THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
WHAT
7 year old Marvin Baxter grows up with a mother who changes her men like she changes her clothes.
Through all the unrest and instability within his life, Marvin uses the music from vinyls to help him drown out the trauma he is continually faced with.
WHY
Even with all the drugs, therapy and other means of help available to us, not everyone can get the help they need, when they need it.
Marvin's use of music as a coping mechanism is testament to finding a way to endure, when no way seems to possible.
WHERE
The prize for this competition was an all paid expenses trip to Greece for a week!
The book is available on Amazon below!
Interview after being announced the winner
How did you feel when you saw the results?
This was an international contest and as a writer you’re often scared to put your work out there. Especially on such a big platform. I remember opening the mail that announced the winning results and not expecting much. When I clicked on the link to the site and saw my name there, I shouted out loud. My college at work sitting next me thought I was crazy. Now I’m a crazy man who’s won an international contest. I’ll take that.
How did you hear about the contest?
A friend told me about it. Her name is Google.
When did you start writing?
We’re all writing from a young age. Whether it’s at school or whether we’re scribbling on a wall we shouldn’t be scribbling on. To be honest, I don’t remember when exactly I started writing nor do I remember whether I truly enjoyed it as a kid. But 2009 was a significant year for me. I couldn’t find a job so I started writing a book. After that, I knew that writing was an outlet and a channel for me to address whatever I was going through in life. Since then I’ve found it very hard not to write. It’s a sickness I quietly pray I will be never be cured of.
Have you seen your work published or your stories shortlisted win a prize before?
Earlier this year, I was runner-up in the SA Writers College 2019 Annual Short Story Award. My short story “Sit Down, You’re Brown” tackled serious identity issues in South Africa and did so in a light-hearted tone. And now Eyelands have kindly awarded me a Grand Winner prize. It’s been a good year.
You wrote a brilliant story. What was the inspiration for ‘’ Marvin Baxter’s Background Music’’?
Inspiration is a funny thing. It builds and builds and you store it somewhere in your mind. Then one day, it springs out. I think the key is to make sure you live life and don’t close any opportunities or doors to exploring the unknown. When I first saw the theme for the competition, ‘Round Midnight’ I felt this could be a door to open where I could explore a different side to my writing. I had to make sure I avoided clichés- ‘Midnight’ seems to have a typical horror story theme attached to it, doesn’t it? In the end, it was an absolute pleasure to test myself by bringing to life an unusual story.
