The 2012 Sean O’Faolain Competition has been won by Sophie Hampton who is currently studying creative writing at Sheffield Hallam University (UK), Her story “White Socks & Weirdos” came first in a field of almost 1000 entries. There was a 50% increase in entries this year with UK entrants outnumbering US entrants for the first time. It’s also the first time the prize has gone to a British resident. Second place this year went to another Briton Thomas Watson of London for his story “Cafe at the V&A”. The runners-up are Dan Purdue of Britain, Maree Spratt of Queensland Australia, Ferdia Lennon of Dublin and David Mohan of Co. Dublin. All these six stories will be published in Southword next winter. Eighteen other writers have been commended for their entries.
You can read more and book workshops, talks and readings at the www.munsterlit.ie or http://www.corkshortstory.net/ website, where the Short Story Festival 2012 will be held in Cork City.
I am heading down for the weekend, have booked my tickets for as many events as I can! Staying in the lovely Maldron Hotel, where I received a pretty good discount for accomodation when I mentioned the words “Short story festival”
Go on, you know you want to.