Short list
"Born Again" by Shakti Bhatt
"Charles Magezi-Akiiki" by Olesya Mishechkina
"Felipe and the Sea" by Jonathan Attrill
"Jolt" by James Lawless
"Kid in a Well" by Willie Davis
"Mrs Nakamoto Takes a Vacation" by Steve Finbow
"Paradise" by Nicholas Hogg
"The Dead Don't Do That Kind of Thing" by Wes Lee
"Vaselino" by Lee Joans
"Words from a Glass Bubble" by Tobias Williams
Winner
And the winner of the Willesden short story prize 2007, as chosen by Zadie Smith, is "Kid in a Well" by Willie Davis.
Willie Davis is a native of Whitesburg, Kentucky who currently teaches English at The University of Maryland. "Kid in a Well" is a chapter from The Darktown Strut, his recently completed novel about contemporary Appalachian life.
Many thanks to everyone who took part and to formerly famous poet Rockwell "Rocky" Rollins and WH media correspondent Amanda Saxonheart for hazarding their eyesight over the strange fonts submitted. Thanks to Zadie Smith for adjudicating.
Judge's report
"Amongst many high concept competitors, 'Kid in a Well' stood out for me for its relative simplicity, neat characterisation, and laconic, relaxed structure. It's a story genuinely interested in its characters rather than fascinated with its own form, and offers the reader humour over authorial hubris. I really enjoyed it. Congratulations, Willie, and enjoy your mug! I have one and I love it." Zadie Smith
Anthology
The forthcoming anthology "New Short Stories 1" (Pretend Genius, 2007) will feature the winning story together with all but one of the short list and a selection of other stories commended by the editorial team, including (confirmed):
"Alternative Medicine" by Laura Solomon
"Atlantic Drift" by Arthur Allan
"Avoiding the Issue" by Laura Heggie
It will also feature more of the virtuosic series Microworld by 19-year-old Olesya Mishechkina, from which "Charles Magezi-Akiiki" is taken.
Update (Feb '07)
Also including "Dodie's Gift", last year's joint-winner by Vanessa Gebbie
Ed
Syndication: Wreuters / Sphagnum
Showing posts with label Rocky Rollins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rocky Rollins. Show all posts
Monday, January 08, 2007
Friday, November 24, 2006
Delgado's story now a set text
Cold Goat Eyes
"As we progressed through the story, I had a vague notion as to where it was going, and what it was about, but the finer points of Delgado's work were lost on me amidst a brainful of semantics and teacher techniques. [...] But, as we neared the end, I read a paragraph that picked me up and lifted me out of my 'teacher hat' and stopped me dead..."
Let's hope that Amanda Saxonheart and Rocky Rollins can find more such fine examples for this year's competition.
"As we progressed through the story, I had a vague notion as to where it was going, and what it was about, but the finer points of Delgado's work were lost on me amidst a brainful of semantics and teacher techniques. [...] But, as we neared the end, I read a paragraph that picked me up and lifted me out of my 'teacher hat' and stopped me dead..."
Let's hope that Amanda Saxonheart and Rocky Rollins can find more such fine examples for this year's competition.
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
"The New Kissalossus"
A few days ago The Herald published a snippet of a poem written by our very own Showbiz Editor, Rocky Rollins. We received this letter as a result and we are happy to accede to Marganita's request.
____________
Dear Willesden Herald
I am doing a Year 12 project on the poetry of Rockwell Rollins at the American School in Holland Park and on the Number 260 bus from Shepherds Bush to Golders Green I found an issue of your newspaper which contained part of his poem Your Huddled Kisses, Yearning To Kiss Good (The New Kissalossus). The poem is learnt by all American girls travelling in Europe. I wonder if it would be possible for The Herald to print the full version.
I never dreamed that Mr Rollins would now be a showbiz editor on an international news digest.
Yours in Americanhood
Marganita Ben Sherman
P.S The statue is very lovely.
________
The New Kissalossus (Your Huddled Kisses, Yearning To Kiss Good)
(after Emma Lazarus)
Not like the lovemaking of Greek fame
(Ouch) with stretched limbs astride me from thigh to thigh;
Here amid priapic secretions that smell of the sea is the cry
Of American women who yearn to be lit by a good kisser's flame
In the imprisonment of arms; and her name...
