Hawkeye Books Announce Prize Winners 2023

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition!

Hawkeye Books would like to thank all the entrants for sharing their wonderful stories.

FIRST PLACE: Mr Popperwell Takes the Lead by Ned Stephenson

SECOND PLACE: Breakfast by Pete Armstrong

THIRD PLACE: Lefty Righty by Kathleen Klug

JUNIOR WINNER: The Bicycle of Forgotten Things by Pippini Niamh

Click here to read the full announcement.

Carolyn Martinez, Director of Hawkeye Publishing says ‘A cleverly crafted short story is not only enjoyable to read, but is also an excellent strategic step for a writer’s career. A shortlisted story shows publishers that you have unique and creative ideas, know how to draw readers in, and understand how to wield words to their maximum effect.’
https://hawkeyepublishing.com.au/about/

Judging Panel

The writing group Brisbane Scribes, said ‘Deciding on forty titles to be published in an anthology was problematic enough, but distilling that list to a shortlist stimulated much debate amongst the judges with some passionate advocacy of individual selections. As would be expected, all on the list are well-written explorations of the competition theme and vary markedly in style and subject matter.’

Entrants should be extremely proud of the story they’ve produced and pre-orders are now open.

Share the winners news, tag them on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok and include the hashtags #hawkeyepublishing #SHMSSC You can download a shareable image here:
Winner cover
Winner
2nd Place
3rd Place

If you would like to read more about what Hawkeye looks for in short stories, check out Winning Short Story Competitions info below. Each order of this fantastic book includes a previous year’s anthology (while stocks last).

Looking to enter next year?

The 2024 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition theme is:
‘The Look That Said It All’.

Hawkeye Publishing can’t wait to read your take on this theme!

The competition opens on the 1st of January 2024.
For more information
click here.

Books that leave a footprint on the heart and mind
www.hawkeyebooks.com.au
www.hawkeyepublishing.com.au

The Ten Penners ‘Backyard Beasts and Curious Capers’ Review Highlights Blog Tour & More

The Ten Penners have created an anthology of magical creatures and mysterious moments. Young humans took me on their humorous and enlightening adventures involving broomstick riding, crystal balls, a backyard concert, a magic mirror, intrepid Pixie P.I. Dandelia Oakleaf, frogs, friendships and more—read on!

The Ten Penners latest anthology Backyard Beasts and Curious Capers contains imaginative reading for that age group of children who love a good giggle at preposterous things. Or are they preposterous?

✨ BOOK LAUNCH ✨

Book launch at BOOKS ETC, Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise
Saturday 21st October 2023 – 11.00am to 2.00pm
“Come and have your book signed by a Witch called Floriece, a Pixie, and Jeremy the Spaceman.”
https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners

BLOG TOUR & BOGGLE COLOUR-IN COMPETITION
DETAILS BELOW

Perhaps making a rocket is not such a strange idea?

‘Jeremy Albatross’ by Marion Martineer highlights the delight and disaster of making a backyard 🚀 rocket. This story is both funny and a health and safety warning during an action-packed BBQ for Dad’s birthday.

‘The Trees are Alive!’ by Jill Smith (of Poo Boom Cat fame) is a tale about Maggie and Caleb who get ‘a cubby house and a living garden’ during the school holidays when they rejuvenate an old tree 🌳 and receive benefits in return. Part awareness, part ecological, a story of nurturing and working with nature.

‘Wizardo’s Spell’ by Jennifer Scicluna involves Simon digging in the backyard with his father. Or not digging in the backyard with his father “Who wants to plant boring 🌸 begonias?” Simon relents and with a whack of his spade he falls through the earth into Muderoon where he meets irascible Agrim Kateus.

Only a quick glimpse at three Ten Penner author tales but you can discover a brave cat, a sensitive tree, a blue Quoggle and a fright night sleepover. In fact, twenty inventive short stories for young readers. Here’s the list:

Ten Penners, twenty stories! Always imaginative and highly readable, their newest anthology Backyard Beasts and Curious Capers contains fantasy and fun with cool character illustrations, kooky critters and silly stuff which appealed to me. Apologies if I’ve left out your favourite. There’s much more including a wakeboarding octopus and an old fairytale reimagined. Ideal for 8-12 year old readers and group reading. Story length would also suit reading before bedtime, or reading in your favourite tree. Just don’t laugh too hard!

❤ Gretchen Bernet-Ward

The Ten Penners – Saturday 14th October 2023
https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners/blog
Tour dates and launch details announced.
Sunday 15th October – Jill Smith
https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com
Jill on her role as coordinator, what it involves, and a bit
about our happy writing group.
Monday 16th October – Romi Sharp
https://www.justkidslit.com/blog/
Romi interviews Jill Smith, Ten Penners’ coordinator.
Tuesday 17th October – Marion Martineer
https://marionmartineer.wordpress.com/
Marion on being the former coordinator of The Ten
Penners, and a long-term member of the group.
Wednesday 18th October – Gretchen Bernet-Ward
https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/
Gretchen is a blogger and reviewer.
Thursday 19th October – Katharine R. Pepper
https://katharinerpepperauthor.wordpress.com
Katharine on putting the book together, her other published novels and works in progress.
Friday 20th October – Jennifer Scicluna
https://jenniferscicluna.wixsite.com/artscape/jennifers-blog
Jennifer on her experience illustrating the book and cover.
Book Launch!
Saturday 21st October 2023
https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners/blog
Books Etc, Paradise Centre, Surfers Paradise, Queensland
11.00am to 2.00pm and Colour-In competition.

