Spooky encounters and out-of-this-world adventures were the recipe for success in the latest monthly competition for aspiring writers who have been publishing their short stories on our popular social media platform www.gdnlife.com.

Indian expatriate housewife Lakshmy Sharma’s When the penny drops! telling the tale of a new home with hidden, dark secrets that prey on the minds of its new occupants helped spellbound judge Rohini Sunderam, from Bahrain Writers Circle.

Having checked out the many entries posted, she said: “Of them all it is the best. It is a chilling tale and the writer deftly creates a sense of doom. If this were further developed it would make for a good horror novel.”

Delighted Lakshmy, 47, came to Bahrain with my husband, Ram Sharma, when he secured a position with KE Kanoo Group. They have been residents for 17 years, live in Salmaniya, and have two teenage daughters, Nandini and Gayatri.

She said she was inspired to write her BD25 monthly prize-winning entry as a result of a ‘real life incident’ that happened to her cousin.

“I hope this win will help me get my writing mojo back,” she added. “I had been writing speeches as a part of my education programme with Toastmasters but it had taken a backseat for the last year. I had no published work beforehand ... but now I’m a winner on GDNlife!”

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In the U18 category schoolboy Shafay Khattak picked up the prize of a couple of Cineco Cinema tickets and, in the third year of the short story contest, became the first ‘double-header’ winner, following his success in May.

He faced tough competition from two former winners but his latest entry Fall of the Cykong was ‘outstanding’ according to GDN columnist and judge Chris Fenton, head teacher of the British Primary Department at Al Noor International School.

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“This the winner!” he enthused, “an exciting piece of writing that uses many language devices to maintain the action. Well done, Shafay!”

The Grade 5 student at the Canadian School Bahrain comes from Toronto, and lives with his parents – mum Saima Shahryar, and dad Shahryar Khattak, a research scientist at RCSI, and younger brother, Shoaib – in Diyar Al Muharraq.

“I’m delighted to hear that I have won again,” the 11-year-old said. “The inspiration behind this story was Ancient Greek mythology that I read in my last school year. It gave me ideas to write about mystic creatures and make them do wonders.

“Also, thanks to my teachers who supported and guided me with my ideas and free writings ... and my mum as well. She is my Number 1 critic and fan at the same time.

“My younger brother Shoaib is kind and generous. I hope I am a good role model for him.

“I feel great about winning again and now I am motivated to go for a hat-trick!”

July entries are invited, so get writing up to 800 words today!

Register, choose an image, create a title, paste and copy your words in text – and submit to share your work on www.gdnlife.com – clearly stating Adult or U18 entry.

Our panel of judges will also decide on who should walk away with the annual GDNLife Short Story of the Year prize trophies in both categories after the competition’s third anniversary next March.

The winner of the GDNLife People’s Choice Award – the short story that has received the most views and likes – will also be announced.

As a result of the contest’s success there is now a special exclusive Short Story section on www.gdnlife.com for visitors to enjoy.

managingeditor@gdnmedia.bh