We all have stories to tell: Port Stephens Literature Awards Myall Coast Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - August 18, 2021 Author Phil Murray receiving his award, flanked by Port Stephens Councillor Steve Tucker and judge Lloyd Hogg. LOCKDOWN is an ideal time to release your creative spirit and to tell that story you have always wanted to put down on paper. What’s more, you don’t have to be highly educated or a literary lion to write a winner. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au In fact some of our most successful authors have been ordinary people. Remember AB Facey? This remarkable Australian led a life marked by tragedy and adversity, yet his blockbuster biography ‘A Fortunate Life’ became a best seller and was turned into a movie. He wrote in a spidery longhand script in exercise books when he was almost blind. Another ‘one off’ author was Arthur Murdoch whose ‘Sheer Grit’ was republished twice with original copies selling for around $200. He wrote of the Depression years of the 1930s where he dug shell grit on Fingal Island at Port Stephens. The Port Stephens Literature Awards give creative writers the opportunity to be recognised for their talents. Indeed some go on to writing success and these awards can inspire them. Nelson Bay’s Phil Murray was one such writer. He won an award and went on to write a book about his legendary father ‘Gelignite’ Jack Murray, an outback rally driver. The 2021 Port Stephens Literature Awards are now open for entry and are for short stories of up to 2000 words on any topic. There are certificates and prize money totalling $1100 on offer. Details can be found on tilligerry.com by scrolling to the bottom of the news page. The awards are sponsored by News Of The Area, Port Stephens Shire Council and Club Lemon Tree. By Geoff WALKER