From the Lochaber News: “The John Muir Trust has announced the winners of its 2008 prestigious Wild Writing competition at this week’s festival. First prize of a place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor went to Kay Sexton from Sussex for her piece, Cleft, a tale about a challenging climbing incident and the relationship between two people.”
And those who know me well (and especially those kind and generous people who’ve read GK) will immediately spot that this prize – which is the one that assuaged my somewhat irritated psyche during the Willesden Fiasco – has a significance beyond the fact that I’m going to get a free writing holiday in Scotland.
Lochaber, Loch Ness, Fort William etc, all feature in the novel that is currently on an agent’s desk, and yes, the story ‘Cleft’ was developed out of that novel, which does have a rock-climbing heroine … should I take it as an omen? Who knows? What I do know is that it’s been a decade since I was in Lochaber and I can’t wait to renew my acquaintance with some of the most beautiful scenery on the face of the planet. I’m grateful to the judges who picked my work, and to the Arvon Foundation and the John Muir Trust for offering a prize that any writer should be thrilled to win, and above all, to the operation of synchronicity which allowed me to hug this little happiness to my breast while the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune were flung at the ten Willesden Herald finalists earlier this month.
Ben Nevis and highlands image courtesy of coolhawks88
16 Comments
katrina
22nd February 2008Congratulations, Kay!!
SallyQ
22nd February 2008HUGE congratulations, Kay! What a fantastic prize. I hope you have a wonderful time.
Definitely a good omen 🙂
TitaniaWrites
22nd February 2008Kay, that’s wonderful, what a heavenly prize! I’ve been to Lumb Bank and Totleigh Barton and both Arvon courses were life-changing for me. Have an amazing time.
Tania
kathrynoh
22nd February 2008Congratulations, enjoy 😀
Paul Campbell
23rd February 2008A prize, a prize! Wahooooo !
And well deserved, I’m sure.
How long’s the writing holiday?
Louise
23rd February 2008Congratulations! Wow! Allow yourself to be mega happy and celebrate yourself for being such a good writer! I’m honored to work with you and appreciate your honesty! Take your time … Big hug from Lou
Charles Lambert
23rd February 2008Great news! I remember Fort William from over thirty years ago, and the houth hostel there, and someone waking me up, and … but this is no place for that kind of thing!
Congratulations, Kay!
Nik's Blog
24th February 2008Huge congratulations, Kay. Wonderful news.
Nik
Anonymous
25th February 2008Well done Kay. I’m really happy for you.
Mark Hubbard
Kay Sexton
26th February 2008Thank you, all of you, it’s a lovely thing to have won and I’m really looking forward to taking up my week in Scotland.
Vanessa G
26th February 2008HI Kay
I thought I left a message of congrats… in case it got wiped… congrats!!! Arvon are fantastic. I had an unforgettable week last October with them.
and loads of good luck with the novel.
<b>Xujun Eberlein</b>
27th February 2008Wow, This is so cool Kay! Congratulations and hugs!
KitHabianic
27th February 2008Hey, Kay
Dropped by to see how goes it (mountain, mohammed etc – not a bad metaphor under the circs). CONGRATULATIONS! That’s thrilling news. When you get to Scotland, please raise a glass of single malt to Zadie and all of us who’ve survived her. Onwards and upwards, grrrl!
Kit x
Kay Sexton
28th February 2008Thanks Vanessa, Xujun and most especially Kit: lovely to see you here, oh fellow member of the Smith Survivor’s Society!
KitHabianic
28th February 2008ZSSS roolz OK!
Funnily enough, a few days ago I was hearing very good things from a former tutor about a certain Vanessa G…!
Maryanne Stahl
11th March 2008brava! what a wonderful prize!