Telegram publisher Charlie Stacey (left) chats with 2009 Cuffer Prize winner Chad Pelley of St. John's. Pelley won the $2,000 award for his short story "Holes to China."- Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram

“It’s been a thrilling month! I’ve spent a few years behind a computer typing my life away while the rest of the world is out having fun, but for weeks now I’ve been in a constant state of blissful shock about how well my efforts are being receieved,” Pelley says. “My first novel, Away from Everywhere is being received far better than I anticipated. I’m getting emails from perfect strangers being very specific in their kind words, so you know it’s genuine. To win this award on top of that … it’s priceless vindication and encouragement to keep my writing as my main priority.”

The three judges Pelley was so honoured to be recognized by were acclaimed writers  Kathleen Winter, Russell Wangersky, and Joan Sullivan. “it’s funny,” Pelley said. “I finally wrote something I was satisfied with, stylistically, diction-wise, whatever. And look what happened.”

Click here to read the full article in today’s The Telegram

Click here for more info on the Cuffer prize

Click here to read Holes to China on Chad’s personal blog.

Second Place winner, by the way: Jillian Butler’s “The Fairest Season,” and third place went to last year’s first place winner, Josh Pennell, for “Songs my Grandfather Taught Me.” Chad and Josh have agreed to just swap first and third place every year, as Chad won third place last year …