Tony Lyttle

I’m doing the moonwalk here for you, Kaz. Slippin’ and a slidin’ all over the place in celebration.
Well done!! Delighted for you and Ava and the agent and PRH who have a great book that’ll sell bucketloads.

It was lovely to see you again at York, Janette. Bravo for your double-win ! Your story is emotionally rich and poignant without reaching pathos or simplicity. Beautifully done, and a well-deserved victory (victories).

Kaz, this is so exciting – not one bit of good news, but TWO: new agent AND Penguin’s interest! Yes yes yes yes yes!!! Going with the agent you felt the most comfortable with seems the way to go.

I’m so happy for you!

Amazing stuff Janette. Well done!!

Well done, Janette! Good for you.

Hurray! Well done indeed, and all the best for the next steps. Keep us posted.

Hey, Kaz – fantastic. And really well-deserved!

This is so well deserved. I can’t wait to see Ava meet a larger audience. I’ve loved the book since our SE days! Congratulations, Kaz. Really thrilled for you xxx 😊😁💞

This is absolutely wonderful Kaz, and I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. To find someone like that who ‘gets’ your writing and you click with, and the double endorsement of the PRH editor as well! Absolutely delighted with this, and can’t wait to read the book

Fantastic, Janette. Delighted for you. What a lot of power you’ve packed into a few words. Cracking bit of writing and a well deserved winner.

Any plans for the second-place piece?

This is brilliant, Janette. 1st and 2nd place. Grinning from ear to ear 😀

Brilliant news Janette – definitely one for the Podium. And make sure you put a note there when the story’s published 🙂

Taking on board the comments so far, here’s an edited version, with a title change.

The First Time
Two men wearing overcoats followed the nurse down the corridor.
“Florence has quite perked up since you arranged this visit so she should be able to answer your questions. She’ll tire quickly, though, remember she’s over ninety.”
“Thank you, we’l…[Read more]

Ding ding ding – nope, still true! Brilliant news, Janette. Well done. And yes, it sounds very unusual.

Thanks Tony, good points, noted.
Thanks, Elle. I guess my spell checker doesn’t speak French! Good points. I think I have a tendency to over-explain or I would have ended it at “He was my first”. Need to trust the reader more. The telly paragraph is a bit of a cop out – I’ll need to rewrite it.

I can’t remember what the original prompt was, but I…[Read more]

@bellam – it was indeed recorded. Please excuse me for shouting, everyone, but MANDY WAS BLOODY BRILLIANT!

I would definitely be doing cartwheels if it wouldn’t land me in a neck brace. So proud of Hel for her win, Mandy for her keynote, Philippa for her shortlisting and everyone who has made such massive strides forward.