Mr B’s Emporium of Books in Bath have been championing Bath Short Story Award for years and we are very grateful to them for giving a £50 book voucher to our local prize winner. The pictures show our presentation event in the book shop last week.

This year, Alex Sinclair Lack, who also won third prize in the Award, (selected by our shortlist judge Gordon Wise Literary Agent from Curtis Brown) received the local prize. Jane and I always love this occasion and it was great to meet Alex, who lives in Bristol and offers several writing services including copy writing, editing and help with game writing among other things.

Here are Gordon’s comments on ‘Afloat’ Alex’s story:

‘Afloat­’ is a surrealistic micro-odyssey that remains completely grounded in its observations. Its hero progressively shakes off the ties (and literally a tie, at one point) that bind him. Business cards, those talismans of a certain kind of corporate life, are cast across an ocean. Eventually we and he find safe harbour. There is great imagination, focus and consolation in play here.

Alex told us that the story had a long gestation. The hero in the story is a Japanese business man and Alex wrote a first draft after a trip to Japan in 2018. The character was inspired by a poster he saw there. We love hearing about stories that are left for a long while, go through many versions and then win prizes and are published. It’s very encouraging to all writers.

Alex also writes fiction for young people and we wish him luck for that as well.

The 2027 award will open later next month. More details soon.

Jude, October 2026.