CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON THE SHORTLIST!

Just to get to the shortlist is an excellent achievement! You can be truly proud of having impressed our four cynical judges with the quality of your writing, your imagination and your bravery in sending us your wonderful stories.

Before I announce the winners, here’s that shortlist – with names, this time! If you have not yet done so, you can read their stories here: http://jonelkon.com/the-shortlist-2/

JUNIOR

WANAWI JENJE for your stories LITTLE WORLD BIG CHILD, VENGEANCE’S BITTER CONFECTION and PECULIARLY STRANGE WORLD

LIHLE NDODA for GRANNY IS SICK

CALVIN KAMPHINDA for RAINY PANDEMIC

SENIOR

PAVLOVA MAHARAJ for BLEEDING HEART

BEULAH LEE HARRIS for BERTIE’S, MORNING 

SHAUN HARRIS for TSUNAMI

GRIGOR HINES for (Untitled)

AND THE WINNERS ARE: 

For the JUNIOR prize of £25, the Judges eventually chose WANAWI JENJE’s ‘VENGEANCE’S BITTER CONFECTION. Wanawi has such a sure, confident touch and a honed style that it was difficult to choose between the three stories submitted, but eventually this one made it to the top of the pile – despite the excellence of the competition. This is a young writer who will, I am absolutely certain, become a major success. 

For the SENIORS’ £100 PRIZE finally BEULAH HARRIS’ undoubted quality could be ignored no longer. While I have read many of her excellent stories, which always have a sting in the tail, the judges hadn’t and didn’t know the names of the writers. All her stories submitted have the quality and feel of some of the best short story writers, including Roald Dahl and even classic writers like F Scott Fitzgerald and O Henry. The winning story was MORNING, even though in a way the reveal does not have the sting of some of her others. ‘Not enough blood!’ one said. Nevertheless, the Judges agreed that it was wholly unexpected and the lead-in was masterly. Beulah is an immensely talented writer who, if there is any justice, will make her name in this difficult game.

WINNERS

The winners were asked for a profile, and a picture. Here they are:

WANAWI JENJE winner of the Junior section of MEGASAGA 4 2021!

I am Wanayi Jenje, I reside in Johannesburg, South Africa and am currently schooling at The National School of Arts. I am a bibliophile with an undying passion for literature and art. I enjoy baking and playing violin. I especially have a knack for analysing people’s thoughts and behaviour, mostly fictional characters (I really wouldn’t want people to think of me as creepy). In my free time I avoid human contact, read and analyse books and write as much as I can. I have no vivid memory of when I began writing, but I know it was all sparked by my 7th grade play script and English teacher. I aspire to become as influential and expressive as I possibly can through my writing, and hope to evoke reactions and thoughts from a large audience. 

BEULAH LEE HARRIS – winner of the Senior Section £100 MEGASAGA4 COMPETITION 2021

I live in a small fishing village that has to have the kindest and most helpful community.  I spend a lot of time on my laptop, the view beyond  my screen is ocean wherever you look and this time of year, whales jumping right out of the water.  It’s a soothing inspiration to write by!  I am 57 years young, am married and share my passion for writing with my husband, Shaun, who is an award winning financial journalist. Between us, we have 5 children and 4 grandchildren.
I have spent most of my career in the recruitment industry and work with my sister, who is also my best friend, who has her own agency. I have also worked for the Sunday Times in advertising sales and did some freelance feature writing and advertorials.  Writing has been something I have been doing all my life, as cliche as that may sound.  I remember being so proud in junior primary when my poems adorned the classroom wall.  I still have all my certificates for creative writing, and although I was a tiny, insecure little mouse, when I was on that stage reciting my work, I shone!  Writing was my world fifty years ago and it still is.
The lyrics of one of my songs has been produced by BlackByrd and it was quite the hit here in South Africa about  7 years ago.
  I have a following on my own Facebook page of short story ‘groupies’ who truly are an inspiration as it is so rewarding to write for them.  Once again, based on one of my short stories, I am writing my second novel.