Author’s memoir wins second place in national competition

LOCAL writer Alison Clink’s memoir, ‘The Man Who Didn’t Go To Newcastle’ has won second prize in a national competition, the Words For The Wounded Independent Author Book Award 2016. 

The judges said, “In The Man Who Didn’t go to Newcastle, Alison Clink charts her care of her terminally ill slightly older brother, Adrian, with a lovely pace and voice and creates a really moving exploration of siblings across their lives and most importantly, mortality. This is a situation which unearths not only memories of the past they have shared, but an awareness of their separate adult lives, especially as friends of his arrive to cheer him on. With each visitor it seems, another puzzle piece is put in place.

“Throughout this memoir Clink weaves the present and past together with an honesty which reveals the difficulties of caring for someone who is no more perfect than the rest of us. There is not only sadness but humour, and implicit tension. It is interesting to consider how Clink’s undoubted and empathetic writing skills would be translated into fiction. She already writes short stories so let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long for an Alison Clink novel. Bravo. A worthy 2nd place.”

Alison said, “I was absolutely delighted when I got the email from the organisers of the book award telling me my book had come second.

“The judges also made a point of asking me about the book I’m working on at the moment, which is a novel entitled ‘Two Blackberry Lane’.  The prize was judged by a literary agent and they have asked to see my manuscript for my new book, which makes it doubly exciting.”

Over 50 of Alison’s short stories have been published in the UK (mainly in Woman’s Weekly and Take A Break‘s Fiction Feast) and abroad. Her work has been broadcast on Radio 4 and she has had articles published in Stella magazine and the Guardian.

Alison’s short plays have been performed locally and she was the creator of the Frome Festival Short Story competition. Currently she runs a weekly drop-in creative writing class at Babington House.