Bookshop Santa Cruz's 18th annual Short Story Contest Winners!
Thank you to everyone who submitted entries to our 2021 Short Story Contest.
You can read our winning stories from this year as well as previous years' contests below.
2021 Winners
2020 Winners
FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our 2020 summer newsletter.
Joanne Wright, "Outer Banks"
Read it online
SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Logan Egan, "Fall"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Ryan Masters, "Puzzle Box"
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2019 Winners
FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our 2019 summer newsletter.
Lauren Michelle Finkle, "The Octopus"
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SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Anna Montgomery Patton, "Laps"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Ryan Masters, "No Whispering, No Secrets"
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2018 Winners
FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2018 newsletter.
Nancy Hofman, "Maria's Grandfather"
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SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Joanne Wright, "Escape"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Rose K. Murphy, "Something to Chew On"
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2017 Winners
FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2017 newsletter.
Ross Clifford, "Walking"
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SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Joanne Wright, "Nice"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Paul Skenazy, "Self-Help"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2016 newsletter.
Lisa Ortiz, "The Future is a Silver Lake"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Barbara Gorson, "Crazy"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Mary Keil, "Knit 1, Purl 1"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2015 newsletter.
Meera Collier, "Leo on the Train"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Thomas Wetzel, "Four Roses With Father"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Jeff Masuda, "Five Mile Radius"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2014 newsletter.
Clifford Henderson, "Pink"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Katariina Alongi, "Secret Formula"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Elisa Fernandes-McDade, "The Quiet Began with a Panic"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2013 newsletter.
Katariina Alongi, "The Gardener"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Breanna Eddy, "Among the Trees"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Edward Weingold, "Trinity"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2012 newsletter.
Dee Kohanna Davis, "Green Dolphy"
Read it online!
SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Cooper Gallegos, "The Scent of Lemons"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Jeff Burt, "Marcellus Babineaux, Street Musician"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2011 newsletter.
Jeff Burt, "Mrs. Linares’ Daughter"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Paul Skenazy, "Windmills"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Vinnie Hansen, "Chinchillas"
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FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication
Nissa Cannon, "Roadside"
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SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Erik Svehaug, "Bull-headed"
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THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Vanessa Hemingway, "El Bar"
Read it online!
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.