Over 1800 entries received
Submissions were judged anonymously
Winner to be voted for by public at www.costabookawards.com and announced at Costa Book Awards ceremony
Voting opens today and closes at midday on Wednesday 23rd January 2013
Tuesday 27th November 2012: Voting has opened today for the inaugural Costa Short Story Award; a brand new Award for a single short story that is run in association with the Costa Book Awards but judged independently of the main five-category system.
The general public is now invited to vote for its favourite from the shortlist of six stories which can be downloaded either to read or listen to from www.costabookawards.com/short-stories/shortlist.
Over 1800 entries were received in this new competition, open to both published and unpublished writers, for a single, previously unpublished short story of up to 4,000 words by an author aged 18 years or over and written in English.
All entries were judged anonymously (ie without the identity of the author being available to the judges) by a panel of five: Richard Beard, Director of the National Academy of Writing; Fanny Blake, novelist, journalist and Books Editor of Woman & Home magazine; actor and writer Gary Kemp, songwriter and guitarist for Spandau Ballet; writer Victoria Hislop; and Simon Trewin, agent at William Morris Endeavor.
The judges have selected the following six stories which are now available to read and listen to at www.costabookawards.com/short-stories/shortlist. They are:
1. Dislocation
2. Don't Try This At Home
3. Millie and Bird
4. Mown Grass
5. Small Town Removal
6. Trompette de la Mort
The identities of the winning author and two runners-up will be revealed at the Costa Book Awards ceremony on Tuesday 29thJanuary 2013, when the winner will receive £3,500 and the two runners-up will each receive £750.
“It’s fantastic to have received so many entries for this new Award and to see so much great short story writing talent out there,” commented Kevin Hydes, Marketing Director, Costa UK. “It’s been a fascinating process so far and now comes the exciting part - the outcome of this competition is in the public’s hands, so we’re encouraging everyone to read all the stories and cast their vote!!”
The Costa Book Awards recognise the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. Originally established by Whitbread PLC in 1971, Costa announced its takeover of the sponsorship of the UK’s prestigious and popular book prize in 2006.
For more information on this year’s Costa Book Awards, go to www.costabookawards.com.