On Saturday night, in between a long overdue dinner (Pancho – amazing!) and a movie (“Wuthering Heights” – a conversation for another time) with my husband, the delightful Kathleen Jennings messaged to congratulate me on my Aurealis Award.
NO! I messaged back.
YES! she replied.
My truly gross tale, “It Will Only Hurt If I Want It To” won the Aurealis Award for Best Horror Short Story and I could not be more grateful if somewhat bemused. When I wrote it, I wasn’t certain it could rightfully even be called horror and was well-pleased when Marty Young accepted it for Midnight Echo #20. When it was shortlisted for the Aurealis, I genuinely thought it had no chance of winning but I asked Kathleen if she would accept on my behalf in the unlikely event and dutifully sent along some words. And that’s the lesson, writer-folks. Even if you are absolutely sure something of yours cannot possibly win an award, write an acceptance anyway. Here’s what Kathleen read for me:
I had zero expectation that this quite unpleasant little story of mine would actually win an Aurealis Award, but here we are. Maybe someone should check in with the judges and make sure they’re okay?
Regardless, my sincere thanks to them and to Tehani and all the folks who make sure the Aurealis Awards happen year after year. My thanks also to Marty Young for accepting my story for Midnight Echo and to the AHWA for keeping that magazine going for 20 issues and hopefully many more.
These are tough times for the arts. But community and human creativity has never been more vital. We must keep supporting creatives and small presses – and large presses – and awards and festivals of all stripes. And each other. Always. Thank you.
I mean every single word. And, you know, the story really is horrifically gross. Sorry not sorry.
Kirstyn McDermott 