Big congrats to all who entered – thanks for making it a good one.

x

Jamieson Wolf – Honey, I’ve read your post and tweet, so I know how you feel about it all. Getting it down to that final 35 was truly difficult and the shortlist was hugely impressive. I don’t know if that just sounds patronising and I don’t mean it to, I’m simply expressing that there were a huge number of submitted stories that were good enough to be published.

Katie McCullough – the lack of brief delighted me and the range of stories is impressive. I feel very lucky to be involved in such an exciting project and to have my name linked to it all is very fabulous. The end collection is everything that I hoped I’d find. Yay!

Kelly Railton – Hi Kelly and thanks for your lovely comment! It seems that there is a real mix of established names and ‘first time being published’ people, which is very exciting! Your comment and story has really made me smile and reminded me why I wanted to be involved in this project – thank you! The Tonto collections have such a good reputation and I have high hopes for this one but, for the record, Stu was the one wearing Sinitta palm leaves – he has the figure for it

DJ Kirkby – thank you honey x

xxx

I saw your comments and just wanted to possibly cheer you up by telling you this is single handedly the best thing that has happened since I’ve started writing. And it couldn’t have come at a better time; a time when I’m trying to decide whether I am any good at all as a writer, whether I should diminish the importance and time of the all consuming ‘job’ to concentrate more on the one thing that just feels ‘right’ for me.

With this in mind I submitted my story to this competition; the first time I’ve had the confidence to do so, and it has given me the answer that gives me just enough self belief to take the leap. I can’t thank you enough for that.

Anyway, enough bleating from me. The one thing that did intrigue me…….last week on X Factor I noticed Sinitta was wearing some palm leaves as an ‘outfit’; I’m wondering if you donned the same for the judging?….

Thanks again and look forward to meeting you and all the other writers soon,
Kelly

But aside from that I’m thoroughly thrilled to be involved, this will be my first piece to be published (aside from online) so there’s a squeal that rises up in me when I can tell my family that ‘I’m all proper and writery’. It’s also one of my first lengthier shorts and wasn’t too sure if I could stretch the distance but hey presto, this has been a good learning curve. Did I mention I’m extremely happy?

Thank you Caroline,

Kx.

I submitted three stories to the contest so that’s rejection times three. While I’m not terribly happy about it, there are a few good things to come out of it, such as an excellent collection of stories.

Caroline, judging a competition of this magnitude is an inredible, huge achievement. I don’t know anyone that, on their own mind you, could read hundreds of stories and narrow that down to only thirty.

I wouldn’t wish that on my own worst enemy! How can you possibly judge a contest of that size and not ruffle a few feathers?

But don’t worry. We’re writers. We’ll sulk for a day, give in to temptation (I’m indulging in chocolate…still have to decide if I want a chocolate bar or chocolate ice cream), brush off the dust and move on to the next story.

It’s what we do. It’s what makes us writers.

It is a fabulous collection and I really am proud – but I also feel sad reading blog posts and comments other people have put elsewhere. You know me, I worry about everything and possibly may have to accept that I’d be a rubbish Simon Cowell.

RKCharron – thank you! Have a wonderful weekend.

xxx