We received nearly 100 entries from writers with a connection to the Bailiwick, and the standard was exceptionally high across the board.

After careful judging, our panel selected 20 stories to be included in the anthology, which will be published by Blue Ormer and launched during this year’s Festival. A further 10 entries were also shortlisted, reflecting just how strong and diverse the submissions were.

The anthology, titled Time & Tide, will be launched at the 2026 Guernsey Literary Festival and brings together fiction and creative non-fiction inspired by island life, memory, change and the rhythms of the sea.

Ross Raisin, the competition’s main judge, said: “One of the special enjoyments of this anthology comes from the gradual understanding, piece by piece, that they share a common ground: a spirit of the Bailiwick. A distinctive weather blows through these stories; the constancy of the sea a presence throughout, by turns a reassurance and a danger.”

Rob Shepherd, Chairman of the Guernsey Literary Festival, added: “This anthology reflects the imagination and individuality found across our islands. It marks an exciting new chapter for the Festival and celebrates the creative spirit of the Bailiwick.”

The Finalists:

- Cassandra Jane Bailey – Hole

- Annika Bisson – The Assessment

- Ric Carter – I'm Pulling In A Different Direction

- Rowan Carteret – The End of a Modern Creature

- Dallas Dorothy Evelyn Courtenay-Warren – Shifting Boundaries

- James Farrand – Valedictions

- Adam Farrell – The Floating Fortress

- Deanna Ferguson – Jelly and Cuttlefish Bones

- Tom Gaisford – L'Ancresse

- Jordan Guillou – Of Moving Bodies

- Sophie Le Lievre – This Water World

- Nick Le Messurier – Two Planets for Sale

- Rachel Le Mesurier – Syren

- Rob Moore – The Dog

- Debbie Parrott – An Ebbing Tide

- Amanda Joyce Senior – Out with the Tide

- Amy Sgarlata – Liminal

- Jane Smedley – Still Here

- Elizabeth Spiller – Changes

- Anna Stothard – The Basic Mermaid Package

The front cover artwork for the anthology has also been selected through a parallel competition run in partnership with Art for Guernsey. The winning artwork, Night Crossing by Carol Price, was chosen from a strong field of submissions and will appear on the cover of the published anthology.

David Ummels, Chairman of Art for Guernsey, said: “This project has been a wonderful opportunity to bring visual art and storytelling together in a way that reflects the creativity of our islands. The quality of submissions was outstanding, and we’re delighted that the winning artwork will help define the visual identity of this inaugural anthology.”

This project is sponsored by Sarnia Hotels, and generously supported by Art for Guernsey, U&US and Blue Ormer.