The Grannies who founded and run Words for the Wounded are thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural year of WforW’s Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award for Independent Authors. Georgina died, too young, in 2017. As a senior editor at Arrow, Georgina was determined that her authors should fulfil their potential, and, more, she was also a great supporter of WforW. To commemorate her life, writers and reviewers Penny Deacon, Jan Speedie and Margaret Graham, who run Words for the Wounded, determined that Georgina should be honoured. To this end they renamed the competition and re-jigged its structure. So now there are four categories.
This year they are delighted to say that not only are the entry numbers up, so too is the standard.’It is heart warming to see so many excellent entries, and a great treat to read them – Georgina would be thrilled. Of course, though, there have to be winners and ultimately the team led by Milly Adams; one of Georgina’s authors, reached unanimous decisions.’
Unusually for WforW, they have joint 2nd place winners in two of the categories.
Frost Magazine will be featuring the full critiques of the winning entries, and much more about each of the winners and their books as the days go by, so keep an eyes on Frost Magazine to have your curiosity satisfied.
So on with the results:
Non Fiction
1st Place: If It Wasn’t For That Dog! – Michael Forester
An energetic and fascinating exploration of a journey from sound into silence, and the subsequent arrival of a companion of inestimable worth…
The complete critique, biography and more about the thinking behind the book will be on Frost over the next few days so make sure you catch up.
Joint 2nd Place: Odd Man Out – A Motiveless Murder? By Denise Beddows
The Words for the Wounded judging team could not separate a Testament of Grief and Odd Man Out so they’ve created a joint 2nd place.
Odd Man Out is an extraordinarily well researched and, empathetic exploration of a murder…
Joint 2nd Place: a Testament of Grief – Jennifer Wilkin Shaw
A personal memoir exploring the passage of grief by a widowed mother who lost her fourteen year old daughter. Moving and unforgettable.
Highly Commended (alphabetical order)
Forest Rain Michael Forester
We Did what we had to John Hill and Pamela Howarth
At home in the Pays d’Oc Patricia Feinberg Stoner
Commended
Befriend the Bard Pamela Howarth
Children’s Picture Book
Winner: Who’s Been in our Tree? – Diana Batchelor
This is a vividly illustrated picture book. It concerns a community of tree based animals whose home has been broken into, and how, after the initial panic, fear, unhappiness and confusion…
Want to know more? Catch up on Frost Magazine during this week and next.
Fiction for Young Adults
It was a close run thing between first and second place but in the end – unanimous.
1st Place: The Kelpie’s Eyes – Oliver Eade
This is an extraordinarily good fantasy novel of sisters standing firm against formidable forces which intrude into their time slip world.
2nd Place: High Spirits – Rob Keeley
Here we have a novel with a rapid pace, a dollop of humour and a time slip…
Highly Commended. (alphabetical order)
The Tree of Rebels Chantelle Atkins
Hemlock Jones and the Angel of Death. Justine Carroll
Golden Jaguar of the Sun Oliver Eade
Commended
Mei: A Weird Fish Polly Moseley.
.Fiction.
1st Place: Little Mouse by Judi Moore
Little Mouse is what any fiction judging team longs for, a superbly written book which is different. It is one that was …
Read on when the Fiction winners are explored within the next couple of weeks.
Joint 2nd Place – alphabetical order: A Painted Samovar by Sarah Roux
A fascinating period, well handled; a human story in a chaotic context, which after all, is so often the case in world affairs…
Not sure I need to repeat that you can read more on A Painted Samovar very soon.
Joint 2nd Place: Renaissance – Marla Skidmore
Marla Skidmore grasps the nettle of her research and invests it with her interpretation.The premise was fascinating, and the execution skilled…
And in case you have forgotten, come back to us to read more.
Highly Commended – (alphabetical order)
A Home for Other Gods Michael Forester
Light and Dark. C.G. Harris
Fox Halt Farm Celia Moore
Commended – (alphabetical order)
The Betrayal Anne Allen
Poppy’s Seed Bethany Askew
Tombstoning J.A. Gilbert
The Chang Mai Assignment Frank Hurst
Flowers of Flanders Ros Rendle
Eliza Stone Jane Weymouth
Fascinating backstories will be revealed by the authors as the days go by, and what’s more, the winners will be letting us into their lives soon, via A Day in the Life.
A fabulous competition for all the judging team; impressive, worthwhile and what’s more it has helped our veterans. Words for the Wounded is thrilled to bits with it all. Bravo all the authors who entered, and a million thanks for your support.