Firstly, we want to thank all those amazing authors who have submitted stories for this year’s Short Story Competition, with the theme SECRETS. The standard was incredibly high, which made judging difficult - from creating a longlist, through shortlisting, and finally judging the shortlist to find the winning stories. All judging was anonymous.
The final three are (not in any particular order):
Secrets No More - Anka Troitsky. The Judging Team described Anka's short story as "refreshingly different, with a great handling of unlikeable protagonist" and called her writing "a notch above."
Short Story Prize finalist Anka Troitsky
The Visitor - Nadine Wiltshire. The Judging Team were in awe of Nadine's "spooky, moving, original" story, and added that it was "well handled, poignant and satisfying."
Short Story Prize finalist Nadine Wiltshire
Father Of Three - Jonathan Palmer. Jonathan's short story was "punchy and dark, poignant, and suspenseful". The Judging Team particularly liked the brevity of the prose, the build up of tension, and the satisfying ending.
Short Story Prize finalist Jonathan Palmer
The overall winner of the inaugural Frinton Literary Festival Robert Bucke Short Story Prize will be announced at our Afternoon Tea with Adele Parks MBE on Sunday 29th October.
Stories will be available to read after the festival.
Thank you to all the authors that took time to write and submit stories for this competition.
The Judging Team