Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
KIM ROBINSON
THE DESIRE to 'spree', the contemporary marker of wealth, the SUV, earned the regional prize for the Americas in the 2005 Commonwealth Short Story Competition, the results of which were announced recently. Spreeing in the SUV was written by Kim Robinson, editor of the Jamaica Journal.
The story was originally conceptualised four years ago and in its 608 words, combines an examination of coping strategies wrapped around issues of race, class and gender. Robinson's fiction has been published in various journals and anthologies. It has appeared in the Jamaica Journal, Arts Review, Bim, and Bearing Witness volumes. 1, 2 and 3. Her work has also crossed continents, being featured in a Norwegian anthology of Caribbean works dubbed Karibia Forteller: Karibiske Noveller. Additionally, Robinson's work will also be featured in Under The Julie Tree and Caribbean Dispatches, two forthcoming publications by Macmillan.
Her scholarly work has been included in Small Axe, Sargasso, Journal of West Indian Literature and the University Press is slated to produce her study Out of Order!: Anthony Winkler and the White West Indian Writing in early 2006.
A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT
Despite her previous achievements, Robinson notes that the Commonwealth Short Story win is quite a significant achievement. "It's very important to me, because my fiction writing is closest to my heart," she responded in an email interview. "Editing Jamaica Journal is a labour of love; and the book on Winkler, when it comes out, will certainly give me a feeling of major achievement. But what matters to me above all else, what would give me the greatest fulfilment, would be the publication of a collection of my short stories. That's my next project ... I hope to find, or make, the time to be able to write more in between trying to earn a living," she continued.
India's Preeta Krishna was the competition's overall winner, as well as the regional winner for Asia with Treason. Ifeanyi Ageagbo of Nigeria took home the regional prize for Africa with Yesterday's Darkness while New Zealand's Jo White copped the regional prize for Australia and the Pacific with Tig, Danc-ing. The United Kingdom's Mary McCluskey's Complicity earned her the regional prize for Europe. The competition also gave out 21 high commendations.
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition is sponsored by the Commonwealth Foundation and administered by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association. The 26 winning stories have been recorded on CD and are available for sale.
