Adele Parks’ Short Story Competition Winners Announced!
Back in May 2024, we invited aspiring authors to open their laptops and start writing an entry for the Adele Parks’ Short Story Competition – and you didn’t disappoint!
The Image Of You Short Story Competition
To coincide with the film version of Adele Parks‘ bestselling book, The Image Of You, being released, we were looking for writers to submit an original short story up to 1800 words in length, with a romance, thriller or cosy crime theme.
We were delighted to receive entries across all these genres, and the winner and runner-up prize winners have now been picked!
Overall winner
Ian Joynes, The Magician
Congratulations to Ian Joynes, our overall winner.
Here is what Adele Parks had to say about the story:
“The Magician is quite unlike any short story I have ever read and the novelty really impressed me. I wasn’t sure where it was going but I felt a need to see where I would be led. I think that was because the protagonist (a well meaning, but rather snobby woman) was someone many of us can recognise, it was interesting to see her flummoxed. There was a strong sense of build and tension. Truly startling, it left questions unanswered so I thought about it after I’d finished reading it. Room had been left for the reader’s imagination and involvement.”
Ian Joynes, the talented writer behind the winning entry, will have his winning story featured in My Weekly’s September 7 issue, on sale in newsagents and supermarkets from September 3, 2024. He’ll also receive an iTunes voucher to download The Image Of You film which brings Adele Parks’ captivating narrative to life, as well as a personally signed copy of the novel itself.
Ian was thrilled to win the top prize.
“What a wonderful surprise. It absolutely made my day. It is such an honour to have won the competition, and to have received such wonderful feedback and comments from Adele Parks,” said Ian.
“I still can’t quite believe the news. It feels fantastic to have won.
“I so much enjoy writing short stories and poems. I retired some 3 years ago after some 35 years with Royal Mail. After a job that I found very stressful, creative writing is a wonderful way to relax and unwind.
“My wife Amanda and I now live in Shrewsbury after moving from Birmingham some 18 months ago. We love it here, and it has helped inspire me with my writing.”
Runner-up
Sam Szanto, Let Me Go
Well done to Sam, she’ll receive an iTunes voucher to download The Image Of You film and a signed copy of Adele’s novel.
“I’m delighted to be runner-up in the My Weekly short story contest, a magazine that has been read and loved by my family for generations,” said Sam.
“I’m honoured that the judge Adele Parks enjoyed my writing, as I’m such a fan of her books; my favourite is ‘The Image of You’ – one of the few novels I’ve read twice. My story ‘Let Me Go’ was inspired by the Christina Rossetti poem of the same name and is about grief and the gap between parents and children, as well as online dating!”
The Image of You film
The film, The Image of You, based on Adele’s bestselling novel, has now been released – don’t miss it!
Also read our interview with Adele Parks, where she talks about her fascinating career, The Image of You filmmaking, and shares writers’ tips.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