Mother of Kiss-Seekers. From her red-lipped mouth
Glows welcome; her hot eyes command in London, north and south,
The passion that twin conjoined lips should frame:
"Keep, British boys, your slack lipped kiss!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your hot, your dry,
Your cuddled kisses, I'm yearning to be kissed good, it's free.
Not your wretched slobber, I can take no more, don't try.
Send me your kissers, your good kissers, send these kissers,
lip-glossed, to me. I lift my arms beneath the golden tree.
Rockwell (Rocky) Rollins
A few days ago The Herald published a snippet of a poem written by our very own Showbiz Editor, Rocky Rollins. We received this letter as a result and we are happy to accede to Marganita's request.
____________
Dear Willesden Herald
I am doing a Year 12 project on the poetry of Rockwell Rollins at the American School in Holland Park and on the Number 260 bus from Shepherds Bush to Golders Green I found an issue of your newspaper which contained part of his poem Your Huddled Kisses, Yearning To Kiss Good (The New Kissalossus). The poem is learnt by all American girls travelling in Europe. I wonder if it would be possible for The Herald to print the full version.
I never dreamed that Mr Rollins would now be a showbiz editor on an international news digest.
Yours in Americanhood
Marganita Ben Sherman
P.S The statue is very lovely.
________
The New Kissalossus (Your Huddled Kisses, Yearning To Kiss Good)
(after Emma Lazarus)
Not like the lovemaking of Greek fame
(Ouch) with stretched limbs astride me from thigh to thigh;
Here amid priapic secretions that smell of the sea is the cry
Of American women who yearn to be lit by a good kisser's flame
In the imprisonment of arms; and her name...
Mother of Kiss-Seekers. From her red-lipped mouth
Glows welcome; her hot eyes command in London, north and south,
The passion that twin conjoined lips should frame:
"Keep, British boys, your slack lipped kiss!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your hot, your dry,
Your cuddled kisses, I'm yearning to be kissed good, it's free.
Not your wretched slobber, I can take no more, don't try.
Send me your kissers, your good kissers, send these kissers,
lip-glossed, to me. I lift my arms beneath the golden tree.
Rockwell (Rocky) Rollins
Monday, May 12, 2003
Out and about / Sightings
Spotted! Alighting from a 260 bus arriving from Golders Green on its way to Shepherds Bush, international football agent Eric Bruxman. Could he have been here to check up on the progress of Willesden's very own Marco Fantoni who has been linked lately with Rushden and Irthlingborough Diamonds? Or was he just stopping off for a bite to eat at one of our renowned eateries?
Double take! Willesden Green's favourite son Cyril Ningbassa, the London and South-East king of Michael Jackson impersonators, hopes to meet his hero at the Michael Jackson Look-a-like-athon later this year in Memphis. Cyril's trip is to be sponsored by JB Nylons of Willesden. The best of luck to him from all here at the Herald.
Too many cooks spoil the broth(-el)! A 36 year old woman was arrested on suspicion of running a brothel when police raided an address in Cricklewood Boulevard. Present in the house when it was raided were 3 cooks from the nearby Patrick's Pies meat processing and pie preparation centre.
Overheard! As news about an alleged brothel operating in the area filtered out a local wag was heard to comment that too many cocks spoil the brothel. [That's enough vulgarity - Ed.]
Cheeted (sic)! The animal thought to be a cheetah which has been terrorising the cats and dogs in the local area for the last month was apprehended in a raid on a house in Willesden by local animal welfare officers. The officers used a stun gun and the creature was found to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier onto which someone had zipped a cheetah costume. A local man was taken into custody and was later released on police bail. The raid followed a tip off.
Welcome! The Willesden Herald Out And About/Sightings team welcomes Amanda Saxonheart on board. Amanda has joined us from the Hendon and Colindale Free Advertiser where she covered showbiz sightings and Births, Weddings and Obituaries.
And finally...! Do you have knobbly knees? If so the organisers of this year's carnival want to hear from you. An attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the most entrants in a knobbly knee contest is in their sights. Mr C McNulty, event organiser, said this when the Herald spoke to him earlier this week "Let's put Willesden Green on the knobbly knee map of Great Britain." The event is in aid of our very own Tiddlers Appeal and will raise funds for the local Tiddlers group to renovate their hall.
