Tag Archives: Laurie Lee Prize for Writing

‘The Tree Inside’ – highly commended by The Laurie Lee Prize

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Laurie Lee Prize judges

I’m delighted to share the news that an excerpt from my hybrid nature memoir ‘The Tree Inside’ has been highly commended by judges of The Laurie Lee Prize.

All shortlisted entrants were invited to a fabulous awards night as part of Stroud Book Festival. Amidst readings and the beauty of a version of Laurie Lee’s poem ‘April Rise’ set to music by Jonathan Trim and performed by the Every Other Monday Choir, judge Adam Horovitz announced my excerpt as a highly commended entry.

It felt very fitting as the memoir celebrates my dad, who introduced me to Laurie Lee’s wonderful writing, as well as the wonder of nature and the nature of wonder.

Congratulations to the winner Laura Kinnear, and thank you to all the judges: Katie Fforde (chair, pictured), Jessy Lee (Laurie Lee’s daughter!), Norah Perkins (Laurie Lee’s literary agent) Jamila Gavin (pictured), Adam Horovitz (pictured) and Jane Bailey (pictured) for commending my tale.

Thank you, especially, to Jane for telling me how it moved you. I know so many people lose loved ones to dementia, and that for every individual it is both unfathomable and extraordinary.

Upcoming literary events & activities

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Celebration of the Book bannerI’m looking forward to a few weekends jam-packed with literary hi-jinks.

Saturday 26th October 2024 The Great Festival Flash Off, online

At this online session, I’ll be teaching a one-hour version of my ‘Writing on Water’ workshop, inviting flash writers to explore different ways of using water to inspire or shine up themes in their writing, with generative exercises, examples from a variety of writers, and time to write.

The full day (11.00am to 6.30pm) only costs £30, with two hour-long workshops and one 90min workshop, plus readings, breakout rooms for chats, yoga for writers and a competition each time.

In addition to ‘Writing on Water’, the 26th October edition of the Great Festival Flash Off includes workshops with Ingrid Jendzrejewski and a discussion/reading/Q&A with Karen Jones and Diane Simmons.

Book for The Great Festival Flash Off here.

Friday 1st November, Clevedon LitFest Writing Competitions prize-giving
Jubilee Lounge, Clevedon Community Centre, aka Princes Hall, BS21 7SZ, from 7.30pm

CompAwards showing KatLyon, bristol poet 2024, on orange and blue backgroundTo announce the winners Clevedon LitFest Writing Competitions, there’ll be an inspiring evening of celebrations and performances. As one of the judges for the short story entries, I can’t wait to meet the writers of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd award-winning stories, and the writer of the highly commended story.

With a performance from the current Bristol City Poet Kat Lyons. it’s going to be a very special night indeed.

There’s no need to book for this free event – just turn up. See you there?

Saturday 2nd November, Celebration of the Book
Clevedon Community Centre, aka Princes Hall, BS21 7SZ, from 10am

Clevedon LitFest’s Celebration of the Book returns as a one-day convention of books and book arts.

A day-pass for all talks, discussions and readings costs just £15, with workshops costing extra.

Find full details for Celebration of the Book and book here.

I’ll be helping out with talks and panels throughout the day, and sharing a story or two of my own from 5.30pm as part of ‘Exploring the Edges: Literary fiction readings.’

Sunday 10th November, The Laurie Lee Prize for Writing 2024
Lansdown, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 1BB, from 5.30pm

As one of the shortlisted authors, I’ll be there to celebrate being part of the legacy of one of my long-time favourite authors and hear readings from the winning entries and those “which most captivated our judges” as part of Stroud Book Festival 2024.

The event will feature a performance of ‘April Rise’, a poem by Laurie Lee, set to music by Jonathan Trim and performed by Every Other Monday Choir, which sounds wonderful!

Book your free tickets for The Laurie Lee Prize for Writing 2024.

Saturday 30th November, The Festival of Stories
SPARKS (the old M&S), 78 Broadmead, Bristol, from 10am

The celebration of storytelling is a free day bringing together an “eclectic mix of seasoned storytellers, emerging voices and passionate listeners for a day filled with tales that span generations, cultures, and experiences.”

I’m part of the ‘stories for grown ups’ line-up and can’t wait to discover what else is going on.