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Annual Short Story Contest

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF OUR 20th ANNUAL SHORT STORY CONTEST:

2023 Winners:

FIRST PRIZE: $250 gift certificate and publication in our bi-annual newsletter, Readers, (with circulation of 12,000) and on our website

SECOND PRIZE: $100 gift certificate and website publication

THIRD PRIZE: $50 gift certificate and website publication

 

You can read our winning stories from previous years' contests below.

 

2022 Winners

FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our 2022 summer newsletter
C.W. Blackwell, "Paper Dolls"
Read it online

SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Ian Andrew Hamilton, "A Salamander Moon"
Read it online

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Melissa Talbot, "Jupiter"
Read it online

 

2021 Winners

FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our 2021 summer newsletter. 
Sky Church, "Good Company"
 
SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Ian Andrew Hamilton, "The Ruby at the Heart"
 
THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Jeff Masuda, "Fall Leaves"


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"
Read it online

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Ryan Masters, "Puzzle Box"
Read it online

2019 Winners

FIRST PLACE:  $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our 2019 summer newsletter.
Lauren Michelle Finkle, "The Octopus"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE:  $100 gift certificate
Anna Montgomery Patton, "Laps"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Ryan Masters, "No Whispering, No Secrets"
Read it online!


2018 Winners

FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2018 newsletter.
Nancy Hofman, "Maria's Grandfather"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Joanne Wright, "Escape"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Rose K. Murphy, "Something to Chew On"
Read it online!

2017 Winners

FIRST PLACE: $250 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2017 newsletter.
Ross Clifford, "Walking"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $100 gift certificate
Joanne Wright, "Nice"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Paul Skenazy, "Self-Help"
Read it online!

2016 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2016 newsletter.
Lisa Ortiz, "The Future is a Silver Lake"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Barbara Gorson, "Crazy"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Mary Keil, "Knit 1, Purl 1"
Read it online!

2015 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2015 newsletter.
Meera Collier, "Leo on the Train"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Thomas Wetzel, "Four Roses With Father"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Jeff Masuda, "Five Mile Radius"
Read it online!

2014 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2014 newsletter.
Clifford Henderson, "Pink"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Katariina Alongi, "Secret Formula"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Elisa Fernandes-McDade, "The Quiet Began with a Panic"
Read it online!

2013 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2013 newsletter.
Katariina Alongi, "The Gardener"
Read it online!  

SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Breanna Eddy, "Among the Trees"
Read it online!
 
THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Edward Weingold, "Trinity"
Read it online!

2012 WINNERS

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"
Read it online!
 
THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Jeff Burt, "Marcellus Babineaux, Street Musician"
Read it online!

2011 WINNERS 

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication in our summer 2011 newsletter.
Jeff Burt, "Mrs. Linares’ Daughter" 
Read it online! 
 
SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Paul Skenazy, "Windmills"
Read it online!
 
THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate"
Vinnie Hansen, "Chinchillas"
Read it online! 

2010 WINNERS

FIRST PLACE: $250 cash, $100 gift certificate, plus publication
Nissa Cannon, "Roadside"
Read it online!

SECOND PLACE: $75 gift certificate
Erik Svehaug, "Bull-headed"
Read it online!

THIRD PLACE: $50 gift certificate
Vanessa Hemingway, "El Bar"
Read it online!  

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.