Christina Rost
Winter’s Warm Hug
2022 Contest Chair: Dee Dee Chumley
Oklahoma City Writers Inc. 2022 Contest Winners
Category 1: Humor
First Place: Linda McDonald "Aunt Bea and the Viking King"
Second Place: Susan Kite "How Many Librarians Does It Take to Fill a Bug?"
Third Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "Curl Up and Dye: Wigging Out"
Category 2: Inspirational
First Place: Shelley White "Of Faith, Fear and Signs"
Second Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "From Breakdown to Breakthrough"
Third Place: Barbara Mehnert "Grandfather’s Gift"
Category 3: Juvenile
First Place: Susan Kite "Wrens on the Mop Head"
Second Place: Shelley White "The Trouble with Cricket"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Dinosaur Hunters"
Category 4: Essay (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Susan Kite "Keeping Wolves Out of the Writers’ Sheepfold"
Category 5: Poetry
First Place: Linda McDonald "Flash from the Past"
Second Place: Trina Lee "No. 2 Pencil"
Third Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "The Life of Rain"
Honorable Mention: Vivian Finley Nida "Michelangelo’s David"
Category 6: Short Story
First Place: Barbara Mehnert "Last Day of School"
Second Place: Susan Kite "Greetings from Atlantis"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Fractured"
Honorable Mention: Lisbeth L. McCarty "Take My Word for It, Obviously"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
First Place: Christina Rost "Winter’s Warm Hug"
Second Place: Mark Edward Jones "And When She Saw What She Had Done"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Old Lawmen Ride Again"
Honorable Mention: Susan Kite "Friends"
Category 8: Feature Article (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Barbara Shepherd "3,500 Murals and Counting"
Category 9: Nostalgia (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Susan Kite "Heaven Resides in a Dutch Oven"
Category 10: Book (adult)
First Place: Linda McDonald "Otherwise Decent People"
Second Place: Richard McClellan "Latent Hearts"
Third Place: Christina Rost "Grace Interrupted"
Honorable Mention: Shelley White "Penny Ante: The Good, the Bad, and the Romance"
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Barbara Mehnert "Last Day of School"
Winter’s Warm Hug
2022 Contest Chair: Dee Dee Chumley
Oklahoma City Writers Inc. 2022 Contest Winners
Category 1: Humor
First Place: Linda McDonald "Aunt Bea and the Viking King"
Second Place: Susan Kite "How Many Librarians Does It Take to Fill a Bug?"
Third Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "Curl Up and Dye: Wigging Out"
Category 2: Inspirational
First Place: Shelley White "Of Faith, Fear and Signs"
Second Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "From Breakdown to Breakthrough"
Third Place: Barbara Mehnert "Grandfather’s Gift"
Category 3: Juvenile
First Place: Susan Kite "Wrens on the Mop Head"
Second Place: Shelley White "The Trouble with Cricket"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Dinosaur Hunters"
Category 4: Essay (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Susan Kite "Keeping Wolves Out of the Writers’ Sheepfold"
Category 5: Poetry
First Place: Linda McDonald "Flash from the Past"
Second Place: Trina Lee "No. 2 Pencil"
Third Place: Lisbeth L. McCarty "The Life of Rain"
Honorable Mention: Vivian Finley Nida "Michelangelo’s David"
Category 6: Short Story
First Place: Barbara Mehnert "Last Day of School"
Second Place: Susan Kite "Greetings from Atlantis"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Fractured"
Honorable Mention: Lisbeth L. McCarty "Take My Word for It, Obviously"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
First Place: Christina Rost "Winter’s Warm Hug"
Second Place: Mark Edward Jones "And When She Saw What She Had Done"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd "Old Lawmen Ride Again"
Honorable Mention: Susan Kite "Friends"
Category 8: Feature Article (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Barbara Shepherd "3,500 Murals and Counting"
Category 9: Nostalgia (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Susan Kite "Heaven Resides in a Dutch Oven"
Category 10: Book (adult)
