A night not to be missed at Ayr Writers’ Club, as talented members shared their prize-winning work from the 2025–26 season.
Chris opened the evening with a review of The Names by Florence Knapp. His enthusiasm for the book was clear. The novel explores how the name parents choose can shape a child’s life, told through three competing “sliding doors” narratives.
Damaris followed with her delightful short story, The Gardener Who Didn’t Like Orange. A young girl’s revenge on a gardener who had removed all the orange plants from her garden came in the form of six packets of “bright, garish, luminous orange Siberian wallflowers!”
Next, Kirsty read her flash fiction piece, The Subject of Anatomy Class, set in 19th-century Edinburgh, in the dark, damp conditions beneath South Bridge, where the destitute had no choice but to shelter. It posed a chilling question: would you accept a meal and bed from two men, both named William?
Fiona then read from her horror genre short story, Dowsing the Dead, an atmospheric tale rich in danger and tension. In a final desperate attempt to survive, “seekers” and “spotters” used dowsing rods to track deadly burrowing creatures.
Caroline’s humorous poem, A Richt Beamer, entertained us all. It told of a neighbour complaining about a car parked outside her house, only for her revenge to land on the wrong vehicle, leaving her with “a richt beamer.”
Lizzie read from her short story A Splash in the Puddle, which explored Daisy’s uneasy fear that her dark thoughts had somehow caused her friend Emma’s accident, as onlookers stood gawping and filming.
Although Bob could not attend, Fiona and Caroline performed his dramatic sketch, The Keepsake. A disturbing exchange between two men revealed the role of Marcus, a psychiatrist, in a mutual friend’s downfall.
Susan read from her beautifully descriptive and atmospheric piece, Scotland After Dark, reflecting on her childhood village across the seasons as daylight faded into night.
The penultimate reading came from Kirsty’s novel entry, Hellhound on My Trail, recounting the final performance of blues singer Robert Johnson, who allegedly made a deal with the devil in return for his talent.
Finally, Marion’s non-fiction piece, Urban Landscape, captured the sights, sounds, and memories of Govan, evoking a strong sense of time, place, and community.
An inspiring evening all round, reminding us of the depth of talent within our club. Here’s to another year of writing, sharing, and celebrating success together.
Bernadette Wardrop