Prize Details

Alex Keegan


After writing five crime novels and then switching to serious short fiction I have published more than 200 short pieces. Choosing the first collection was very difficult. It's not easy to "theme" my stories.

Then we struck on the simple idea of printing all or most of my prize-winning stories. Here are all bar two first prizes and three seconds. My next collection should feature one or more further winners plus some of my better publications.

It strikes me that "Ballistics" would make a fine set-book for an AK course in how to win writing competitions!

I think it's fair to say these stories disprove the old adage, "Those who can, do: Those who can't teach."



Ballistics

Won First Place in the Lichfield Short-Story Prize





Miguel Who Cuts Down Trees

Won First Place in the Cadenza Short-Story Prize

First Published in print in the excellent Cadenza Magazine






The Smell of Almond Polish

Won First Place in the Focus on Fiction Short-Story Prize

Judge Jo Good.

First Published in print in the Cadenza






Mother, Questions

Won Joint First Place in the Buzzwords Short-Story Prize, 2000

First Published in print in Buzzwords



Green Glass

Won First Place in the Buzzwords Short-Story Prize, 1999

First Published in print in Buzzwords





L for Laura; L for Love

Won First Place in the Southport Short-Story Prize



An Old Man Watching Football After Eating Sunday Lunch

Won First Place in the Pencil, Short-Story Prize, Bantry, Ireland




The Fucking Point Two

Won First Place in the Lichfield Short-Story Prize




Obelisk

Won First Place in the Lichfield Short-Story Prize



Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet & Watch

Won £300 First Place in the Peninsular Short-Story Prize

First Printed in Peninsular




The Last Love Letter of Berwyn Price

Won £1,000 Second Place in the Bridport Short-Story Prize

First Printed in the Bridport Prize Anthology



The Bastard William Williams

Won £1,000 Second Place in the Bridport Short-Story Prize

First Printed in the Bridport Prize Anthology



The Quarry

Won First Place in the Momaya Short-Story Prize

First printed in the Momaya Collection




Postcards From BalloonLand

Won £500 Second Place in the Raconteur Short-Story Prize

First Printed in Raconteur V



Tomatoes, Flamingos, Lemmings

Was Editor's Choice in The Fish Prize

First Printed in the Fish Anthology

This longer version was broadcast on BBC Radio 4






Meredith Toop Evans and His Butty Ernie the Egg

A 2,000 word version was a finalist in Story Cellar and printed in their collection

A 3,000 word version was £300 runner-up in The Rhys Davies Memorial Awards
and printed in the anthology "Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe" (Parthian Books)

This version was the inaugural story for Atlantic Monthly Unbound




Happy as Larry

sees its first publication and is a sampler of more recent work