YA Fiction winners

Author Gareth Baker joined us last week to discuss our YA fiction competition entries, as well as giving an insight into his three judging criteria – readability, relatability and topicality. Gareth is the author of several books for children and teens, is a Patron of Reading and is an active facilitator of events for kids during Newark Book Festival. He also talked about his books and writing for younger readers.

The theme for the YA short story was “Modern Fairy Tale” and there were some great entries. Gareth shortlisted six entries and we were able to have all of the authors with us either online or in person to provide readings of the winning entries.

Honourable mentions went to the following:

• Alice Up The Chimney by local writer Mark Smith, a Fosseway member of Farndon, Notts. (commended)
• The Ugly Duckling by Elizabeth Henderson of Grantham, Lincs. (commended)
• Dreams Made Real by Nick Rowe of Newark, Notts., another Fosseway member (highly commended and winner of the Local Writer’s Prize)

Third place

My Cindy Doll by Louise Mangos in Switzerland

Second Place

Waking Nightmare by James Edwards of Morpeth, Northumberland

First Place

That Dress by Margaret Morey of Corbridge, also in Northumberland

We’ll look at putting the top three on our website within the next week or so.

Congratulations to the winners and the commended authors, and many thanks to all of the entrants and to Gareth Baker for judging the competition and joining us for a great evening exploring the realms of young adult fiction.