The Good Life France held a Writing Contest to celebrate its 2nd birthday in spring of 2014. We asked people to write about France – their memories, a favourite place, what they love about France etc and we were completely thrilled when entries starting pouring into our mail box from Francophiles all around the world, More than 100 entries arrived in four weeks!
Our five independent judges and a secret 6th judge for tie breaks had an immensely difficult task to pick winners, as one of them said “I’m completely blown away by the calibre of the talented writers who’ve sent such wonderful stories in”. After a lot of deliberation – a consensus was reached. The judges were overwhelmed by the incredibly high standard and the passion of the writers who sent their posts in and it was enormously hard to choose the winners, finalists and highly commended writers and the bar was set very high indeed.
Enormous thanks to the judges: authors Susie Kelly, Deborah Lawrenson, Kimberley Petyt, Patricia Sands, Julia Stagg and author and publisher Stephanie Zia.
We’re delighted to announce the winners, finalists and highly commended entries – all of them will be published so that everyone can enjoy their fabulous stories.
Overall winner – Karin Crilly for Scattered Dreams
Karin’s story moved everyone who read it to tears and also to smiling. It was a beautifully written piece by 78 year old Californian Karin who has just embarked on a new life in Provence and is planning to write a book. Karin wins a fabulous ten week creative writing course with the renowned www.writingclasses.co.uk and we look forward to reviewing her book soon! Read Scattered Dreams by Karin Crilly
Winners
Eric Freeze: Eric is from Alberta, Canada and is the author of two books and has published short stories, translations, and essays in numerous periodicals including Harvard Review, The Southern Review, and Boston Review. The judges loved his wonderful descriptions of the south of France – so rich, lush and evocative that they felt they could see the places he described. Read Trompe l’Oeuil by Eric Freeze
Jay Lee: Jay’s story “Nico” moved everyone who read it. A wonderfully inspiring story of a family’s move from America to Paris with their special needs son. The descriptions of their day to day life with Nico as they explore the area, markets, food, transport are wonderful. Read Nico by Jay Lee
Kirsten Macintosh: Coming Home is an exceptionally evocative story, filled with emotion and passion, from Kirsten, an artist from Scotland who lives in Collioure in the south of France. Read Coming Home by Kirsten Macintosh
SK Harrington: Blown Away is a story from the Dordogne Valley with great pace, wonderfully visual descriptions and a great ending. Shelley is an American freelance writer based in England. Read Blown Away by Shelley Harrington
Finalists (in alphabetical order):
Penny Asquith-Evans – Bastille Day
Andrea Bouchaud – La Vie Parisienne
Jacqui Brown – Oui D’Accord, expats elected to French council
Analiza Davis – Breton Snapshot
Marlayna Glynn Brown – PC in Paris
Katy Gough – Love at first bite
Pippa Grantham – Think of all the Beauty, The history of Miss Dior perfume
Patricia Morton – Mountain in the Sea
Lucy Pitts – A week long ago
Milaysha Roussy – Romantic Paris is more than a cliché
Madeline Thomas – P is for Pastis
Susie Woodhams – Mastering the art of macarons
Highly Commended (In alphabetical order)
Deborah Anderson – 9 KM tour
Liz Cleere – Handstands in Miramas
Chrstine Coombes – Alive and well and flowering in France
analiza Davis – Ile de seine
susana Iwase – Anecdotes of learning French
Cindy Le Sauvage Guilbert – La Magie de Xocolata
Lindsey Marcella – Lady Francophile
Alison Mitchell – The Course Camarguaise – Where The Bull Is King
Vicki Morley – The other attraction of Beaune
Rosie Mowatt – Messing about on the River
Nick Nash – A little bit of resistance
Jo Ann Plant – My Love of France
Rebecca Rigg – Discovering the joys of summer
Jackie Savage – The Etang (poem)
Clara Challoner Walker – A workaholic’s French Sabbatical
