Short Story Competiton finalists announced

Open Division judge Owen Marshall has selected a long-list of 10 finalists in this year's Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition. Marshall said, "As always with such a large number of entries, the final group contains stories of a very high standard." (Marshall received entries with writers' names removed).

The long-list is: Jonathan Barrett, Wellington ("Necropolis"); Eleanor Cattton, Wellington ("The Measure of Gary Mooney"); Pauleen Hayes, Hastings ("And Yet"); Jessica Lebas, Nelson "(Sleepy Fox"); Samara McDowell, Wellington ("Yolk"); Carl Nixon, Christchurch ("The Tide Clock"); Mary-anne Scott, Hawke's Bay ("Swings And Roundabouts"); Louise Slocombe, Wellington ("Not Waving But Drowning"); Christine Stewart, Wellington ("Jane has Told Saffron"); Yvonne van Dongen, Auckland ("The Best Friend").

The Secondary School Division finalists selected by judge David Hill are: Ava Atkinson-Barclay, Columba College, Dunedin ("Calculated Formula"); Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle, Western Springs College, Auckland ("Broken Eggshells"); Elizabeth Cronin, Tauranga Girls College, Tauranga ("Tamarillo"); Mary Dennis, Wellington High School, Wellington "(Have You Tried Therapy?"); Briar Lawry, St Cuthberts College, Manukau City ("Summertime in Tarras"); Ruby Porter, Northcote College, Auckland ("Touched"); Manon Revuelta, Epsom Girls Grammar, Auckland ("Sugar For His Tea"); Charlotte Trevella, Rangiruru Girls' School, Rangiora ("Small Town Weather"); Summer Withers, Manawatu College, Foxton ("Objective"); Dazhao Zhang, Pakuranga College, Auckland ("Mr Lawrence's Calendar").

The shortlist (top three) will be published on November 4; winners to be announced November 7.

Open Division 1st prize: $5000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $500 worth of books from Random House; 2nd prize: $2000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $300 worth of books from Random House; 3rd prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $200 worth of books from Random House.

Secondary School Division 1st prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times, work experience day at Random House, $100 worth of Random House books for winner's school; 2nd prize: $500 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $100 worth of Random House books for finalist's school; 3rd prize: $250 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $100 worth of Random House books for finalist's school.

Best Unpublished Writer: Random House experience with fiction publisher Harriet Allan and $200 worth of books from Random House.

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