Prizes

The awards ceremony for the Wadadli Pen 2012 Challenge in partnership with the Best of Books is set for 6:30 p.m., March 31st at the Best of Books, #1 Village Walk Mall. I’m in the process of collecting the pledged prizes from sponsors spread across the island and across the water…

UPDATED 30/03/12 – It’s been an abundance of riches these past few days and I just haven’t had the time to write about it. In addition to the offers reported in the last update, IWC and Little Antigua Island Tour have dropped off their gifts. We’ve heard from Marie Elena John re contributions of her book Unburnable; we got more than we bargained for when we collected from Australian Homemade, ABI Insurance, and the Best of Books today; muchos gracias to them for the extras. That’s what I call a giving spirit.

UPDATED 27/03/12 – Not collected yet but received word today from Cedric Holder of the Cushion Club and K C Nash of the International Women’s Club of Antigua and Barbuda that both groups will be making contributions to the 2012 Wadadli Pen prize package. ABI Insurance and Australian Homemade are also on board with their promised commitment and then some. Still collecting, stay tuned.

UPDATED 24/03/12 – We also have copies of Barbara Arrindell’s Antigua My Antigua, my Boy from Willow Bend; Adventure Antigua – I’ve done this as well, and it’s sooo relaxing and informative; the Best of Books; and Frank B. Armstrong.

UPDATED 22/03/12 – Just in gift certificates for three of our winners, from Ondeck.

UPDATED 17/03/12 – These just in: cash prizes from D.Gisele Isaac and Jabberwocky; gift certificates from Blue Waters, Caribbean Helicopters, and Keyonna Beach Hotel; a copy of one of my books from me (Joanne C. Hillhouse) and flash drives (three of them) from ACT.

UPDATED 11/03/12 to add: I’ve received the vouchers from two of our esteemed writers, Elaine Spires, currently performing on the West End in London, and Brenda Lee Browne, currently jetsetting in India; Elaine is giving copies of her books What’s Eating Me and Singles’ Holiday and Brenda Lee is giving two spots at her writers’ retreat later in the year. Excellent!

UPDATED (09/03/12) to add: thanks to Conrad Luke who has followed through on his commitment to give a $500 gift certificate for books redeemable at the Best of Books for the school with the most submissions – a way of encouraging even greater participation; and thanks to Jolly Beach Resort (and especially GM Vernon Jeffers) from whom I’ve now collected a voucher for a day pass for two – btw, I know someone that did this and they had a thoroughly enjoyable time so it should be fun.

Have the second of these in hand. It’s a Cross Century II Medalist Ball point Pen (which retails for EC$215.00) and comes with a lifetime guarantee for mechanical failure and is chrome in colour with 23 karat gold plated appointments.  For practical and symbolic purposes, we’ve sought a pen of high value as a gift from the very beginning of Wadadli Pen. Stephen B. Shoul has been the one to give in 2005, 2006, and now again in 2012. Killing us not just with clothes (per their old ad) but with their generousity.

That was the second of the prizes to come in as earlier the Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour people emailed us their gift certificate which entitles the bearer to a full course for two (I’ve done it, it’s a scream!). We’ve just got to get it printed. Grateful to them for their prompt delivery.

As always, we encourage you to support our sponsors because, of course, we want them to keep on giving.

Stay tuned for more on this year’s prizes and sponsors.