Helen Parker-Drabble | Author | Speaker | Former counsellor | Family historian

From the Judges from the Away from the Western Front Project Creative Writing Competition The author’s chosen approach – reconstructed letters – offers a route into the hearts and minds of the three writers so that we were able to empathise with them in the way that one can with original objects and documents. Each writer has been given a distinctive voice, so that it’s almost possible to believe that these are actual letters. The effect is made all the more authentic by the historical context, which comes over as very realistic, and is undoubtedly based on extensive research. We also liked the modern context, which the author is obviously part of – that of family history researchers who have opened up the history of the First World War, including our own project, through their painstaking work. From readers Your tale is excellent, it’s emotional, everyone can empathize with it. You had a great idea, & you put effort to realize it. Aleksandar Jankovic Wow! – just read your entry. The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and a lump rose in my throat. Anita Evans