A tribute to grandparents and a love of East Anglia have combined to win a University of Suffolk student a prestigious writing award.
James Brown, who is halfway through a year’s MA in Creative and Critical Writing drew on his love for his late grandparents and his affection for the area to write In The Blood and win the Student New Angle Prize (SNAP).
The competition is run in conjunction with the New Angle Prize for Literature and asks for writing which offers a sense of East Anglia, evoking its spirit and identity.
James, who grew up in Stowmarket, was close to his grandparents and wrote his winning piece as a tribute to them.
“When I think of the area, I think of family. I was very close to my grandparents. Their influence and passing affected and shaped me in immeasurable ways.
“It’s a very personal piece that I hope captures the elements that make these kind of relationships transcendent and magical.
“I’ve been humbled at every stage, from being listed to winning. The competition was so strong. I know several of the other entrants and all are amazing writers.”
Judging the entries was award winning writer, Zoe Gilbert who is a visiting Fellow for Creative Writing at the University of Suffolk.
She described James’s entry as ‘a seemingly quiet story that packs an emotional punch’.
Praising the standard of entries, Zoe added: “Reading these stories together was a particular pleasure, birds, water and Suffolk sights and voices echoing between them.
“They felt like six siblings each with their own unique view of a shared world and I came away with so many strong images of both town and country, people and landscape, but all imbued with deep feeling.
“I enjoyed them so much that it was a personal agony to have to choose, and I hope that all six will be enjoyed by readers far and wide.”
Amanda Hodgkinson, Senior Lecturer in English and Creative Writing said: “The competition is a great opportunity for all students to embrace their creativity and celebrate our region.
“With professional judges and its affiliation with a major literature prize, the SNAP competition is an example of our belief in a university community, in offering opportunity and in the university as a hub for a Creative Suffolk.”
Photo shows entrants and senior lecturers (clockwise from bottom left) Jeremy Evans, Caroline Roberts, Dr Antonella Castelvedere, Dr Amanda Hodgkinson (Senior Lecturer) James Brown (winner) and Sophie Wilks
BA (Hons) English | University of Suffolk (uos.ac.uk)
MA Creative and Critical Writing | University of Suffolk (uos.ac.uk)
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