugural Greenway Literary Festival.

Greenway Literary Festival: Cornish Shorts

The Greenway Literary Festival is being held in honour of the ten year anniversary  of Agatha Christie’s former home being open to the public.
Cornish Short Stories: A Collection of Contemporary Cornish Writing celebrates its first year since publication on 2 April.

Cover design by Vita Sleigh and woodcut illustrations by Angela Annesley.

March 2019

My short story Flowers is Seren Short Story of the Month! You can read it here

Two lovely events are taking place this month.

St Piran’s Day, 5 March, Waterstones, Truro

Come along to Waterstones, Truro and celebrate St Piran’s Day with readings by Alan Robinson, Philipa Aldous, Cathy Galvin, Candy Neubert and Elaine White from Cornish Short Stories and an artist talk by our cover illustrator Vita Sleigh. This free event will take place upstairs in Café W from 12.30 to 1.30pm.

Reading Around the Fire, 9 March, The Gurnard’s Head Pub, near Zennor

Readings and talk by myself, Felicity Notley and Emma Staughton from Cornish Short Stories. I’ll also be speaking about, and reading from, Travelling in the Dark. Free event in the bar from 4-5.30pm.