A pre-Christmas parlour game for YWO members.

Invent a new literary prize. Give it a title and say what the prize is awarded for. Write a brief acceptance speech.
(Idea from Philippa Pride – The Book Doctor whose course I attended in September)

Here’s my offering:
THE DAPHNES – award for the creation of unforgettable characters.

My acceptance speech:

People ask me about the Sandman. They say things like was he real, or was he a voice in Wendy Carter’s head? I always say – Ah, you’ve obviously never met him.
You would be amazed how many women of a certain age have requested to borrow him.

It’s strange how even in the twenty first century there are subjects, which do not belong in polite conversation, let alone in novels. Therefore, I am especially delighted to receive this award, which bears the name of a writer who relished her characters’ weaknesses.
Who can ever forget the manipulative nymphomaniac Rebecca, a character so powerful she controls events even after her death?

My Sandman has always been available to women like Wendy Carter and always will be. It’s just that we don’t talk about him. So ladies, a reminder to you that all you need to do is call his name. And gentlemen, if you know you are not the one putting that glow on her face and the shine in her eyes, who is?

My sincere thanks go to all my readers. I’m thrilled to receive this
prestigious award.

Celia
'A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction' Virginia Woolf

'People ask me about the Sandman. They ask me if it's true I challenged him to a duel for putting 'that glow' on my wife's face. I say, why should I? That glow reminds me of the one I spotted first, so many years ago. He reminds me of the man I once was. Only her glow was brighter then. She was younger and fresher. If you only knew, Mr. Sandman. . .' my website