First Place: Linda McDonald "Otherwise Decent People"
Second Place: Richard McClellan "Latent Hearts"
Third Place: Christina Rost "Grace Interrupted"
Honorable Mention: Shelley White "Penny Ante: The Good, the Bad, and the Romance"
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Barbara Mehnert "Last Day of School"
2021 Contest Chair: Dee Britt
Oklahoma City Writers Inc. 2021 Contest Winners
Category 1: Humor
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "The Singer Sewing Club"
Second Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Tiger Lilies"
Third Place: Kathleen Listman, "Someday"
Category 2: Inspirational
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Watched Over"
Second Place: Kathleen Listman, "One Duckling"
Third Place: Judith Rycroft, "We're Not a Wife"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Warrior for Truth"
Category 3: Juvenile
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Ron the Red: The Courageous Bearded Dragon
Second Place: Lisa Braustein, The Dusty
Third Place: Anna Keesey, Ages Unwound
Category 4: Essay
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "My Life in Shoes"
Second Place: Susan Kite, "The Clouds are Free"
Third Place: Judith Rycroft, "Nepal and the Goddess"
Category 5: Poetry
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "Lunacy"
Second Place: Vivian Nida, "Pantoum of Vincent's Starry Night"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Music Pioneer"
Honorable Mention: Judith Rycroft, "Shared Words"
Category 6: Short Story
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "True Mother"
Second Place: Clay Conner, "Billy Jack's BBQ"
Third Place: Judith Rycroft, "Hands Off!"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "Before It Rains"
Second Place: Mark Jones, "The List"
Third Place: "Perfect"
Honorable Mention: Lisbeth McCarty, "Azaleas of Happiness"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Old Lawmen Ride Again"
Category 8: Feature Article (Insufficient entries)
First Place: Judith Rycroft, "Bing Crosby's Aunt Fannie"
Second Place: Lisbeth McCarty, "Shallow Water Drowning"
Third Place: Amy M. Le, "Country for Water"
Category 9: Nostalgia
First Place: Judith Rycroft, "Typhoon"
Second Place: Kathleen Listman, "Alligator at the Riverwalk"
Third Place: Susan Kite, "Clouds of Love"
Category 10: Book (adult)
First Place: Shelley White, "A Particularly Paranormal Romance"
Second Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Just Call Me Jill"
Third Place: B. L. Menhnert, "What Could Go Wrong"
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Dee Dee Chumley, "My Life in Shoes"
2020 Contest Chairs: Roxana Cazan and Shelley Pagach
Oklahoma City Writers Inc. 2020 Contest Winners
2020 Contest Chairs: Roxana Cazan and Shelley Pagach
Category 1: Humor
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Just Say No to Crossword Puzzles"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Tomorrow's Leaders"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Summer Cowboy"
Category 2: Inspirational
First Place: Shelley Anne Richter, "Love's Gentle Tap"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Priming the Pump"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Wings of Blue"
Category 3: Juvenile
First Place: Vivian Finley Nida, "Rainy Day at Grandma's"
Second Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Heavenly Holiday"
Third Place: Staci Mauney, "The Explorers"
Honorable Mention: Carolyn B Leonard, "Living in Two Houses"
Honorable Mention: Susan Kite, Realms of the Cat Prequel: The First Realm
Category 4: Essay
First Place: Susan Kite, "A Letter From Anna"
Second Place: Judith Rycroft, "Over the Hill--Mountains Ahead"
Third Place: Lisbeth L McCarty, "No Brew for You"
Category 5: Poetry
First Place: Paul Wesselhöft, "Appalachian"
Second Place: Judith Rycroft, "Past Perfect"
Third Place: Shelley White, "Black and Blue"
Honorable Mention: Vivian Finley Nida, "The Metronome"
Category 6: Short Story
First Place: Staci Mauney, "The Disappearance"
Second Place: Lisa Braunstein-LaMere, "It Was Always Meant to Be"
Third Place: Shelley L. Levisay, "When White Hats Darken"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "The Mother's Day Invasion of Alabama"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "The Gravemarker"
