Brought to Book. Литагент HarperCollins USD

real answer is – a good one. It’s a subjective judgement, of course, and tastes always vary but, by and large, writing which stands out is sprightly, original, individual and, above all, written from the heart. Whether you love the work in this collection or hate it, they are all stories which impressed us in some way or another.

      Thanks are due then to my fellow judges – especially Ian St James for his continued support and Nick Sayers, Deputy Publishing Director, HarperCollins Trade Division. It is never easy for a publisher to justify a book containing work by virtually unknown writers. HarperCollins’ involvement with these Awards is a highly welcome demonstration of their commitment to new and exciting work. This year, the Awards have also benefited from the support of pensions specialists NPI, who printed and distributed thousands of entry forms, and from Elysée, who have presented all shortlisted writers with fountain pens. Looking ahead, the organizers would like to be able to introduce new ideas; reduce the entry fees to widen participation from writers across the world, increase the print run and distribution of Acclaim and run short–story workshops around the UK. To do this will require the backing of a major sponsor. At the moment the Awards break even but only just, and the judges and staff are all unpaid.

      A special mention is therefore due to the administrator, Merric Davidson, who, as well as directing the Awards, also runs the New Writers’ Club which publishes Acclaim magazine. His endless enthusiasm and capacity to get by on very little sleep ensure the healthy continuance of these Awards.

      In addition, all entrants contribute. Without the writers who send in their stories each year the Awards would not exist. There is a tendency within the industry to be a little snooty about enterprises such as this – to regard them as somehow amateurish or not terribly serious. This is a gross mistake. The people who enter the Ian St James Awards and the readers who buy this book are the writers and readers who keep publishing alive. Apart from encouraging potential novelists, all those who support awards like these contribute to an important and often undervalued facet of our literary culture – the art form of the short story.

      For the authors selected, it is a step forward in a possible writing career. I should know. In 1990, the second year of the Awards, I was one of the winners – and a part–time secretary. This year, the sixth, I am a judge – and a full–time writer. I look forward to the next six successful years, when maybe the person introducing the year 2000 anthology of the Ian St James Awards will be one of the writers you are about to read in Brought to Book.

      LOUISE DOUGHTY

      (Louise Doughty’s first novel, Crazy Paving, is published in January 1995.)

Judges

      THE 1994 IAN ST JAMES AWARDS

      RODNEY BURBECK

      Book Trade Journalist

      LOUISE DOUGHTY

      Novelist

      ALAN DUNN

      Novelist

      MAGGIE NOACH

      Literary Agent

      IAN ST JAMES

      Novelist

      NICK SAYERS

      Publisher

      JOHN TRENHAILE

      Novelist