Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Winning Stories 2023

Based on the theme ‘The Wonder of Words’, the fourth year of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation short story writing competition attracted a wonderful range of original stories that were a delight to read. Three finalist stories were chosen by the special Jane Austen Literacy Foundation judging panel including Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet, BBC Television Pride & Prejudice 1995) and Natalie Jenner (International bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society) and published online for a public vote to choose the winner.

The winning story, Small Print by Faith Cobaine, is a wonderfully unique story of a purchase from a second-hand store, with a deliciously dark twist. Ms Patton’s List of (More) Appropriate Words by Maggie Iribarne and This is Danny by Julie Bissell were equally loved and complete this set of three very different but enjoyable stories.

Beautifully read by award winning narrator and Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Ambassador, Alison Larkin, all of the proceeds from the sale of this e-book will be donated to the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation. Run by volunteers, the Foundation was started by Jane Austen’s family in 2014 to connect through literacy and support literacy in developing communities.