BOOK LAUNCH & QUOGGLE COLOUR-IN

Saturday 21st October—BOOKS ETC.
Paradise Centre Surfers Paradise 11 am to 2 pm.
Saturday 28th October—Big B Books 10 am to 12 noon outside the shop.
Saturday 4th November—The Ten Penners monthly meeting (near Melbourne Cup)
Saturday 18th November—Gold Coast Writers book launch/promotion 15 mins confirmed.
Saturday 2nd December—Upper Coomera Library 1 hour 10 am to 11 am (then their Christmas Party lunch at the café)
Saturday 9th December-—Bookness, Mudgeeraba (to be confirmed) Draw the Quoggle colour-in competition winner!
NOTE:
The Prize Activity Pack will include more of their characters to colour-in. A badge. A Word Search. A copy of Backyard Beasts & Curious Capers, signed by the authors, and more.
Please send your entry via email to thetenpenners@gmail.com
Or hand them to The Ten Penners at their presentation.
CONTACT:
The Ten Penners look forward to your feedback on their new book so please visit their WIX site, become a member and make a comment: https://thetenpenners.wixsite.com/the-ten-penners/blog

📚 HAPPY READING 📘

‘Share Your Story’ Writing Competition and Anthology

IMG_20200312_163859 — LEGENDARY BULLOCK TEAM leaving Jondaryan Woolshed, west of Toowoomba, Queensland, loaded with bales of wool. In his heyday 1858-1862 manager James White employed 88 blade shearers in this huge T-shaped woolshed. Illustration hand-printed 1985 by H. Sperring.

Submissions are open for ‘Bedtime Yarns and Ballads from the Australian Bush’ in 2020 Share Your Story.

Here’s what coordinator, author and literary entrepreneur, Michelle Worthington has to say in her newsletter: ‘This year’s theme ‘Bedtime Yarns and Ballads from the Australian Bush’ will have judges looking for creative, engaging short stories or poems inspired by life in Australia, Australian animals, the Outback or overcoming adversity which will appeal to children aged 0 to 12 years to be read at bedtime.’

A ‘yarn’ is a rambling story, particularly one that is implausible, and poetry must be in traditional Australian ballad format. Michelle encourages writers to think of a modern version of Blinky Bill, Banjo Patterson, Dorothea Mackellar, ‘Wombat Stew’ (I add my own personal favourite ‘Snugglepot and Cuddlepie’) for a new generation of readers.

Michelle Worthington goes on to say ‘We would love aspiring authors of all ages to have the chance to be published in our next Anthology to raise money for Aussie’s doing it tough, with proceeds donated to the NSW Rural Fire Service’.

NOTE: ‘The winning entries will be included in an Anthology to be launched in October 2020, and all successful authors and illustrators will be invited as VIP Guests to the Pyjama Party Book Launch at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and locations around Australia during the launch month.’

Entries open 1 Feb 2020 and close 9pm 30 April 2020

For competition guidelines and entry requirements, visit the website to sign up for Share Your Story newsletter

https://shareyourstorypublishing.com/

Michelle Worthington is an international award-winning author and business woman. As Founder of Share Your Story Australia, she waves her wand to coach aspiring authors and illustrators all over the world to achieve their dreams of publication. Michelle is also available for speaking engagements, book signings and school visits. She runs diverse workshops, and if you are thinking of becoming a writer, check out Share Your Story or visit Facebook or contact Michelle for further information.

IMG_20200315_105328 — Maybe you could rework the legend of NED KELLY (December 1854 – November 1880) an Australian bushranger best known for wearing a suit of bulletproof armour during his final shootout with the police.

24 Stories: of Hope for Survivors of the Grenfell Tower Fire

My emotions overcame me when I read this piece…read for yourself…

Book Jotter

by Kathy Burke (Editor)

My routine was much as usual on the morning of Wednesday 14th June 2017: I arose early for work, fed the chickens, settled myself at the kitchen table for my first cuppa of the day and switched the TV on to watch BBC News.

For several seconds I stared vacantly at the screen, unable to comprehend the shocking nature of the images I was seeing. There was a man sobbing incoherently to a reporter and then emergency services vehicles were shown illuminating huddles of grim-faced onlookers in their flickering lights. It began to make sense when the picture jumped to a high-rise block of flats of the sort you find in cities throughout the UK, except this one had taken on the appearance of an immense Chinese lantern burning uncontrollably over a sleeping city.

This was Grenfell Tower, a 24-storey Brutalist-style construct in North Kensington…

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