During the summer and autumn of 2024, Spirit Level ran a UK-wide competition for trans-themed stories and poetry on the themes of grief, loss, death and the denial of self. We were pleased by the number and quality of the entries and awarded prizes as follows:
Short Story Winner: The Next Step On the Road, by Roz White
Roz has been writing since around the age of four, and is now in her mid-sixties. She is the author of the best-selling and internationally-acclaimed “The Sisterhood” series, now numbering ten full novels and four novellas, that follow the lives and trials of a group of trans women. Roz has also ventured into grittily-realistic Viking-Age historical fiction under the name H.A. Douglas, and writes Steampunk / Victoriana fantasies. As she approaches retirement, Roz hopes for nothing more than the chance to write full-time after decades of not being able to!
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Flash Fiction Winner: A Promise by Janey Acosta
Flash Fiction Judges Choice: Instructions For A Shiva by Lyman Gamberton
Lyman Gamberton (he/him) is a Jewish trans man from northern England. His Yiddish-language work has appeared in Rad Yiddish’s Lefty Jewish Futures zine and his English-language work in Locust Shells Journal, amongst others. He writes from the fringes, but the fringes are the most important part of a prayer shawl. Find his work online at lymanwrites.blogspot.com.
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Poetry Judges Choice: caincaincaincaincain by Charlotte Amelia Poe
This poet was a previous winner of the Poetry category of the competition and we were pleased they submitted this wonderful poem.
Poetry Judges Choice: A Second Watch of The Grief by S. Abdulwasi’h Olaitan
S. Abdulwasi’h Olaitan is an introverted poet, essayist & graphics designer. From a city 5,280 miles away from hell & a second close to haven “ilorin”. He’s deeply devoted to God & lover of his parents. His poems have appeared in Believeau Books, Bare Hill Review, Pictura journal, Lit Shark, Pawners Paper, Carolina Muse, UGR,The Graveyard Magazine, Arts lounge, Eco punk literary, OPA, MMXVI, Avant Appalachia, Ta Adesa, Wordsmpire, Shooting Star, & elsewhere.
