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Thistledown Farm: Farmer John's Boots

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Ahead of the official launch, David Evans' illustrated children's book Thistledown Farm: Farmer John's Boots will be on sale at David's stall this weekend at the Topsham Christmas Craft Fair run by Clare Girvan. The Fair is at Matthews Hall , Topsham, 11am-4pm on Sunday 13th December.

Book news

Member David Charles Evans' illustrated children's book Thistledown Farm: Farmer John's Boots and other stories will be in print shortly. Its support website is now live at www.farmerjohnsboots.co.uk . Exeter Writers' 2008 anthology Exposure has finally made it into the Google Books index at preview level. See here .

Short Story Competition 2009/10

We are now accepting entries for our 2009/2010 competition. The closing date is March 31 2010, so you have plenty of time to hone your offering, but please read the rules carefully before sending your entry as failure to comply with them will mean disqualification. The three winning stories will be announced in July 2010 and published on our website. Good luck to you all. See our Competition page for rules and an entry form.

Competition 2008/9 winners

The final judging is complete. Exeter Writers would like to thank all those who entered the competition and wrote such a fascinating and varied selection of short stories. We hope you enjoy reading the winning stories. The final line-up is: First prize: Learning to Swim by Anne Summerfield Second prize: Honour thy Father by Tony Matthews Third prize: Swimming Away by Clare Reddaway Runners-up: (not in order of preference) Marigolds in Winter by Linda Mitchelmore Life Class by Anne M Watts The Scapedog by Anne Goodwin Rosie's Kiss by Joan Moules The Dog in the Pram by Maggie Knutson Gaudy by Martin Sorrell Straight A's by Ian Burton Matoose Rowsay by Jenny Knight Flight of the Worm by Janet Edwards Ready to Explode by Catherine Scott

3rd Prize (2008/9) - Swimming Away by Clare Reddaway

Swimming Away by Clare Reddaway She is sitting on the beach, alone. Her legs are curled under her, and her hands are feeling the pebbles at her side. They are smooth, like ducks’ eggs. They fit snugly into her palm. The kind of pebble David used to kill Goliath, she thinks. She looks out over the sea. It is pewter, it is lead. The waves are bloated and sullen. They clutch at the shore and rasp as they retreat, surly as a kicked cur. The wet shore shines with the slug trail residue of the waves. The cliffs, honey and butter in sunshine, are the grey of gravestones and loneliness.

Honour Thy Father / 2nd in 2008/9 Competition

HONOUR THY FATHER © Tony Matthews The Reverend Theodore Makepeace first got wind of his father’s alleged misdemeanours at the Ivydene Home for the Elderly when he received a letter from the local branch of the Social Services. The letter, signed by the Head of Elderly Services, invited him to a meeting to discuss complaints from female residents and staff ‘relating to your father’s behaviour at Ivydene over recent weeks’.

Learning to Swim / 1st in 2008/9 Competition

LEARNING TO SWIM © Anne Summerfield Shanthi is teaching us to swim.       ‘Now,’ she says, ‘show me your best push and glide. Let’s see who can get the furthest. Yes?’       Here in the shallow end, the pool reflects cloudless blue. There’s a ridge of tiles, a bar that we claw with our hands, our arms stretched taut behind us. We put our best chests forward, feet against tile glaze.       ‘Ready? Go!’

Competition

31st March 2009: our short story competition is now closed, and entries are being read and judged. The winners will be announced on our Competition page by July.