Huge congratulations to Cameron Stewart, who was announced as the winner of the 2019 Bristol Short Story Prize last night.
Cameron is based in Sydney, Australia and won for his very powerful story, Black Snow. The winning story plus the other 19 shortlisted entries are available in our new anthology, published by Tangent Books.
Cameron wasn’t able to be at last night’s awards ceremony to receive his prize but sent his reaction to winning to be read out at the event. Here is an excerpt:
“Many times I’ve abandoned my desk and gone into the kitchen for yet another coffee (or glass of wine!), a handful of almonds or a cheese sandwich I don’t really need, because I’m struggling with a passage of writing or battling a moment of self-doubt. As Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
“And then there are moments like this. When Black Snow was selected as one of the finalists for this year’s Bristol Prize Anthology, I was thrilled that my story had resonated with other people –– that was enough for me. To win the prize is beyond my expectations. So thank you for this honour.
Stories connect us. They allow us to think about the lives we live, the lives of others, and how we want to live in the future. It’s difficult to articulate, because to be honest, I don’t think about it too much, but I think I write so I can understand the world around me and my place in it. And I read because I want to hear what other people have to say. I feel very honoured to be part of a group of international writers who share their different perspectives of the world through storytelling. In a time when many leaders show little sense of listening or understanding and turn their backs on truth and science, literature is a lovely antidote.
I’d like to offer a big congratulations to all of the other selected finalists. I may be 17,000 kilometres away, but I raise a glass to you all tonight and send you my very best. Have a top night.”
Massive congratulations to Cameron and the other shortlisted writers.
More soon on the awards ceremony, including the winner of the inaugural Sansom Award for Bristol writers. In the meantime, head over to Tangent Books for a fantatstic anthology.
