Balearic brothers reach final from 975 stories

From 975 stories submitted from 24 countries, two brothers living in Spain’s Balearic Islands reach the final of the Tierra de Monegros short story contest. Javier and José Bizarro wrote “Tijeras de coser” together — the first jointly written story to make the contest’s final. The jury’s choice was announced on 29 September; the brothers will learn which prize they have won at the awards ceremony on 9 October.

Their story follows a nun from Sijena during the Civil War. Torn between faith and guilt, she tries to protect a girl who is being pursued. The two other finalists also write about memory, violence and family. Diana Paola Agámez Pájaro’s story centres on women killed by violence and the mothers searching for them. In “Deshabida”, by Thais Montolio Bachero, a woman returns to her childhood home as memories — and her sense of who she is — begin to disappear.

The contest drew a record 975 entries, up from 761 last year. First prize is 2,500 euros and second prize is 1,500 euros. The finalists will learn their results at a public ceremony in the municipal hall of Castelflorite, in Los Monegros.

Topics: Culture

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com