Pin Drop

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for this year’s Pin Drop Short Story Award, an award in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts.   The winning story will be announced and narrated by Gwendoline Christie on 11th July at a special awards ceremony at the RA.

Shortlist

David Butler, Scorched Earth

Nat Luurtsema, Howling Pack of Undesirables

Niamh MacCabe, Steer the Dark Skies Blue

Anthony Quinn, Trick Bag

Stefanie Seddon, Breaking Horses in Waiuta

Kathryn Simmonds, The Social Smoker

Stuart Snelson, Space Invaders

Maria Thomas, Lucky

Sophie Ward, Sunbed

Asif Zubairy, Playing God

The award is judged by Pin Drop Co-founders Elizabeth Day and Simon Oldfield, and the RA’s Director of Artistic Programmes, Tim Marlow. Commenting on this year’s award, Pin Drop Co-founder and award judge, Simon Oldfield commented:

“Congratulations to all the writers featured in this year’s shortlist for the Pin Drop Short Story Award. We have been impressed by the extraordinary quality and diversity of the stories selected for the shortlist, which represents an exciting range of genres, tone and subjects. It has been thrilling to see such fresh and accomplished writing emerge from a talented pool. Each story surprises, delights and leaves a lasting impression long after reading.”

We received an unprecedented number of entries this year, with writing of an incredibly high standard from all around the world. The award, which offers a unique platform for emerging and established writers to showcase their short fiction, is being judged by Pin Drop Co-founders Elizabeth Day and Simon Oldfield, and the RA’s Director of Artistic Programmes, Tim Marlow.

Gwendoline Christie is best known for portraying the warrior Brienne of Tarth in the HBO series Game of Thrones since 2012, and the First Order Stormtrooper Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).

Supported by Stonehage Fleming.

Book tickets to see Gwendoline Christie announce and narrate the winning story.

Photo by Matt Holyoak