The summary:
- Profoundly heart-breaking - Michael Solender's recounting of a life not wanting to be lived.
- The story of the cold yet manic Cutter by Anthony Cowin sliced through our vengeful senses.
- Chris Allinotte's thieving Diamond Diana is the deadliest enemy of arsehole toffs.
- Antonia Woodville's bonkers dialogue had us seeking for explanation, and squawk, did we find it!
- The brilliantly titled Scarbucks from Sue H was more amusing and satisfying than it morally ought to be. Hey ho. Result.
- Honey by AJ Humpage hurt our very souls; so wrong, so unnacceptable.
- Bill Owens hit us with another double:
- #1 - poor kidda getting revenge on his guardian felt correct; justice without intervention
- #2 - Bill kindly wrote this about me "swaying, twisting, bronze peacocks in their outlandish costumes. Curved where they should be." (Not really.) A tale of restrained hunger.
- Me, I had trailer-trash Chuck struttin' his pinched stuff before punctured Mama.
- Vegas from RS Bohn slapped us hard with the relentless sleeze of the city of filth.
- We were teased and taunted by David Barber's The Undead, and SO want to know what happens next.
- I have avoided the toilet since William Davoll's silent, slimey and squidactic 'Don't Sit Down'. But oh, oh, oh...
- Elspeth questioned and brought us firmly down to earth with desperately tragic A Mother's Love.
- asuqi's freaky twist in time tapped at reality; I found it horridly and beautifully wanting.
- A noir hit with Perp from Susan May James tricked us into believing it was a standard, if perverse investigation - until the fidget...
- The skinny bitch of Sandie Owen's Peacock Feather screeched her last with the stabbing of the quill, or it shut her up at least.
- Pixie J. King's upsetting tale, Daddy's Little Girl hit hard when heard with the abuser's voice. May he die - painfully.
- AidanF was a little late this week ;), but didn't disappoint. Hurt and loss spasms through this semi-dialogue in the world of faery.
For its most bizarre and striking imagery, this week's winner is asuqi with Every Present is a Pearl on an Eternal String. I just loved this wild delivery. Congrats asuqi. And because I love gruesome toilet humour which made everyone here uncomfortable, my runner-up is William Davoll's anal (in the most painful sense) Don't Sit Down. Well done William.
Unbelievably hard to judge. Please make my job even harder next week, you horribly talented writers you.
New words will be announced tomorrow.
________________________________________
Yay, Asuqi! She truly is a brilliant, brilliant writer. Did I mention that she's BRILLIANT?
ReplyDeleteWell done everyone! (as usual)
Congrats , a fine selection. Lookitchu and all the writes you've garnered. And to think it seems only weeks ago you wanted to pack it all in..
ReplyDeleteCongrats Asuqi for a great 100 words!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I second Michael. You've created a little "writers heaven" here, Lily. Somewhere we can all come and have a "blow out" and a great time reading all the others. Thanks!!!
Congratulations Asuki, an excellent choice. A disturbingly sad piece with amazing imagery. I too thank you Lily for the opportunity to 'Give it a whirl'
ReplyDeleteCongrats Asqui, a worthy winner form such a brilliant collection. I'm glad that William's 'Don't Sit Down' got a nod being runner up too. That story has stuck in my head all week.
ReplyDeleteYou did a good job at judging this week Lily. It must have caused you a headache.
Lily, I´m honoured and happy -- thank you so much! And what makes it even better is that you had such a stellar bunch of stories to chose from! My feet have not touched ground today =)
ReplyDeletebrilliant, Asuqi, congratulations, William too as runner up. Great choice for winners, Lily but not sure how you did it!
ReplyDeleteAsuqi - you are very welcome!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the lovely words everyone. I'm glad (understatement) that you all like to play with my little challenge.
Yes, it is getting harder and harder to judge; the talent is overwhelming. The writing skill is consistently superb, but I tend to go for the story that somehow hits me hardest that week. I have no answer as to why that might be. It could be emotional or fascination; it might have made me laugh out loud or squirm in delighted disgust. I can't deny it's not subjective, and can even depend on what mood I'm in that week/day/second. But aren't we all fickle?
The main thing is, you all never fail to surprise me - and I for one love that. Keep them coming - please. And thank you.
A Well deserved win Asuqi, a really intriguing write, well done.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I'm really chuffed to bits with being the runner up in such a strong field.
Thanks Lily