Third Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Financial Planning"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Old Lawmen Ride Again"
Category 8: Feature Article
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "Learning to Be Funny"
Second Place: Susan Kite, "Color Guard"
Third Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Drifting Toward Hope"
Honorable Mention: Shelley Anne Richter, "We Came Alive on I-35"
Honorable Mention: Mary Flowers Brannon, "Pleasing the Parents"
Category 9: Nostalgia
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Fish Tale"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Thoreau, Walden, and Me"
Third Place: Judith Rycroft, "Madam"
Honorable Mention: Lisbeth L McCarty, "The Magic of Music"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Saturday Shopping"
Category 10: Book (adult)
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, Crossroads
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, Tocemeah's Story
Third Place: Shelley White, Penny Loafers: A Romance within a Mystery within a Romance
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, Just Call Me Jill
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Susan Kite, "A Letter From Anna"
2020 Contest Chairs: Roxana Cazan and Shelley Pagach
Category 1: Humor
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Just Say No to Crossword Puzzles"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Tomorrow's Leaders"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Summer Cowboy"
Category 2: Inspirational
First Place: Shelley Anne Richter, "Love's Gentle Tap"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Priming the Pump"
Third Place: Barbara Shepherd, "Wings of Blue"
Category 3: Juvenile
First Place: Vivian Finley Nida, "Rainy Day at Grandma's"
Second Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Heavenly Holiday"
Third Place: Staci Mauney, "The Explorers"
Honorable Mention: Carolyn B Leonard, "Living in Two Houses"
Honorable Mention: Susan Kite, Realms of the Cat Prequel: The First Realm
Category 4: Essay
First Place: Susan Kite, "A Letter From Anna"
Second Place: Judith Rycroft, "Over the Hill--Mountains Ahead"
Third Place: Lisbeth L McCarty, "No Brew for You"
Category 5: Poetry
First Place: Paul Wesselhöft, "Appalachian"
Second Place: Judith Rycroft, "Past Perfect"
Third Place: Shelley White, "Black and Blue"
Honorable Mention: Vivian Finley Nida, "The Metronome"
Category 6: Short Story
First Place: Staci Mauney, "The Disappearance"
Second Place: Lisa Braunstein-LaMere, "It Was Always Meant to Be"
Third Place: Shelley L. Levisay, "When White Hats Darken"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "The Mother's Day Invasion of Alabama"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "The Gravemarker"
Third Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Financial Planning"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Old Lawmen Ride Again"
Category 8: Feature Article
First Place: Kathleen Listman, "Learning to Be Funny"
Second Place: Susan Kite, "Color Guard"
Third Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Drifting Toward Hope"
Honorable Mention: Shelley Anne Richter, "We Came Alive on I-35"
Honorable Mention: Mary Flowers Brannon, "Pleasing the Parents"
Category 9: Nostalgia
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, "Fish Tale"
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, "Thoreau, Walden, and Me"
Third Place: Judith Rycroft, "Madam"
Honorable Mention: Lisbeth L McCarty, "The Magic of Music"
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, "Saturday Shopping"
Category 10: Book (adult)
First Place: Dee Dee Chumley, Crossroads
Second Place: Carolyn B Leonard, Tocemeah's Story
Third Place: Shelley White, Penny Loafers: A Romance within a Mystery within a Romance
Honorable Mention: Barbara Shepherd, Just Call Me Jill
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Susan Kite, "A Letter From Anna"
Oklahoma City Writers Inc. 2020 Contest Judges
We want to thank everyone who judged and gave feedback this year! Thank you for making this a great contest!
