Cordell COMP ENTRY 08 PRINT - Literature Wales

CORDELLCOUNTRYThe Alexander CordellLITERATURE COMPETITION2009Closing Date 31st May 2009Sponsored by the South Wales Argus1st Prize £5002nd Prize £3003rd Prize £150www.cordellcountry.org

Alexander Cordell was one of Wales’ most popular writers, and he honed his skills by enteringa writing competition in 1957, run by the South Wales Argus, which offered a prize for ‘themost interesting literary project’. Cordell’s submission, ‘Life among the Ironworkers ofGarndyrus and Blaenavon’, contained extracts from a ‘novel in hand’ which was publishedtwo years later - the international best-seller Rape of the Fair Country. The research Cordellundertook for this competition shaped his literary career, so it seems only fitting that 50 years laterhe should be remembered through a competition which encourages a new generation ofwriters to look more closely at South Wales.Alexander Cordell Literature Competition 2009 -Travel Writing CompetitionEntries are invited for the 6th annual Alexander Cordell Literature Competition.It’s fifty years since Alexander Cordell’s international best seller – Rape of the Fair Country – waspublished in 1959, putting the tiny iron and coal town of Blaenavon on the international map.In this anniversary year, we invite aspiring and accomplished writers to submit a piece of travelwriting which will place Cordell Country on the world travel map.Cordell loved to tell stories about the Valleys of South Wales. Follow in his footsteps or findyour own forgotten landscape to write about. Tell us a travel story that will inspire people tovisit this special part of Wales - a story about people and places celebrating history and culture.Note for EntrantsCordell honed his own writing skills by entering a competition in 1957, run by the South WalesArgus, which offered a prize for 'the most interesting literary project'. His submission, 'Lifeamong the Ironworkers of Garndyrus and Blaenavon', was the basis of Rape of the Fair Country.It seems only fitting that 50 years later he should be remembered through a competition whichencourages a new generation of writers to look more closely at South Wales.For the purpose of this competition Cordell Country is defined as stretching across the SouthWales Valleys from Monmouthshire in the East to the Neath Valley in the West, from Caerphillyin the South to the Brecon Beacons in the North.JudgesWe are delighted that this year the judges will include the Cardiff–based travel writer,photographer and painter Patricia Aithie. She is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writersand a fellow of The Royal Geographical Society. South Wales Argus journalist Mike Buckinghamcompletes the judging team.Closing date for entries is 31st May 2009The Alexander CordellLITERATURE COMPETITION2008Prizes1st Prize £500, 2nd Prize £300, 3rd Prize £150 (and publication)For information about Cordell Country, The Cordell Country Tours, The Blaenafon Heritage and CordellMuseum or the Blaenavon World Heritage Site call 01495 742333 or visit the Cordell Country web sitewww.cordellcountry.org.Entry1. Entries must be the original, unpublished work of the author and no more than 1500 words.2. Entries must be typed in double-spacing on one side of A4 paper only.3. Entries must be in English.4. All entries are judged anonymously. No covering letter or other material should be enclosed withyour entry. The name of the entrant must not appear on the manuscript which should be firmlyattached to the entry form.5. Entries will only be accepted when accompanied by an entry form (forms may be photocopied)and £3 entry fee.6. Cheques and postal orders in sterling only should be made payable to Torfaen County BoroughCouncil.7. No entries can be returned.8. Receipt of your entry will only be acknowledged if a SAE marked ACKNOWLEDGEMENT isenclosed.Judging1. The competition deadline is 31 May 2009.2. The winners will be decided by a panel of judges. Their decision is final and no correspondencecan be entered into regarding that decision. The organisers reserve the right to change the panel ofjudges without notice and not to award prizes if in the opinion of the judges such action is justified.3. The list of prize winners will be placed on the Cordell Country website www.cordellcountry.org. Ifyou wish to receive a list of prize winners enclose a separate stamped addressed envelope markedPRIZE WINNERS.4. Winners will be announced in July 2009. All winners will be personally notified in July 2009.Winning manuscripts will be published on the Cordell Country website www.cordellcountry.org andin other suitable tourist/ travel media as appropriate.CopyrightCopyright will remain with the competitor, but the authors of the winning entries will grant CordellCountry the right to publish or broadcast manuscripts for one year from 30th July 2009. Other use ofthe manuscript during this period will be subject to the permission of Cordell Country organisers.Submission of an entry implies the competitor’s acceptance of the conditions detailed here.Mini Saga CompetitionCheck out our mini saga comptition on line at www.cordellcountry.orgWrite a historical novel about the Valleys in just 50 words! Or a rewrite of Rape of the FairCountry in 50 words. Have fun!

Cordell Country Literature Competition Entry Form 2009SurnameFirst NameAddressCountyPhonee-mailI enclose a cheque/postal order for £Torfaen County Borough Council.Postcode(£3 payment for each entry) made payable toTitle of EntryPlease tell us about your research for this competition:Where did you visit in Cordell Country? ……………………...........……………How many people accompanied you? ………………How many days/nights did you stay in Cordell Country (if applicable)? ……...Where did you stay? …..…………........................................................…….......How much did you spend on accommodation during your stay? ………….....And food? ………….....Did you spend money on any other items whilst in Cordell Country? Eg Petrol, gifts, entry fees…….........Thank you for your help.Attach this entry form to your manuscript with payment and send to:The Alexander Cordell Travel Writing Competition 2009Blaenavon World Heritage Centre,North Street, Blaenavon, Torfaen.Tel: 01495 742333Email: blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.ukClosing Date 31st May 2009.We would like to thank our supporters: Capital Region Tourism and the County and Borough Councils of BlaenauGwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Torfaen.‘The work of Alexander Cordell - and the passion for the valleys around Blaenavon that he displayedin his writing - is clearly a continuing inspiration to others. I’m sure that the Cordell WritingCompetition can now go on to become one of the premier writing prizes in the UK.’Frank Barrett, Travel Editor The Mail On Sunday