Stringybark Times Past Award 2024

CLOSED


The Stringybark Short Story Award 2016-17

Competition Closed: 5 Feb 2017


218 entries.  $1085 in prizes.

Judges:Ruth Ellison, Jamie Todling, Margie Perkins and David Vernon

Editor: David Vernon

Cover designer: Michael Vernon

Cover photographer: Olichel

Ausralian printer: TBA

"Thick red Northern Territory mud coated Barry’s shins and arms up to his elbows. Every time he slapped a mosquito he left another muddy handprint. Mud — streaking his face, coating his clothes — had swallowed one of his sneakers; sand itched in his underpants and his bare back burned with insect bites. His beloved Cruiser was resting her axles on the shoulder of the dirt road, the left-hand wheels bogged to the wheel-arches. And Sharon had filmed it all."

— from 'The Weekend Warrior' by Kym Iliff-Reynolds


"Every day I watch her and pray she’ll jump. Always the same time, late afternoon. When light softens and the wind dies down. She stands at the edge, with nothing in front of her but the ocean’s expanse and the rocks below. Knees flex forward and straighten back again in a measured cadence. A rhythm stolen, perhaps, from a favourite song. Today, as in others past, she stops, steps back and slowly walks away." — from 'Prelude to Carrion' by George Lancaster


Thirty-two award-winning short stories fill these entertaining pages. Written by Australian and international authors these stories explore Australian culture — sometimes funny, often poignant, occasionally unsettling, this anthology showcases the best of Australian contemporary short story writing.

32 published stories.  One e-book and printed anthology, A Nice Boy


Edited by David Vernon, e-book and paperback, Stringybark Publishing,

ISBN: 978-0-9925759-7-7


$14.95 includes postage within Australia.  Discounts for multiple purchases.  Please enquire for international orders.

Purchase E-book ($3.95 AUD)

THIRD PRIZE


The Boy in the Beanie

by

Margaret Brennan

FIRST PRIZE


A Nice Boy

by

Pauline Sorensen

SECOND PRIZE


As the Dust Settled

by

Deanne Seigle-Buyat

HIGHLY COMMENDED


Oscar Levits and the Human Tower of Tarragona — Greg Bartlett

Storm Clouds — Linda Brandon

Frankie's Place — Holly Bruce

Gun Down a Granny — Jan Bruce

Freedom of Thought — Alyce Caswell

The Transformation of Mrs Keets — Gabrielle Gardner

The Brush — Rebecca Handler

Masterchef — Carolyn Hine

The Weekend Warrior — Kym Iliff-Reynolds

Butterfly Tears — Pamela Jeffs

Buried — Colleen Kerr

The Way Light Bends — Eleanor Kirk

Prelude to Carrion — George Lancaster

Of Creatures and Cans — Ruth Macaulay

Monologue from Manus — Meg Main

Nothing Before, Only After — Kelly Matsuura

The Moment — Margot Ogilvie

The Mad Bomber of Green Island — Ray Penny

Croissants on Sunday — Sallie Ramsay

A Night to Remember — Helen Rogan

The Haul — Marisa Saltis

Nerve Endings — Deanne Seigle-Buyat

Letter to My Yesterday — Karyn Sepulveda

Hillgrove Postbox — Juliet Staveley

Remembering Cara — Alison Thompson

Please, Can I stay a Child? — Kerri Turner

The Piano — Vickie Walker

Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl and Me — Michael Wilkinson

Bennelong Point — Bob Wright