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- Listen to all the shortlisted stories here -

The Omen’ by Anna Tuchinda

This ‘beautifully subversive’ and ‘unique’ horror story told from the point of view of a black cat was praised by the judges for its strong voice and impactful ending. The story explores superstition, scapegoating and a lack of sentimentality towards death, as a stray cat is blamed when, one after the other, the two people who care for it die. A cat lover, Anna wanted to explore writing from the perspective of a scapegoat, choosing a black cat, often seen as an omen of bad luck. Her writing is inspired by Stephen King, Haruki Murakami and Han Kang.

‘Wildfolk Report 2025’ by Holly Dye

Elves, brownies and mermaids struggle with the destruction of the natural world in this ‘funny’, ‘bold’ and ‘disarming’ story written in the style of an academic report, and blending myth, fantasy and folklore to deliver a ‘witty’ but stark warning about the need for human action to fight climate change. Basing her fantasy creatures on real-world animals, Holly wrote the story in her school library and was influenced by Terry Pratchett’s ‘Discworld’ novels.

‘Adu, Lasun and Marcha’ by Anoushka Patel

A ‘nuanced’ and ‘complex’ story about multi-generational relationships, the passing down of traditions and the burden of unpaid domestic work on women. As a young girl, Amara, and her mother and grandmother cook together while the men relax in an adjacent room watching cricket. As tensions between the women surface, Amara is left to contemplate what it would be like to break free of cultural expectations. The story’s title meaning ‘Ginger, Garlic and Chilli’ in Gujarati, refers to the common cooking ingredients that Anoushka’s mother asks her to fetch from the fridge when she is cooking.

‘Roast Beef’ by Edith Taussig

This ‘weird and wonderful’ ‘housewife’s revenge’ story combines dark humour and the supernatural to explore power, control and the oppressive expectation on women. A note from her husband asking her to cook a roast beef lunch for him and his golfing friends triggers a housewife’s awareness of her situation and fuels a desire for revenge which sends their life up in flames, literally. Edith’s influences include Roald Dahl’s short stories, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and John Finnemore’s radio comedies.

‘Scouse’s Run’ by Rebecca Smith

A ‘Skilful’ story written in dialect, ‘Scouse’s Run’ tells the story of the titular boy, Scouse, who bets his friends that he can ride a shopping trolley down a hill without screaming or crying out, only to have the challenge go horribly wrong. Praised by the judges for its ‘strong voice’ and ‘tension’ of the fun with the ‘undercurrent of danger and violence’, the story was inspired by a writing group prompt, and explores peer pressure, toxic masculinity and the consequences of bullying and young men’s reactions to feeling powerless.