BBC National Short Story Award’s 2017

I’m excited. The BBC National Short Stories Award shortlist has just been announced.

This combines two of my favourite things, short stories and podcasts. Each of the shortlisted stories is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and then, a little while after, is available for download during this week.

Selected from over 600 entries, this year’s shortlist is as follows:

Murmur by Will Eaves

– a vivdly narrated account of a man finding himself on the wrong side of conventional morality.

The Waken by Jenni Fagan

– set on a scotish island where a young woman with vengance on her mind has a transformative experience.

The Edge of the Shoal by Cynan Jones

– a fishing trip gone wrong, a story of survival on the seas.

The Collector by Benjamin Markovits

– a lonely man is struggling to come to terms with recent events which are shrouded in mystery.

If a book is locked there’s probably a good reason for that, don’t you think? by Helen Oyeyemi

– a tale of office politics turned dark when a newcomer’s handbag is upturned and secrets spill out.

The podcasts can be found to download here

The stories are also available in an anthology if you prefer to read them. The National Short Story Awards 2017 is out now in the UK and will be released in the US on November 1st.

The judges for this year include Joanna Trollope, Eimear McBride, Jon McGregor, Sunjeev Sahota and Di Speirs, who is Books Editor at BBC Radio.

This is the 12th year of this award, with the winning author receiving £15000, and the four other shortlisted authors, £600 each. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 3rd October live on BBC Radio 4 during Front Row from 7.15pm.

If you want to read more about the award head to BBC Radio 4’s website here