After several months of preparation and promotion followed by two months of judging, the winners of the second annual Nanaimo Short Fiction Contest have finally been announced.
The winner of this year's contest is Gloria Tweed for her entry Rock Bottom, a beautiful story about a farmer coming to terms with his loneliness and the life he has chosen.
Final contest judge Andrea MacPherson, a novelist and creative writing instructor at Malaspina University College, says Rock Bottom's strong sense of style and use of language made it a clear standout.
"The piece stayed with me, which is always the sign of a complex, fresh story," said MacPherson.
Second place in this year's contest is Jocelyn Shipley for her entry Aging Orphans, a story about middle-aged children grieving the loss of their mother.
"This story offered the elements necessary in an engaging short story: strong prose, good use of imagery and description, and effective tensions throughout," said MacPherson.
Third Place this year is Adrienne Mercer for her entry Pickup, a story about a young woman waiting for the man she loves in an airport.
"This is an offering from a promising writer," says MacPherson. "The prose was strong and the characters well rounded."
Tweed will receive a $500 first prize and a free creative writing class at Malaspina University College, while Shipley will receive a second prize of $250 and a free class. Mercer will receive $100.
Honourable mentions were also awarded to Jonathon Jones and Kathy L'Ami. Overall, final judge Andrea MacPherson was impressed with the quality of work coming out of Nanaimo. In the junior category, awards were presented to young writers, aged 14 and under.
First prize in this year's junior category is Bashu Naimi-Roy for his story The Importance of Now, a poetic, intricate look at the last few minutes of a man's life. This story is incredibly complex and original and was a clear winner in the junior category.
Second prize is The Forestrunners by Michelle Balfour, a charming, heartfelt story of a wolf trying to fit in with the rest of the pack.
Third prize this year is The Haunted Realm of the Queen of Halloween by Elanna Wenschlag, a fun fairy tale filled with vivid, descriptive writing.
Honourable mentions in the junior category included Evan B. Eadie, Erik Hoddevik, Braden Frew, Misha Zvekich, Kim Brown, Amanda Jade Fielding, George Benson, Nick Breault, and Matthew Lindsay.
All entries were judged blindly, with all names and contact information removed. The 2007 Nanaimo Short Fiction Contest will be launched in October. Call the Nanaimo Arts Council at 729-3947 or [email protected]