Bookshop Santa Cruz sponsors an annual short story contest to showcase our local talent. We do not look for any particular theme or style--just great writing. The winning story is published in our newsletter, Readers, with a circulation of more than eleven thousand readers, and on our website, www.bookshopsantacruz.com. The second and third place stories are posted in the store. In addition, the top three winning authors are invited to read their stories on Bruce Bratton's University Grapevine Tuesdays 7:30-8:30 p.m. KZSC 88.1 fm

First prize is the SuRaa Fiction Award: $250 in cash, and a Bookshop gift certificate in the amount of $100. Second and third place gift certificates are also awarded.

2010 CONTEST

• The contest is open to manuscripts of 1,200 words or fewer.
• The entry fee is $6 per manuscript. You may enter as many stories as you wish.
• All manuscripts must be original and previously unpublished.
• DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 15, 2010.
• Final judging will take place by March 30, 2010.

for more on the rules and an entry form, download this PDF:
Short Story Contest Entry Form

2009 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: SuRaa Fiction Award
Sandy Raney, "Basements Are For Dancing"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE:
Lorrie Klosterman, "Shelter"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE:
Molly Prentiss, "Big Dreams"
Read it online!

The winning story from 2007/2008, "January" by Katherine Bailey, was published in Bookshop's Summer 2008 Newsletter.

The winning story from 2006/2007, "On How To Abandon Your Toddler at 7-11" by Cathy Warner, was published in Bookshop's Summer 2007 Newsletter.