(Judges are listed in no particular order)
We want to thank everyone who judged and gave feedback this year! Thank you for making this a great contest!
(Judges are listed in no particular order)
Bill Boudreau
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Bill Boudreau writes fiction, creative-nonfiction, French and English love songs and ballads, and composes music with MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), software sequencers, and synthesizers. He entertains, sings with guitar accompaniment at festivals, schools, and nursing and retirement homes. Prior to retirement, his adventurous spirit took him and his wife on sail-ship excursions, extensively island hopping the Caribbean Islands that inspired novella Disharmony in Paradise and Hopping the Caribbean Islands. http://www.billboudreau.com/
Bill is the author of the following books: Olsegon, Disharmony in Paradise, Moments in Time, Redemption Island, Beyond Acadia, Wedgeport, Hopping the Caribbean Islands, Milestones (not commercially available), Dialogue with Myself, and As I Ponder. Published articles: “First Confession,” “Interlude,” “Character,” “Reflection — a Longtime U.S. Residence Remembers his Canadian Roots,” “Moon Dance,” “Oklahoma Seasons,” “Senior Years,” “Crossing the Bay of Fundy,” “Prelude to Punishment,” “Journey to Redemption,” “The Punch,” “The Cigar Lesson” and “French Okie.” |
Sabrina Fish
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Award-Winning Author, Sabrina A. Fish, lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and two cats. She & her hubbie own a trophy company, where she collects names for her novels from lists of award recipients. She loves all things chocolate and her husband is sweet enough to never let the candy dish near her computer become empty.
Her accolades include: 2017 National Readers' Choice Awards Winner in Paranormal Romance ~ Diomere's Exile; 2018 OWFI Annual Contest 3rd Place in Unpublished Romance ~ Diomere's Healer; 2019 National Readers' Choice Awards Finalist in Paranormal Romance ~ Diomere's Healer; 2020 OWFI Best Fiction Book ~ Diomere's Healer |
Tamara Grantham
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Tamara Grantham is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books and novellas, including the Olive Kennedy: Fairy World MD series, the Shine novellas, and the upcoming Twisted Ever After trilogy. Dreamthief, the first book of her Fairy World MD series, won first place for fantasy in INDIEFAB’S Book of the Year Awards, a RONE award for best New Adult Romance of 2016, and is a #1 bestseller on Amazon with over 200 five-star reviews. Tamara holds a Bachelor’s degree in English. She has been a featured speaker at numerous writing conferences and has been a panelist at Comic Con Wizard World speaking on the topic of female leads. For her first published project, she collaborated with New York-Times bestselling author, William Bernhardt, in writing the Shine series. https://tamaragrantham.com/
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Ken Hada
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Ken Hada is a poet and professor at East Central University where he directs the annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival. Ken finds the natural order a powerful presence for writing. His work has received the 2017 SCMLA Poetry Prize, has been featured on The Writer’s Almanac, received the Western Heritage Award, named finalist for the Spur Award and four-time finalist for the Oklahoma Book Awards. In 2017 Ken graciously accepted the Glenda Carlile Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book. His published poetry collections include Not Quite Pilgrims, Bring an Extra Mule, Persimmon Sunday, Spare Parts, Margaritas & Redfish, The Way of the Wind and The River White: A Confluence of Brush & Quill. He also has an ebook, Contour Feathers, and Way of the Wind is available in ebook as well. Ken enjoys reading his work at venues around the country.
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Darlinda Hagens
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Darlinda Hagens lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with her husband and family. She is a lifelong Oklahoman. Her joy of traveling landed her in many wonderful places, some of which she uses in her stories. Writing Christian Romance is a tool she uses to glorify God, hoping to inspire others to step out on faith and put their trust in Him, too. In 2019, Darlinda’s poem FINAL EMOTIONS won third place in OWFI’s annual writing contest. Her essay WHAT DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM won first place in OWFI’s 2020 annual contest. Currently, Darlinda’s manuscript FIGHTING FOR FAITH is under publication with 4RV publishing, expected to debut in early 2021.
