Here are the shortlisted and winning stories in the 2023 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition.
The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist:
Black Christ by Judith Wilson
The judges said: “The central motif of Liverpool’s Black Christ gives a familiar story new grace. Wilson cleverly sets everyday tragedy against the striking yet uneasy symbolic power of the statue.”
“The courageous character of this teenage girl, written in the first person, comes across very effectively; the atmosphere and tone give a full sense of hopelessness and tragedy. The ending is unexpected and succinct, poignantly affecting.”
Dawn Rising by Anne Byrne
“Fluid and descriptive prose immerse the reader with a refreshing narrative that stood out from the crowd. Anne Byrne flipped my expectations on their head. I was unprepared for that twist ending and its implications for the hidden meaning within the story. I can’t say too much without ruining the ending, but suffice it to say I hope you’re taken in by her clever writing and left just as incredulous as her protagonist.”
“A very moving, emotionally strong story. Beautifully, almost poetically, written, with an effective choice of vocabulary. Angry and poignant conclusion, with flavour of early feminism.”
Hecate’s Daughter by Jo Tiddy
“A clever story, written deftly and colourfully, showing the cruelty and ignorance (and small
kindnesses) of the period.” (It’s set in the 16th century as fears of witchcraft were rising.)
“I adored this original and subversive take on a well-worn tale, told in such a vivid and powerful voice that it felt wonderfully fresh and relevant.”
The Roaring Girl by Louise Morrish
“An original story, very successful use of vocabulary to describe the horrors of the prison cell. The mother’s stubborn independence, together with her profound love for her daughter, in juxtaposition with the tragic irony of her fate, are wonderfully written.”
“A riotous, rollicking tale giving full, lusty voice to one of history’s lesser-known women.”
Well Water by Josie Turner
“Echoes of Roald Dahl’s short story Lamb to the Slaughter. Amelia is a complex character embodying the tenderness of motherhood and the brutality of survival. Josie Turner will lull you into a false sense of security before revealing this story’s true face.”
“I loved this chilling, wickedly observed morsel of American gothic. Turner plumbs the dark waters of betrayal and revenge with unexpected humanity.”
Who Can Believe in Witches by Cheryl Burman
“Based on the true story of Ellen Hayward, tried for witchcraft in 1906, this story explores the persecution of women, especially those who did not conform to convention: unwedded mothers, healers and wise women, and those blamed for the actions of lustful men. A dual timeline is no easy feat within a short story but Cheryl Burman pulls it off, leading to a satisfying conclusion.”
Highly commended:
Out of those six, two are highly commended: Black Christ by Judith Wilson and Dawn Rising by Anne Byrne.
Winner:
And the winner of the 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition is: Hecate’s Daughter by Jo Tiddy.
Congratulations to the shortlisted authors! All are invited to the HWA awards ceremony on 22 November, 2023, where they’ll receive their prizes.
We’ll publish all six of these short stories as an anthology later in the year, in time for the awards celebration in November. Hecate’s Daughter will also be published here in Historia and in the Dorothy Dunnett Society magazine, Whispering Gallery.
Full details are on the HWA website.
Many thanks to our judges, who worked hard to choose from 25 longlisted entries for this year’s shortlist and winner.
See the longlisted stories in this year’s competition.
If you use Twitter/X, catch up with all our news about this year’s content by following #HWADDSS23
Past winners of the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Prize:
2022: Collapse by Chrissy Sturt
2021: His Mother’s Quilt by Naomi Kelsey
2020: The Race by Alice Fowler
2019: The Daisy Fisher by Kate Jewell
2018: Nineteen Above Discovery by Jennifer Falkner
2017: A Poppy Against the Sky by Annie Whitehead
