The shortlists for both the Open Division and the Secondary School Divisions of the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Award have just been announced. And without further ado, they are:

OPEN DIVISION

Carly by Kerry Challinor, Green Bay, Waitakere
The Slave of Bracelets by Sarah Line Letellier, Mt Victoria, Wellington
The Wrong Shoe by Sarah Laing, Wilton, Wellington

SECONDARY SCHOOL DIVISION

Arrival by Dazhao Zhang, Year 12, Pakuranga College, Auckland
Death of Innocence by Linda Campbell, Year 12, Waitakere College
Pumice by Marita Hunt, Year 13, Whangarei Girl's High, Whangarei

The Open Division winning short story will be published in the SST and in a Random House New Zealand anthology, and will also nab $5,000 in cash and a laptop computer.

The winner of the Secondary School Division will also see their short story published in the paper, pocket $750 in cash and have a day's work experience at Random House.

According to Owen Marshall, the judge of the Open Division,

To stand out among so many entries, writers require special talent, perseverance, and a little good fortune. Writing is often a rather selfish and lonely business and the celebration of craft which competitions like this provide is a boost for all involved.

The winners in both categories will be announced during a ceremony at the Auckland Art Gallery from 6pm Wednesday, November 1, 2006.