MACLEAY Island writer Robbie Kirk has won the Editor's Choice Award for Best Story at the Redland City Council 2012 Red-litzer Awards.
An initiative of Redland Libraries, the Redlitzer Awards support emerging local writers with an annual short story competition, culminating in 20 of the stories being published in an anthology 10 by adult (18 years and over) writers and 10 by teenage (13 to 17 years) writers.
Runner-up for best story at the Redlitzers was Helen Von Schrottky.
The Editor's Choice Award winner in the teen writer category was Amber Messenger, with runner-up Sascha Beck-Harris.
Robbie, a member of Macleay Island Writers' Group, has previously self-published a book of memoirs for her mother, who once lived on Macleay Island, and a book of simple recipes with ingredients that require no refrigeration. She wrote a short film script for the island arts event Moving Pictures, and won the then Redland Shire Council Jetty Stories Competition in 1997.
She said this was the first Redlitzer competition she had entered.
"I entered to support the competition and Redland Libraries," she said.
"The library does fantastic things for writers and has always supported our own Macleay Island Writers' Group by supplying seminars on Russell Island; and the competitions are wonderful, as having something to write for is such a help."
Robbie said the award encouraged her to keep writing.
"I'm moving into a new field, though, and will be doing some screen-writing," she said.
You can read Robbie's story, On the edge, in the 2012 Redlitzer Anthology, which offers a diverse range of stories from the pool of emerging literary talent in Redland.
WRITERS with stories appearing in the 2012 Redlitzer anthology are:
ADULTS
Robert Avis The miraculous pencil.
Danielle Carey The basement.
Phillip Cook The dip in Pitt Street.
Janice Corr The abduction of Alisha.
Karen Gillespie - The perfect companion.
Joanna Hackett I had a sister Josie once.
Robbie Kirk On the edge.
Michele Newton A mothers church service.
Ian Stevenson I didn't know you could swim in water.
Helen Von Schrottky Rosemary and Thyme.
TEENAGERS
Sascha Beck-Harris Escaping suburbia.
Natasha Biermann Spirit of Australia.
Joy Chalaby A love that never fails.
Amber Messenger Look at me.
Benjamin Olds The beast hero of Rodoran.
Ebony Prince The dawn of an empire.
Jasmin Raikuna-Jones Your home.
Rebecca Rigby Ace of spades.
Akira Ryan Red hair and tears.
Stacey Whitlock Carnivale di Venezia.
