Eek! Oooh! Aaaah! Were the sound effects in my house this morning when I found out I won the Foyles's Summer Scream Short Story Competition which I mention being shortlisted for the other day. Just being shortlisted felt like the biggest boost but to be told I'd won today was like a hug from the universe!
Author Sarwat Chadda was the head judge for the shortlisted stories and he's comments on my story were very uplifting and encouraging.
You can read my story on here on the Foyles website, and it will be on display in their Charing Cross flagship store (about which I am uber excited and sending my friend along with her camera!). I also get a hamper of goodies. But, it is the accolade, judges' feedback and encouragement that is the big prize to me.
The genre for this story was young adult horror/fantasy. Now, I love my horror/fantasy but had never considered the YA reader before, and this has really whetted my appetite. I think horror and fantasy can cross the age barrier far easier than many other genres, especially the more 'old fashioned' horror that I enjoy such as Gothic ghost stories. I adored Mark Gatiss's Crooked Houseon BBC4 a couple of Christmas ago (please can we bring back the tradition of Christmas ghost stories?!). I love to listen to genre on radio, tune in to BBC 7 as they have a great selection of classic and new fantasy and horror. I love comedy horror to chilling horror and everything in between. Give me The Munsters followed by The Shining and I am a happy girl. And yes, I happen to think Carry On Screaming is a classic.
nice one!
Posted by: Pete | 06 August 2010 at 08:02 PM
Thank you Pete :)
Posted by: Beki | 06 August 2010 at 08:19 PM
Very well done 8-)
Posted by: Trance Elbow | 10 August 2010 at 05:05 PM
Thank you
Posted by: Beki | 10 August 2010 at 08:53 PM