Darlinda balances writing with working for OKCPS as an elementary clerk. Although she is a bit of an introvert, she loves meeting people and making new friends. |
Shannon Iwanski
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Award-winning author Shannon Iwanski is the owner and Editor-in-Chief of Inkubus Publishing, an editor for A Murder of Storytellers, and a founding member of the critique group Nevermore Edits. In 2014, he realized his childhood dream when his debut novel "Ride the Train" was published. Since then, Shannon has published another novel, a short story collection, multiple short stories in various anthologies, five novellas, and four anthologies. When not alternating between cursing and thanking his overactive muse, he enjoys reading comic books and collecting way too much geeky memorabilia. Shannon lives in Tulsa, OK with his husband, three dogs, a cat, and a bird.
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Vickey Maloney Kennedy
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A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away—Alamo, Tennessee—a brave princess was born. She grew up slaying dragons, and a prince or two. Every dragon slayer must possess the knowledge to stitch bite wounds and nurse minor burns. Princess vck learned the healing arts from a coven of wizards in the land of Jackson, Tennessee. Shortly after cloning herself, the princess traded her tiara, left the comforts of her castle, and traveled to another Galaxy far, far away — Oklahoma—where she encountered academic aliens. Her dedication to studying the arts of cloaking her identity and building fortresses earned her a knighthood— BA, in Theatre, Acting/Technical Theatre/Set Design, from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Lady vck retreated to the realm of giants at Oklahoma State University to continue her Graduate Studies, in impersonation, improvisation, and illumination —Theatre/Acting/Light Design. Eventually, Lady vck cloned herself again, and once again, and settled down to train those little clones in advanced dragon relocation techniques —in compliance with PETA's Dragon Protection Laws of '77. Until the clones matured enough to go into battle alone, Lady vck earned her living as a healer in the kingdom of Norman, Oklahoma. She now spends her days slaying the written word, compiling instructional tomes on how to protect your kingdom from dragons, pirates, werewolves, vampires, and space aliens. http://www.vickeymalonekennedy.com/
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Staci Mauney
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An old time friend of the OCWI and judge for our contest, Staci Mauney is the author of four books in the Echoes of Joy devotional series, Echoes of Joy: A Devotional for Animal Lovers, Echoes of Joy: Growing Closer to God, Echoes of Joy: A Daily Devotional for Christmas, and Echoes of Joy: 30 Days of Experiencing God’s Grace. Staci holds a Master of Education in Secondary Education from Cameron University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU), graduating summa cum laude. She grew up and spent most of her life in southwestern Oklahoma.
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Shay Rahm
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Shay Rahm is a lecturer of English and the publishing director of New Plains Student Publishing at the University of Central Oklahoma. In her role as publishing director of NPSP, she serves as executive editor of New Plains Review, 1890: A Journal of Undergraduate Research, and The Central Dissent: A Journal of Gender and Sexuality. She also chairs "Lit at the Lab" and co-chairs the Sherman Chaddlesone Arts & Letters Lecture Series. Both are annual events hosted by New Plains Student Publishing. Additionally, at UCO, she is the faculty adviser of Golden Key International Honour Society and a faculty mentor for the Native American Success Initiative.
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Constance Squires
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A winner in the OWFI contest, Constance Squires holds a Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. In addition to Hit Your Brights, she is the author of the novels Along the Watchtower (Riverhead), which won the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for Fiction, and Live from Medicine Park, a 2018 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. Her short stories have appeared in Guernica, The Atlantic Monthly, Shenandoah, Identity Theory, Bayou, the Dublin Quarterly, This Land, and a number of other magazines. Her nonfiction has appeared in Salon, the New York Times, the Village Voice, World Literature Today, the Philological Review, Largehearted Boy, and has been featured on the NPR program Snap Judgment. She is a regular contributor to the RollingStone500: Telling Stories in Stereo (thers500.com). and wrote the screenplay for Sundance fellow Jeffrey Palmer's 2015 short film, Grave Misgivings. Her website is www.constancesquiresofficial.com. She is currently at work on a novel, Low April Sun.
