Dark twist on fairytale wins aspiring author major award

HIS dark twist on the fairytale Hansel and Gretel won aspiring author Rory Hammersley-Mather his first writing award.

HIS dark twist on the fairytale Hansel and Gretel won aspiring author Rory Hammersley-Mather his first writing award.

The Toowoomba writer won the Gold Coast Writers' Association 2016 Novel Award for his dark adaptation and clever rhymes in Hansel and Gretel: Zombie Siblings.

Mr Hammersley-Mather has been writing for 18 months and mainly focuses on children's books, but also works on young adult fiction. He has written eight books since taking up writing and said his next step is to get a book published.

As the winner of the award, Mr Hammersley-Mather won the opportunity to have one of his novel's professionally edited and to work with professionals to build a proposal to hand in to a publishing agency.

Aspiring author Rory Hammersley-Mather his first writing award for his dark adaption of Hansel and Gretel.

Mr Hammersley-Mather is aiming high and plans to hand his proposal and novel to Penguin Random House.

"It is amazing recognition knowing the judges, who are in a league of their own, chose my story from all the others submitted," he said.

"It was open to people all across the world so it really gives you confidence knowing other people have confidence in you.

"I received the best compliment I have ever gotten from one of the judges. They said my book 'has the dark gruesome feel of Roald Dahl with Dr Seuss rhyming.'"

To check out Mr Hammersley-Mather's work search Rory H. Mather on Facebook.

Originally published as Dark twist on fairytale wins aspiring author major award