‘Writer of the Year’ 2012 announced
Billy Graham, from Haddington Writers’ Group, was announced prestigious Writer of the Year 2012 at an awards ceremony held in Haddington. He fought off fierce competition from articulate prose writers and poetic poets with his imaginative and poignant story “Mackenzie Point.” Is this a ghost story of divine retribution or the figment of a fertile imagination? The judges were unanimous in their praise of Billy’s prose and suggested that the story would make a great piece for radio.
Winner of the Writer of the Year Poetry Competition is Judith Stewart with her poem “The Shed.” This poem relates the memories of a wife as she visits the shed of her late husband which contains his wood working tools. Sad but not sentimental. “Touchstone” by Lesleymay Miller was runner up and Ian Murphy’s “The snow that should not be” was commended.
Billy won the Writer of the Year Prose Competition, with “Journeys” by Annemarie Child runner up and Ronald Hardwick’s “The Viscountess” was commended.
The Writer of the Year competition was organised by Tyne & Esk Writers with support from East Lothian and Midlothian Library services. Judges Cathy MacPhail for prose and Magi Gibson for poetry remarked that the quality of writing was extremely high and as such it was a pleasure to be involved in the competition.
Billy Graham received a cheque for £100, the beautiful Alison Kinnaird trophy and the prestige of the title, Writer of the Year. The other winners received book tokens sponsored by Kesley’s Bookshop in Haddington.
If this inspires you to put pen to paper, writing groups are run in a number of libraries in East Lothian and Midlothian where you will receive help and support to develop your writing skills. For further details check the website www.tyne-esk-writers.com and search under groups.
Start writing now and you could be ready to enter next year’s Writer of the Year competition!
Billy’s prize-winning story is now published on the Writer of the Year page, under the Committee tab. Other stories and poems will appear in due course.
