|
The results of the 2019 Novel Opening Chapter & Synopsis Category are as follows:
Winner: Cabbage Island by Matthew Ross Runner-up: Ten Virtuous Acts by Sandra Jensen
Judge’s Report from Headline Publishing
Cabbage Island: The feedback I received from my colleagues on Cabbage Island was glowing. I have subsequently read it and completely agree with their comments. For all of us, it was the clear winner. The synopsis does exactly what it should; it’s well-thought out and contains just enough detail that the reader is left eager to continue reading. Crucially, the characters that the author introduces in the synopsis are colourfully brought to life throughout the opening chapter and the quality of writing certainly delivers on the promise of the synopsis. We also wanted to draw attention to the fantastic sense of place that the author manages to conjure up through the atmospheric and vivid descriptions of the bridges and the island – we were very impressed. Overall, the drama of the opening scene makes for a compelling, tense and exciting read with plenty of twists and turns, thus immediately drawing the reader into its clutches and leaving you wanting to know how it progresses. Ten Virtuous Acts: We have chosen this as the runner-up for a number of reasons. For starters, the author’s characterisation is convincing and the voice strong throughout. This particularly applies to the central character, Helen, whose flaws (namely, her stealing addiction) elevate, and add important layers to, her character. Sense of place was well-executed, with a true-to-life portrayal of London grounding it and the idea of using the Sri Lankan civil war as a setting makes it feel original. Much like Cabbage Island, the opening chapter of Ten Virtuous Acts was incredibly compelling and, at the same time, powerful, shocking and chilling – I don’t think any of us was expecting it! We were all interested to find out how Helen manages to channel the trauma of rape to positively impact and influence her life, and others, going forward. I am sure the author is careful around this subject in the rest of the novel, but it is important to mention that an issue of this scale and sensitivity should be addressed and dealt with delicately. Whilst, for the most part, the author writes well, we felt that the writing in Cabbage Island was slightly more elevated than it was in Ten Virtuous Acts and that the dialogue would benefit from a little refining and tidying up to lift and take the novel where it needs to go.
Short list in alphabetical order A Train on a Beach by Jamie D Stacey Blind by Averil Meehan Cabbage Island by Matthew Ross Death Of A Painter by Matthew Ross Golden Tesserae by Elizabeth Willcox Macy After Midnight by Donna Marchetti Ten Virtuous Acts by Sandra Jensen The Black Sword by Donna Brown The Downfall by Laure Van Rensburg The Edge of Hate by L.B. McLeod The Lush of Rona by Sharon Boyle The Other Side of Heaven by Tracy Fells The Violent Hour by Sarah Dawson Thickened with Blood by Kieran Marsh Tom and the Crimson Cat by Valerie Thompson
Long list in alphabetical order 1666 by Sean Dooley A Calamity of Waters by Chloe Turner A Pair of Blue Butterflies by Claire Whatley A Train on a Beach by Jamie D Stacey An Honest Review by Tessa Barrie And The Walls Came Tumbling Down by Anna Korving Anthony ‘Bag of Noodles’ and the Sticky Grenade by Ian Johnson Blind by Averil Meehan Cabbage Island by Matthew Ross Corruption Contagion by Helen Larder Darkness in Velez-Malaga by Paul S. Bradley Death Of A Painter by Matthew Ross Eldritch by Jasmina Svenne Even Gods Are Blind by Zoe Walker Finnegan Begins Again by Stephen Brown Flying Down Blake Street by Joanne Clague Game On by Colin Brezicki Golden Tesserae by Elizabeth Willcox Hidden by Kathy Cuddihy I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore by Gill Darling Just Being There by Cassandra Leighton Lost Behind Words by Tabitha Forney Macy After Midnight by Donna Marchetti Meroughsey by Marilyn Thompson Middle Cut by David G. Gibson Not Over Yet by Mike Padgett Outliving Her Past by Rachel Carrington Rogue Prey by Nik Morton Safe Harbours by Kathy Cuddihy Silent as the Snow by Emily Pattullo Silent Was Our Song by Nathalie Chong Ten Virtuous Acts by Sandra Jensen The Black Sword by Donna Brown The Cage by David Fenton The Downfall by Laure Van Rensburg The Echo Chamber by Rod Cookson The Edge of Hate by L.B. McLeod The Fourth Prince by Donna Brown The Ghosts of Tumbledown by Sally Doherty The Glass House by Jody R Cooksley The Lush of Rona by Sharon Boyle The Mothers by Nollaig Frost The Other Side of Heaven by Tracy Fells The Palimpsest by Michael Coram The Time That Magic Took by Lucy Caird The Violent Hour by Sarah Dawson Thickened with Blood by Kieran Marsh Tom and the Crimson Cat by Valerie Thompson What We Learnt At Number Nine by Rebekah Heaney Wild by Deborah Tomkins
|
