When Someone Believes in your Writing

There are days I wonder why I write at all, but I plough on nonetheless in my own self belief that this is what I want to do no matter what. Then out of the blue I get an email that one of my stories has been a runner up in the Willesden Herald International Short Story Competition and I get that rush of energy that says all is right with the world again.

When the judge is the esteemed Roddy Doyle who has considered it in the top three then I get the courage to keep going. I wish I had been able to travel to the Awards Ceremony on the night, especially as actors from the Liars' League read out extracts of the winning stories. My thanks to Silas Hawkins for bringing my story Frost Heave to the audience with great drama and pathos.

Thanks also to Stephen Moran for all his hard work in keeping me up to date on events. All those who were shortlisted get five copies of the book, and a handsome book it looks from the cover above.

Here you can listen to Silas reading the extract:

Frost Heave