As Bahrain races to its first F1 double header the kingdom’s literary stars are also celebrating two months of success today as judges announce the winners of GDNlife’s short story competition for September and October.
In the adult section, Beena Babu Rahul and Rawan Mahdi each won BD25 for their thrilling entries and in the U18 contest Bianca Capraru and Ann Maria Thomson walked away with cinema ticket prizes.
Ms Rahul’s If Only short story created ‘good atmosphere, detail and tension’ according to one of the judges, Rohini Sunderam, from Bahrain Writers Circle, who added:” She certainly brought out that sense of impending doom. And the end is chilling.”
The human resource manager, who works for a contracting and construction company, said she was ‘truly grateful’ to win and ‘really excited’ visitors to our social media platform and the judges liked her entry which has attracted more than 1,200 views.
“It was all about participation and to share a story onto this platform,” said Ms Rahul, 30, who lives in Zinj with her husband, Rahul Prakash, and their daughter, Siddhi.
“I was brought up here – pretty much my entire life has been on this wonderful island. I was born to Indian Keralite parents – Babu Peringat and Valsa Babu – with an elder sibling, Binesh, who are all currently residing in Bahrain as well.
“Winning this competition means a lot to me because while I wrote it my daughter was just one year old and every day was a hectic day for a working mother like me.
“When I spotted the opportunity on GDNlife – which is currently one of my favourite platforms of information – I had to pull out all-nighters. It really got to me – the need to put this story out there no matter what the odds!
“It was well worth it. Thank you. I’m looking forward to writing more on this amazing platform – GDNLife.
Regrets by Ms Mahdi has also attracted more than 1,000 views and the judges described it as ‘another good story’. Judge Sunderam particularly liked the ‘surprise twist in the tale’. “There was a true sense of despair with her regrets at the end,” she added.
Ms Mahdi, a 21-year-old Bahraini medical student who lives in Jurdab said she was ‘at a loss of words’ when she heard she had won.
I can’t believe it!” she added. “Thank you for this amazing opportunity. In all honesty, this was my first ever experience sharing my writing on such a platform and I was quite amazed by the response, even more so that I managed to win. That’s why, I would like to thank GDNlife for providing this opportunity for aspiring writers such as myself!”
In the U18 competition, British School of Bahrain student Bianca Capraru left it to the last moment to enter October’s contest by posting These Delicate Bones on the 31st.
Within minutes the entry had received hundreds of views and judge Chris Fenton, head teacher of the British Primary Department at Al Noor International School, described it as an Edgar Allen Poe-influenced piece’.
“It was full of adventurous language and a lovely story circle involving the Grandfather clock,” he added. “Well done Bianca, I think the mystery genre has a new star in the making.”
Seventeen-year-old Bianca from Hamala said being judged the latest winner in this competition was ‘absolutely inspiring’.
“It’s not very often that creative writing competitions come around, and I am so thankful for being given the opportunity to gain recognition for something that I have been fond of from a young age.
“My father’s job brought me to Bahrain six years ago and granted me the chance to immerse myself in the breathtaking culture where I have learned so much from the kind community.
“I am from Romania, studying in my final year at the British School of Bahrain where, in the near future, I hope to pursue a career in law. Other than writing, my other passion resides in theatre arts and piano which I have been playing since the age of 11.”
In the previous month, 15-year-old Indian expatriate Ann Maria Thomson’s entry Happy Birthday! attracted more than 1,000 views.
Judge Fenton described the work as a ‘very urgent, exciting piece of science fiction’.
The Asian School Bahrain student lives with her family in Salmaniya and as well as writing she enjoys watching movies, public speaking and reading books.
“I have always loved writing but rarely do we get an opportunity to share our work,” she said. “It is wonderful to know that the GDN has taken up an initiative to give a stage for the residents of Bahrain, both youngsters and adults to express themselves on GDNlife.
“I’m extremely happy and feel honoured. I am happy not only because I won but because my work along with many other students’ work has been read by so many people. A big shout of gratitude goes to the people working for the success of this platform.”
These Delicate Bones ~ (Short story entry) Bianca, 17, https://www.gdnlife.com/Home/ArticleDetail?ArticleId=38183&category=10
Short Story Entry: Regrets by Rawan Mahdi (Adult) https://www.gdnlife.com/Home/ArticleDetail?ArticleId=37934&category=10
Short Story Entry - IF Only - Beena Babu - 30
https://www.gdnlife.com/Home/ArticleDetail?ArticleId=36566&category=10
Short Story Entry by Ann Maria Thomson,15 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
https://www.gdnlife.com/Home/ArticleDetail?ArticleId=37422&category=10
- November entries are invited for the monthly prizes.
Winning stories, of no more than 800 words, will then compete for an annual GDNlife Short Story of the Year prize trophy ... and even entries that do not win the judges’ approval could still walk away with an accolade – The GDNlife People’s Choice Award – for receiving the most views and likes.
