This is the end, I promise, the very end of the Essex Book Festival 2021. Today was the big reveal on the Story Hunters project, the invitation to visit one of twenty nominated sites in Essex, take a photo of yourself to prove you were there and write a story of between 50 and 250 words inspired by the site. The organisers put back the closing date from July to October to let more people take part, and the choice of the winning entries was made in November.
Storm Arwen had its say. We arrived at Cressing Temple Barns in a squally burst of cold rain and strong winds, though from what my friends have told me we got off lightly. Lost roof tiles, power cuts, hefty objects blown around. People have died when debris and branches have hit their vehicles. Still, we weren’t tempted to wander around the grounds, and the lively closing event to the main festival in August seemed like a different world.
I didn’t get a mention, neither runner-up nor winner – but the people who did get runner-up were chuffed, and they should be. There are some very talented writers in Essex. The girl who won the under-16 prize was very shy, hiding her face and running back to her seat with her prize, but the director made the point that she was now a published author at eight years old. I hope she remembers that tomorrow.
All of the stories are on the Essex Book Festival website under the space for ‘The Story Hunters – Flash Fiction Competition Entries’. I’d like to visit the places next year, virus allowing, to see what they’ve seen.
And I hope the Essex Book Festival keeps up its momentum and comes back with a bang next year. I will be there.
Julia Chalkley 