Back to Back is a bad ass fact

Went down to the Katharine Sussanah Prichard Writers’ Centre today for the 2010 Speculative Fiction Awards. What a turn out. The little room was heaving with people out in the hall!

My story, “The Red Marble” was short listed and won a commendation. In 2009 my story “Those Days” came 2nd, so to continue my run with this great organisation was a real pleasure.

When I was briefly mentioned as being back for the second year in a row, my daughter gazed lovingly at me and said, “You must be really good Dad”.

That felt fantastic.

When we were leaving, she said, “So, Dad. Have you ever come first in a competition?”

Just like that, cut back to size.

Peter McAllister, of “Manthropology” fame judged the comp and was very interesting to talk to.

I also met fellow Commendee (is that a word?) Guy Salvidge. Guy’s story “The Remembery”, which I’ve since read, is excellent. I knew Guy back in the Curtin days and have also read his worthy first novel “The Kingdom of Four Rivers”. He’s a great emerging talent, and you can check out his stuff here.

Thanks KSP people – great fun as always!

(NB: the title of this post is a Red Hot Chilli Peppers quote, and in no way indicative of how I talk on the streets)