The shortlist for the winners of the Smalltown Literary Festival has been announced and once again SomersetClive’s very own poetic artist Steven C. Gull’s name isn’t on it.
Last year Steve famously missed out on scooping a prize after the judges ruled that his entry ‘Love in a Smalltown‘ was disqualified for “not being a work of fiction“, and this year he has once again fallen foul of the same rule.
Steve told us “After my entry was declined last year, I thought I’d try something different this year, so I reworked my Christmas Pantomime ‘The Princess and the Forty Thieves’ into a short story.
I was certain that I was onto a winner, because I’d heard that former-Councillor Fencesitter was on the judging panel, and we all know that he loves a good fairy story which involves a Princess.
Once again the judges have said that my entry is factual and not a piece of fiction, so I’ve been disqualified, but I actually think that’s just a cover story.
I’ve noticed that the four winners in my category are women. I’ve heard that they had 9,400 entries and 9,399 of those were from women authors. I firmly believe that they have all entered because the prize will be awarded by world-famous local author Nicholas Voyd.
We all know that his books have a huge following from women of a certain age, who hang onto his every word. I think the real reason my entry was refused is because he doesn’t want the competition from a younger man.
No. I’m not bitter.”
The Smalltown Literary Festival will take place at the White Elephant Enclosure and Smalltown Library from 19th-21st May. The queue to meet Nicholas Voyd is now open.