Terry Kerins, London Independent Story Prize 2024 1st Competition Short Story Finalist 'Easter Sunday'

London Independent Story Prize 2024 1st Competition Short Story Finalist 'Easter Sunday' by Terry Kerins

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

My name is Terry Kerins and I live in Cork City in Ireland. I am a solo parent by choice to my seven-year-old daughter, Jackie, who I am so proud of. It would not make for interesting reading to go through my daily life, so let's just say it's busy. Very busy. 

- When and how did you get into writing?

I remember being about sixteen years old and saying I wanted to write for a living. That didn't quite happen, and I went in the direction of science and studied Pharmacy in college. I only took writing up as a hobby in around 2011 and I've been writing since. 

I write short stories and flash fiction. These are my achievements to date. In 2021 I was runner-up in the Michael Mullen Charity Fund Flash Fiction Competition. In 2022 I won The Bournemouth Writing Short Story Prize and was also short-listed in From the Well. In 2023 I received a Special Commendation in From the Well short story award and two of my entries in the Allingham Flash Fiction Competition were short-listed and one was Highly Commended. Plus, of course, being a finalist in LISP in 2024.

- How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

I write when I can. My writing routine is a bit of a juggle, to be honest. I try to fit it around my daughter's activities and any windows of time that present themselves during the week. I write for myself. Submitting and getting acknowledgement for submitting keeps me motivated to keep writing. 

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It is the best feeling. Writing is a solitary pursuit, so to get external recognition is an amazing feeling. It is a great form of encouragement for me and makes me so happy. 

- What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Story? 

Keeping going. Plugging away at it and trusting my own imagination and writing style and understanding that it may not appeal to everyone, or in fact, anyone. 

-  How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

This is a story I wrote about ten years ago. I changed laptops and it was lost, but the idea stuck with me so I re-wrote it recently enough, in the last couple of years. Then through edits, I developed it and submitted it to LISP before Christmas 2023. It is inspired by a holiday home we stayed in when I was about six or seven. I still remember the bungalow and the path running around it and that is where the inspiration came from initially. 

- Can you please give us a few tips about writing a Story?

Start and write. 

Repeat.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions? 

Not knowing what the judges are looking for style-wise or story-wise. 

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISP?

Absolutely. It's a great writing opportunity across a number of genres. Plus the competitions are spread over the year.