We’re delighted to announce the longlist for the 2023 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition.
“These are all rich and ambitious stories which demonstrate the wealth of material history offers to readers and writers today,” says HWA Chair Imogen Robertson.
“The judges were very impressed by the excellent writing on display this year.
“Many writers sent us stories which were vivid, bold and imaginative and combined excellent world building with fresh voices and compelling narratives. It was a real challenge to keep the longlist to 25 and we are very grateful to all the writers who submitted.”
The HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition 2023 longlist:
A Pact Fulfilled by Eleanor Swift-Hook
And an Axe by Hilary Orme
Annie’s Sacred Pilgrimage by Sue du Feu
Ayla the Apothecary by Chris Cottom
Black Christ by Judith Wilson
Circles in the Sand by Sallyann Halstead
Cross to Bear by Laura Karim
Dawn Rising by Anne Byrne
Demons and Monkeys by Tamako Takamatsu
Deus ex Machina by Thea Burgess
Dividing Lines by Hilary Coyne
Hecate’s Daughter by Jo Tiddy
Hide and Seek by Maggie Richell-Davies
Liberty Coaster by Sierra Kaag
Loyalty by Victoria Blake
Maewyn’s Day by Valerie Bowes
Terrible Beauty, Redux by HM Hulme
The Beheading Game by Nayani Jensen
The Great Jemima by Sarah Frances
The Roaring Girl by Louise Morrish
The Telftbury Manikin by Valerie Thompson
Watch Out for Snakes by Terry Mulhern
Well Water by Josie Turner
Where the Wildflowers Grow by Mark Stewart
Who Can Believe in Witches by Cheryl Burman
Congratulations to all the longlisted authors!
Out of these 25, there will be six shortlisted. The winning story will be announced in the Awards section of the HWA website on 11 October, as will the two highly commended stories and the other shortlisted entries. All six will be published in an anthology at the end of this year.
We’ll live tweet the six finalists, including the winner, on Twitter that morning. They’ll be listed on Facebook shortly after. You can find them using this year’s hashtag, #HWADDSS23.
All the shortlisted authors are invited to the HWA awards ceremony on 22 November, 2023, where they’ll receive their prizes.
Full details are on the HWA website.
Many thanks to our longlist judges.
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
