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Winners: short story competition 2011/12

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Exeter Writers Short Story Competition 2012 – The Results The stories have been read and the judging is completed. We thank all of you who entered and commiserate with those who were not placed. There were four prizes this year – the usual first, second and third prizes, plus the Devon Prize. The winning stories can be read here (click the links) and we congratulate you all. First prize Driftwood by Jo Barker Scott Second prize Down came a blackbird by Tracy Fells Third prize The bites by Giovanna Iozzi Devon prize Long legged balloons by Andrew Lavender Runners-up : (not in order of preference) Five things by Mary Bonner A head for heights by Ms S Golden The memory of tall grass by Sarah Hegarty Swollen by Giovanna Iozzi Tyndrum gold rush  by Ann Lilley

1st Prize (2011/12) - Driftwood by Jo Barker Scott

Driftwood by Jo Barker Scott ‘British. Hey, British. Here.’       People don’t want to get involved: who knows where it might end? And if they can avoid your gaze, it’s easier to ignore your troubles. But if you make someone see you, force her to look you in the eye, well, you open the door on her naked conscience, and then you can jab and poke at the twitching, reluctant thing until it yields.

2nd Prize (2011/12) - Down Came a Blackbird by Tracy Fells

Down Came a Blackbird by Tracy Fells Stumbling over the empty boot I almost tipped forward into the bundle of clothes. The clothes were still occupied. Ted Malt was right - an animal had crawled into the ditch to die. The sweet, stomach-wrenching stench of death rose up from the leaf litter. Screwing up my eyes I took in a quick gulp of air and pinched my nose tight.

3rd Prize (2011/12) - The Bites by Giovanna Iozzi

The Bites by Giovanna Iozzi He rotates my body round in the morning light.       ‘Eighty,’ he says. ‘Eighty.’       ‘Jesus.’       I peer down. Some of the wheals are still blotches of pink, others have hatched tiny pus-filled eggs on my skin.       ‘You're having a really bad reaction,’ Simon says.

Devon Prize (2011/12) - Long Legged Balloons by Andrew Lavender

Long Legged Balloons by Andrew Lavender “Have a nice day at work,” Kevin said. His wife smiled and kissed him. It was the fifty fifth day he’d seen Felicity off with that comment since the redundancy.       “You ought to go out, get some fresh air. There’s a Surrealism exhibition at the gallery and we need bread,” she said, and closed the door.