WAM competitions launched
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The AlburyCity Short Story Award invites entries from across Australia on the theme of 'refuge'. Writers are asked to think outside the box and see where the idea of refuge takes them.
If they impress the judges, it will take them all the way to the shortlist, from which award-winning author Mark Smith will select the winning and highly commended stories.
First prize is $1,000 cash. Not bad for a story of up to 3,000 words.
Mark Smith has won multiple short story prizes, including the 2015 Josephine Ulrick Literature Prize and the 2013 Alan Marshall Short Story Prize.
He has since written two award-winning novels. His debut novel, The Road To Winter, which began as a short story, is taught in schools around Australia.
Wilder Country, his follow-up novel, won the 2018 Australian Indie Book Award for YA and has been longlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers.
Mark’s novels come highly praised by all ages. He is especially proud of his success in engaging reluctant readers, particularly teenage boys.
Mark will teach as part of the Write Around the Murray Schools Program, along with hip-hop artist Mantra, comic artist Mandy Ord, historical fiction author Dianne Wolfer, illustrator Ben Wood, and authors Ailsa Wild and Wai Chim.
Also, all local region residents have the opportunity to try their hand at ‘micro fiction’. The 50-word nano competition is open to those who live within 150 km of Albury. Stories must be 50 words exactly and include the word ‘life’.
Winners in both competitions will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 6 September during the Write Around the Murray Festival.
Further details and conditions of entry for both competitions are listed at writearoundthemurray.org.au
This year’s Write Around the Murray Festival will run from Wednesday 5 September until Sunday 9 September. The theme is Life.Stories. The public program will be released on Wednesday 25 July.
Images of Mark Smith and schools program are available upon request
For more information or interview opportunities with Mark Smith or any of the other authors for Write Around the Murray 2018, please contact:
Aimee Chan [email protected] 0403 543 940
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