a week that lasts for years

Press releases

WRITERS' NEWS MEETS SWANWICK 2006 PRIZE-WINNERS

(left to right) Katy Clarke (Swanwick Vice-Chairman); Sheila Corbishley (Short Story winner); Jan Davison (Writers News); Peter Anderson (Hayes Centre Manager); Marion Hough (Swanwick Chairman); Maggie Cobbett (Poetry winner); Lauren Roberts (Writers' News); Frances Gapper (Children's Story winner); Joyce Reid (Poetry competition runner up)

Jan Davison and Lauren Roberts of Writers' News paid a special visit to the Swanwick Writers' Summer School in August to meet the winners of this year's Poetry, Short Story and Children's Writing competitions.

First prize in each category was a free week at Swanwick worth £355 sponsored by Writers' News, The Writers' Summer School and the Hayes Conference Centre. The prizewinners also received a special trophy (held for a year) plus framed certificates, while the second and third place winners received £100 and £25 respectively, all provided by Writers' News.

About the winners
Maggie Cobbett's prize-winning sonnet on the set theme of 'friendship' (sponsored by Writers' News) explored the relationship between two writers. Titled To My Writing Partner, it won judge Alison Chisolm's highest praise for both technical excellence and memorability. Said Alison: "Maggie's sonnet fixed itself firmly in the mind at a first reading and refused to go away."

Maggie, who lives in Ripon, North Yorkshire, was both delighted and surprised by her success. "I write more fiction than poetry, although I did come second in a previous Writers' News poetry competition. For me, the prize of a week at Swanwick was the incentive to enter. I've wanted to go for ages and this was, in many ways, a stab in the dark to help me achieve my dream." Formerly a teacher, Maggie is now a seasoned TV 'extra' on programmes such as Emmerdale, Heartbeat and Touch of Frost.

Sheila Corbishley's winning short story A Good Dying Day (sponsored by the Writers' Summer School) was described by judge Anne Graham as 'a little gem'. It tackles the poignant dilemma of two daughters tasked with breaking the news to their mother that their terminally ill father has died. The story deals with denial in the face of death within a normal loving family.

Married with six children and eight grandchildren, Sheila is a retired primary school teacher from Newcastle upon Tyne. She started writing 'seriously' on retirement (having spent years as a storyteller to her own children and those in her class). Sheila has been a winner/runner-up in a number of other short story competitions and has also completed two children's novels and is currently approaching publishers.

Frances Gapper's prize-winning opening chapter in the Children's Story competition (sponsored by the Hayes Conference Centre) started with the intriguing question: Why do people keep chucking shoes up on the telephone wires? The story is about 10-year old Sarah with psychic abilities who has first-hand experience of ghosts.

Despite interest from agents, Frances - who lives in Cumbria - became discouraged with the novel and was about to put it in a drawer when news arrived of her winning entry in the Swanwick competition. It was just the encouragement she needed.

Your chance to win a week at Swanwick 2007
You too could win a free week at the Swanwick Writers' Summer School from 11th to 17th August 2007. see competition page for details

Press enquiries to: Diana Wimbs, WSS Vice Chairman
Tel: 01435 866721
Email

Swanwick 2008 August 09 to August 15
Diamond Anniversary Year