Deborah writes a top tale - in any language

A PEACEHAVEN Community School English teacher has achieved international writing success by winning a Commonwealth short story competition.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Nov 2002, 15:32 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:52 BST

Deborah O'Donoghue is the author of The Summit, a disturbing tale which charts the growing unease of an interpreter at international war talks.

The story focuses on politically correct language and the sense of right and wrong.

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Ms O'Donoghue said: 'I'm not against political correctness, I'm interested in the way language can be manipulated.

'I enjoy teaching English because it empowers young people to read between the lines and control their own output.'

Her story was one of 26 winning entries chosen from more than 2,000 and recorded on to CD for broadcast throughout the Commonwealth.

The judges were Nigerian playwright Gabriel Gbadamosi; former head of the BBC Hindi Service Kailash Budhwar; and Margaret Meyer, Director of Literature at the British Council.

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Ms O'Donoghue added: 'It's so exciting to see your work take on a life of its own. Hearing my story recorded by an actor was an incredible feeling.'

The competition began in 1996 and is funded by the Commonwealth Foundation and administered by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association.

Ms O'Donoghue will lead a Write a Novel in a Day Workshop at a Peacehaven Community School Enrichment Day later this month.

Novels written by students will be published for the school library so others can borrow them.