Kaleidoscope of writing featured in new Cheshire Prize book
The best creative writing in Cheshire was celebrated at the University of Chester as talented wordsmiths gathered to launch the publication of their work.
Winners, runners-up and shortlisted authors in the Cheshire Prize for Literature, run by the University, joined together for the release of the new anthology, Kaleidoscope, showcasing their stand-out submissions.
Published by the University of Chester Press, Kaleidoscope: Creative Writing from the Cheshire Prize for Literature 2024 features pieces by 36 county scribes including previously published writers, teachers, retirees and school pupils who were selected from more than 450 entries in last year’s competition.
The recent event at the University’s Queen's Park site was hosted by Simon Grennan, Professor of Art and Design and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, and featured readings of extracts from the authors.
The event also marked the opening of the Cheshire Prize for Literature 2025/26 competition.
The Kaleidoscope anthology, edited by Dr Harry Parkin and Dr Matt Davies - both Senior Lecturers in English Language at the University - contains short stories, poetry, children's literature, flash fiction and scriptwriting. The themes explored are numerous and varied, from love, loss, joy, fear and hope to wonder, childhood, ageing, and history.
Harry said: “What unites these diverse submissions is a shared commitment to storytelling. Whether rooted in the everyday or the fantastical, each piece invites the reader to see the world in a different way, and so together they form a kaleidoscopic view of aspects of life that are important to us all.
“We are proud to present this anthology as a testament to the literary talent of Cheshire. It is a space where imagination knows no bounds, and where every turn of the page reveals a new pattern, and a new perspective.”
Matt added: “The standard of writing has been outstanding for this volume. It is great to see work from not only established and experienced writers but also the emerging talent from school pupils who did an exceptional job reading extracts from their poetry and short stories in front of a sizeable audience at the book launch. It is really inspiring, and I hope will act as a springboard to encourage other young writers to consider submitting for next year's prize.
“It has been a privilege being a judge and working with Harry and the rest of the team to make Kaleidoscope such a good read.”
A foreword is provided in the anthology by award-winning historical fiction author, Paul Dowswell, who was a guest speaker at the awards evening held earlier this year.
The competition originated in 2003, when the then High Sheriff of Cheshire approached the University of Chester to establish and run a Cheshire Prize for Literature. Since then, it has grown to become one of the premier competitions in the area, fostering the writing skills of both new and established writers.
It is one of the few free-to-enter literary competitions and offers a cash prize for the winners (vouchers for under 18s), as well as the opportunity for the best entries from the previous year to be published by the University of Chester Press.
Open to anyone from the age of four with a connection to Cheshire (covering the old and new counties of Cheshire), the closing date for entries for the 2025/26 competition is January 31, 2026. For further information, please visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/events/cheshire-prize/
To find out more about Kaleidoscope: Creative Writing from the Cheshire Prize for Literature 2024, and purchase a copy, please visit the anthology page on the University of Chester Storefront web pages.