I’ll be going live this Saturday to begin the process of winding up (winding down?) the Wadadli Youth Pen Prize 2020 Challenge season. I say begin the process because I’ll be making the actual announcement and perhaps engaging with the winners in the live (fingers crossed). Unlike every other Wadadli Pen awards ceremony, I will not be able to turn over the prizes to the winners at the time of the announcement (we’re still #socialdistancing so we’ll be doing it virtually) – transfer of prizes will have to be arranged after; so the wrap up will be more drawn out than usual but hopefully the winners (some of whom have been reaching out to me recently asking what’s up) will be happy knowing how they fared in the Challenge in the short term while we work to see them properly rewarded in the medium term.
We have had to follow up with patrons not to collect but to see if they’re still in it. The world has changed between January and now and I wouldn’t blame any of them that have to pull out (we have been under curfew, a number of businesses have experienced extended closure, the country as a whole remains largely closed to international travel, and COVID-19, the worst pandemic in 100 years, is still spreading). But the majority remain committed and we are following up with the ones who haven’t yet affirmed their commitment. Again, fingers crossed.
We have sent out the invites to what feels like everyone so we look forward to a lively live on Saturday 9th May 2020 at 6 p.m. on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JoanneCHillhouse
These are all but one of the short listed writers – congrats to them all.
The stories and winners’ breakdown and final press release will be posted here on the blog as soon as possible thereafter.
Thanks to all participants, thanks to all the young writers, thanks to our patrons and to those who wished to be patrons, thanks to the media, thanks to any one who sent us encouragement or support, and, for me personally, thanks to the team. We’re in the home stretch. The work continues.
As with all content on Wadadli Pen, except otherwise noted, this is written by Joanne C. Hillhouse (author of The Boy from Willow Bend, Dancing Nude in the Moonlight, Musical Youth, With Grace, Lost! A Caribbean Sea Adventure/Perdida! Una Aventura en el Mar Caribe, and Oh Gad!). All Rights Reserved. If you enjoyed it, check out my page on WordPress, and/or Facebook, and help spread the word about Wadadli Pen and my books. You can also subscribe to the site to keep up with future updates. Thanks.
Wadadli Pen 