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PRESS RELEASE
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WINNER OF
2003 POPULAR FICTION COMPETITION
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(Results
were officially announced by Selwa Anthony at 9.30am at the
NSW Writers’ Centre’s Australian Publishers and Authors
Bookshow on Saturday, October 18,
2003).
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The NSW
Writers’ Centre’s Australian Voices in Print are delighted
to announce Geoffrey McGeachin as the winner of the 2003
Popular Fiction Competition.
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The competition was established in 2003 to promote new
Australian authors and provide an opportunity for
publication in a difficult market for an unknown author to
enter.
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With a working title of FAT, FIFTY & F***ED! Geoffrey’s
manuscript stood out among the 277 entires as it
encompassed all the elements of popular fiction and made an
outstanding, entertaining read.
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The judge of the competition, agent Selwa Anthony from
Australian Voices in Print, said: ‘It had everything to
keep me turning the pages, right to the very end: there is
drama, action, humour, romance, two great main characters
(male and female), lots of sub-plots, with a thrilling
finale.’
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‘It was the only one of the 10 shortlisted that held my
interest all the way through. It was well crafted and there
was never a time that I lost my interest. For someone in my
position, who is reading manuscripts on a day-to-day basis
– sometimes seven days a week, ten months of the year –
it’s such a rewarding feeling when this happens.’
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The two manuscripts chosen for the mentorship prize were
“In Light of Silk” by Adrienne Ferreira and “William’s
Tunnel” by Narelle Harper-Phillips. Selwa Anthony will
represent both these manuscripts after both authors
complete their mentorships with professional editors.
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FAT,
FIFTY & F***ED! Is Geoffrey’s first book and will be
published by Penguin Australia in 2004.
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Geoffrey McGeachin was born in Melbourne, and is both a
photographer and a teacher of photography. When told of his
win, Geoffrey said he was ‘flabbergasted’. ‘I had always
planned to send my manuscript to Selwa, so the competition
was very timely and gave me an opportunity to submit my
first novel. I was delighted to have won.’
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NSW WRITERS’ CENTRE INC
PO Box
1056, Rozelle NSW 2039
(Rozelle Hospital Grounds, Balmain Road Rozelle NSW)
Phone: (02) 9555 9757
Fax: (02) 9818 1327
Website: www.nswwriterscentre.org.au