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Beth Wallo
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Beth Wallo is a lecturer of English and the English department's Guest Speaker coordinator. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Central Oklahoma and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Texas State University-San Marcos. While working toward her graduate degree, she studied closely with Pulitzer Prize winner, Tim O'Brien, and under his guidance published a book-length manuscript which explores the concepts of self-revision related to today’s fast-paced and technologically evolving society. She has completed a book-length work of prose poems, which includes the poem “Earthward,” a finalist work for both the Glimmer Train Poetry Open Contest and the Rita Dove Poetry Award. She has been invited to read this work as well as excerpts of her novel and shorts stories at the Vermont Studio Center, The University of Tulsa Nimrod Hardman Conference, The Austin International Poetry Festival, and the renowned Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center. She currently is working on a second novel.
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2019 Contest Winners
2019 Contest Chair: Roxana Cazan, roxanalcazan@gmail.com
Category 1: Humor
1st place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Mama's Meds"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Love, Judge Zimmerman"
3rd place - Judith Rycroft - "Bassett Tales"
Category 2: Inspiration
1st place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Passion Redefined"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Dreams of Sandy"
3rd place - Shelley White - "A Tale of Two Sheep"
HM - Barbara Shepherd - "Sisters by Marriage"
Category 3: Juvenile
1st place - Lisbeth McCarty - "I'll Have That"
2nd place - Susan Kite - "Rabbit Power"
3rd place - Barbara Shepard - "The Boy Who Wanted to Wash Dishes"
Category 4: Essay
1st place - Nicki Rycroft - "Carnac Island"
2nd place - Shelley Ann Richter - "Saving Bridgett"
3rd place - Mary Flowers Brannon - "Dating Ugh!"
Category 5: Poetry
1st place - Judith Rycroft - "Seeds"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Ever So Gently"
3rd place - Paul Wesselhöft - "Requiem"
Category 6: Short Story
1st place - Gail Mattingly - "Harvey and the Genie"
2nd place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Neighborhood Watch"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Off the Menu"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
1st place - Susan Kite - "Flamingo Sunrise"
2nd place - Barbara Shepard - "Whispering Woods"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Card Shark"
Category 8: Feature Article (Insufficient entries)
1st place - Shelley Ann Richter - "The Garden Lady"
Category 9: Nostalgia
1st place - Shelley Ann Richter - "Spotted-Nation Smith"
2nd place - Nicki Rycroft - "The Shadow Tickler"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Greasy Spoon Boon"
Category 10: Book (Adult)
1st place - Shelley White - "Penny Dreadful"
2nd place - Shelley Pagach - "Broken Together"
3rd place - B.L. Mehnert - "9 O'Clock"
Category 11: Book (Juvenile) (Insufficient entries)
1st place - Lorelei Sawtelle - "The Life and Times of Pinky Calhoun"
2nd place - Nikki Davis - "Dead Wishes"
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Shelley White for the Book (Adult) - "Penny Dreadful"
Category 1: Humor
1st place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Mama's Meds"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Love, Judge Zimmerman"
3rd place - Judith Rycroft - "Bassett Tales"
Category 2: Inspiration
1st place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Passion Redefined"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Dreams of Sandy"
3rd place - Shelley White - "A Tale of Two Sheep"
HM - Barbara Shepherd - "Sisters by Marriage"
Category 3: Juvenile
1st place - Lisbeth McCarty - "I'll Have That"
2nd place - Susan Kite - "Rabbit Power"
3rd place - Barbara Shepard - "The Boy Who Wanted to Wash Dishes"
Category 4: Essay
1st place - Nicki Rycroft - "Carnac Island"
2nd place - Shelley Ann Richter - "Saving Bridgett"
3rd place - Mary Flowers Brannon - "Dating Ugh!"