Rocky Rollins
Spotted! Alighting from a 260 bus arriving from Golders Green on its way to Shepherds Bush, international football agent Eric Bruxman. Could he have been here to check up on the progress of Willesden's very own Marco Fantoni who has been linked lately with Rushden and Irthlingborough Diamonds? Or was he just stopping off for a bite to eat at one of our renowned eateries?
Double take! Willesden Green's favourite son Cyril Ningbassa, the London and South-East king of Michael Jackson impersonators, hopes to meet his hero at the Michael Jackson Look-a-like-athon later this year in Memphis. Cyril's trip is to be sponsored by JB Nylons of Willesden. The best of luck to him from all here at the Herald.
Too many cooks spoil the broth(-el)! A 36 year old woman was arrested on suspicion of running a brothel when police raided an address in Cricklewood Boulevard. Present in the house when it was raided were 3 cooks from the nearby Patrick's Pies meat processing and pie preparation centre.
Overheard! As news about an alleged brothel operating in the area filtered out a local wag was heard to comment that too many cocks spoil the brothel. [That's enough vulgarity - Ed.]
Cheeted (sic)! The animal thought to be a cheetah which has been terrorising the cats and dogs in the local area for the last month was apprehended in a raid on a house in Willesden by local animal welfare officers. The officers used a stun gun and the creature was found to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier onto which someone had zipped a cheetah costume. A local man was taken into custody and was later released on police bail. The raid followed a tip off.
Welcome! The Willesden Herald Out And About/Sightings team welcomes Amanda Saxonheart on board. Amanda has joined us from the Hendon and Colindale Free Advertiser where she covered showbiz sightings and Births, Weddings and Obituaries.
And finally...! Do you have knobbly knees? If so the organisers of this year's carnival want to hear from you. An attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the most entrants in a knobbly knee contest is in their sights. Mr C McNulty, event organiser, said this when the Herald spoke to him earlier this week "Let's put Willesden Green on the knobbly knee map of Great Britain." The event is in aid of our very own Tiddlers Appeal and will raise funds for the local Tiddlers group to renovate their hall.
Rocky Rollins
Wednesday, May 07, 2003
Out and about
It's been brought to my attention that the Listings Guide is being abused. Ivor Fiver and The Short Change Shamrock Band will not be appearing at Ceili on the Green as advertised. The advertisement was placed maliciously as was the announcement that the Golders Green Festival Klezmer Band would provide the entertainment at this weekend's Willesden Ecumenical Council. Apologies for the erroneous listings.
If you would like your event to appear in our Listings Guide (including Christenings, Weddings and Funerals) contact Rocky Rollins, Entertainment Editor.
______
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of John 'Mugsy' Dando, bon viveur, raconteur and former editor of our sister paper The Willesden and Queens Park Clarion. John was a confirmed bachelor and he will be sadly missed by his former colleagues and the Willesden Lads Synchronised swimming team whom he guided to the North London championships three years running in the early 1990's. Many lads passed through John's hands and all who met him will remember their contacts with him for many years to come.
Rocky Rollins, Obituary and Birth Notices Editor.
It's been brought to my attention that the Listings Guide is being abused. Ivor Fiver and The Short Change Shamrock Band will not be appearing at Ceili on the Green as advertised. The advertisement was placed maliciously as was the announcement that the Golders Green Festival Klezmer Band would provide the entertainment at this weekend's Willesden Ecumenical Council. Apologies for the erroneous listings.
If you would like your event to appear in our Listings Guide (including Christenings, Weddings and Funerals) contact Rocky Rollins, Entertainment Editor.
______
It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of John 'Mugsy' Dando, bon viveur, raconteur and former editor of our sister paper The Willesden and Queens Park Clarion. John was a confirmed bachelor and he will be sadly missed by his former colleagues and the Willesden Lads Synchronised swimming team whom he guided to the North London championships three years running in the early 1990's. Many lads passed through John's hands and all who met him will remember their contacts with him for many years to come.
Rocky Rollins, Obituary and Birth Notices Editor.
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