Dark Tales competition concludes: Crime fiction enthusiasts meet
Stories woven with justice, mystery, and suspense by writers from all across Turkey were crowned with awards at the Dark Tales Crime Fiction Short Story Competition.
12punto
The winners of the Dark Stories Crime Fiction Short Story Competition, organized by Ayrıkotu Kitap, have been announced. A large number of literature enthusiasts attended the award ceremony held at the Caddebostan Cultural Center.
The project was coordinated by editor-writer and broadcaster Yasemin Seven Erangin, journalist-writer Ülkü Yağmur, and editor Aliye Düzgün Çadırcı, with final reading and editing by Özlem Pekcan. The jury included master writers Sevil Atasoy, Ayşe Erbulak, Aşkın Zengin Akkuş, Adnan Gerger, and Melih Günaydın.
Writers and aspiring writers of all ages, from 18 to 73, participated in the competition, which received hundreds of crime stories from almost every province in Turkey.
Master writers and jury members Aşkın Zengin Akkuş and Melih Günaydın were present at the award ceremony. Sevil Atasoy and Ayşe Erbulak sent their messages to the new aspiring writers via video.
In his speech at the award ceremony, Melih Günaydın drew attention to the quality of the submitted stories, saying, "The weather is overcast and dark today. However, we are here for Dark Stories with a bright hope for literature. As long as we continue to write without giving up or getting tired, we will reach even better points."
Author Aşkın Zengin Akkuş, who served on the selection committee, said, "Dark Stories is not just a story competition; today, Turkish crime literature has won. I believe that as long as such competitions continue to be organized, we will reach a better point."
Aytaç Timur, General Publishing Director of Ayrıkotu Kitap and Yeni İnsan Yayınevi, which organized the story competition, said, "In a period where justice is needed, the sought-after justice has been given a place in these stories. That is why this competition is special. I would like to thank the three women, the three laborers, who put great effort into this competition, namely our coordinators and editors."
The Dark Stories Crime Fiction Anthology, which will take its place on shelves under the Ayrıkotu Kitap label, met its readers immediately after the award ceremony. Ali Yörükoğlu took first place with his story "Bat Man" (Yarasa Adam), Elif Can took second with her story "Those Who Run in Their Sleep" (Uykuda Koşanlar), and Tuba Tunçay took third with her story "Between Zero and One" (Sıfır ve Bir Arasında). Şebnem Vitrinel received an Honorable Mention for her story "Strangers on a Train" (Trendeki Yabancılar). All the writers included in the anthology signed their first copies for their readers immediately after the award ceremony.
