Followers of my twitter feed will remember that, in August, I posted a cryptic reference to some good news concerning my writing:

I can finally reveal what that news is.

My short story, ‘Half-mown Lawn,’ a longer, more developed version of a flash fiction I wrote for #fridayflash has won the 2010 Yeovil Literary Prize Short Fiction Category. I developed the extended story as part of my Open  University Creative Writing Diploma.

Over on the website they have presented the judge’s comments.

Judge, Francine Lee, says about “Half Mown Lawn”: Beautifully crafted, never sentimental or maudlin, we follow Annie in the first few days after her husband’s sudden death as she adjusts to life without him.

There is little dialogue but what there is adds to the restraint of the story. The author uses spare, crisp language to explore Annie’s stunned reaction as she goes shopping with her amended list and her ‘bags for life’.

The deft description and attention to the smallest of details, such as the Ikea pencil she finds in her pocket, define the character and her life. The deeply satisfying ending stayed with me for a long time after reading. An everyday subject lifted out of the mundane by the sheer quality of the writing

I have been itching to share the news with you since receiving the email last month. Being recognised in a prize is a great feeling. Actually winning one is a thrilling thing to find out. Really pleased and still buzzing about this.