The Allen Raine Celebration Society is pleased to announce the winners of their annual short story competition, which was sponsored by Parthian books. The first prize was £100 and the second, a collection of books published by Parthian. The Society's President, Sally Roberts-Jones, adjudicated the competition which attracted 40 entries and awarded first prize to MWS, for "Bernie's Last Mint" with second going to AJ Morgan for "Jesse's Room." The adjudicator's comments are outlined below: 1. MWS - Bernie`s Last Mint 2. A.J. Morgan - Jesse`s Room 3 = Medi - A Day for the King Maggie Sandford - The Carnival is Over Recommended: Reading Weather; Welsh Rarebit; Blood Vessels The winner and runner up each put in multiple entries, and their work showed a consistently high standard. MWS`s other story, We are not a Rainman, was also good, but perhaps more like part of a novel; Bernie`s Last Mint was more of a short story. A.J. Morgan`s Auntie`s Gloves was just a little more lightweight, but Lantern Light was a fine pastiche of the classical Anglo-Welsh short story. As for the two in third place, they were very similar, studies in family communication, A Day for the KIng in a lack of communication, and The Carnival is Over in a more positive approach. As to the Recommended stories, Welsh Rarebit was shortish, but neatly rounded; Reading Weather was another study in family communication, but not quite so well developed; Blood Vessels was an excellent horror/crime story, but not entirely well motivated in places. |