Short stories sought from young authors

BUDDING young Clare authors are invited to pen a short story inspired by Irish children’s book illustrator Chris Haughton’s latest illustration.

The chosen author could win all of the books in the Dublin Airport Authority Irish Children’s’ Book of the Year Award’ category at this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.
The Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2010, in association with the Dublin Airport Authority Children’s Book of the Year, has announced details of their annual children’s competition, which gives budding young authors all over the country the chance to get involved in the biggest celebration of Irish writers in the world.
All aspiring young writers from across the country are invited to tell the story that the illustration suggests to them in less than 500 words (250 words for under 12s). Application forms are available at www.irishbookawards.ie, or in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2010 magazine, which will be available for free from local book retailers across the country throughout the month on November.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday, November 30. Short stories must be given a title and stapled to the application form. Batched entries from school classes are also welcomed.
There are 10 categories in the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards. The awards incorporate the entire book trade in Ireland, making it the first industry wide event of its kind in the history of the Irish book sector. Now in its fifth year, the awards are open to all Irish authors who had a book published during 2010.
Two winners will receive all eight shortlisted titles in the competition and the winners’ school library will also receive a donation of some of the best Irish books from the last year.
The competition is open to all children and teenagers up to 16 years of age.
All entries should be posted to: DAA SHORT STORY COMPETITION, c/o Unique Media, 600a Cathedral Court, New Street, Dublin 8.
If you’re looking for any more information on this competition, check out the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards website www.irishbookawards.ie.