Category 5: Poetry
1st place - Judith Rycroft - "Seeds"
2nd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Ever So Gently"
3rd place - Paul Wesselhöft - "Requiem"
Category 6: Short Story
1st place - Gail Mattingly - "Harvey and the Genie"
2nd place - Dee Dee Chumley - "Neighborhood Watch"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Off the Menu"
Category 7: Flash Fiction
1st place - Susan Kite - "Flamingo Sunrise"
2nd place - Barbara Shepard - "Whispering Woods"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Card Shark"
Category 8: Feature Article (Insufficient entries)
1st place - Shelley Ann Richter - "The Garden Lady"
Category 9: Nostalgia
1st place - Shelley Ann Richter - "Spotted-Nation Smith"
2nd place - Nicki Rycroft - "The Shadow Tickler"
3rd place - Lisbeth McCarty - "Greasy Spoon Boon"
Category 10: Book (Adult)
1st place - Shelley White - "Penny Dreadful"
2nd place - Shelley Pagach - "Broken Together"
3rd place - B.L. Mehnert - "9 O'Clock"
Category 11: Book (Juvenile) (Insufficient entries)
1st place - Lorelei Sawtelle - "The Life and Times of Pinky Calhoun"
2nd place - Nikki Davis - "Dead Wishes"
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
Shelley White for the Book (Adult) - "Penny Dreadful"
2018 Contest Winners
2018 Contest Chair: Sandra Soli, 1632 Laurel Drive, Edmond OK 73003, 405-341-9611, sandrasoli@att.net
2018 Contest Co-Chair: Judith Rycroft: 405-942-4647, jsrycroft@yahoo.com
CATEGORY 1 HUMOR
JUDGE: William Bernhardt has sold more than 10 million books throughout the world in several genre and is the founder of the annual Red Sneakers Writing Conference. Most recent title is Justice Returns, in his wonderful Ben Kincaid series.
1st Place, Shelley Anne Richter – “When Chi Chi Did the Cha Cha”
2nd Place, Terri Lynn Cummings – “Do Something”
3rd Place, Lorelei Sawtelle – “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden”
CATEGORY 2 INSPIRATIONAL
JUDGE: Louise Tucker Jones is an Inspirational Speaker, Author, columnist for Edmond Outlook magazine, and founder of “Wives With Heavenly Husbands,” a support group for widows.
1st Place, Susan Kite – “Fire”
2nd Place, Shelley Anne Richter – “The Essence of Simplicity”
3rd Place, Kathleen Listman – “The Price of Miracles”
Honorable Mention, Susan Blumenthal Donchin – “For Sammi”
CATEGORY 3 JUVENILE
JUDGE: Sharon Edge Martin – Author of a picture book, Froggy Bottom Blues and a poetry collection, Not a Prodigal. A book of children’s poetry will be out next year. Sharon hosts the 2nd Sunday poetry series at Tidewater Winery in Drumright.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “The Legend of Billy Bob Flybottom”
2nd Place, Barbara Shepherd – “The Noisy Peacock”
3rd Place, Lisbeth L. McCarty – “Eli Eats Eighty Eggs Every Evening”
CATEGORY 4 ESSAY
JUDGE: Dr. Constance Squires-Johnston is a creative writing professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. She received an Oklahoma Book Award for her novel Along the Watchtower. Her second novel is Live from Medicine Park, which is in the running for a major award for Rock & Roll writing. Connie’s book of short stories is due out in 2019. Especially grateful to her for stepping in when the original judge was hospitalized.
1st Place, Susan Blumenthal – “Building Towers”
2nd Place, Barbara Shepherd – “Keys to My Future”
3rd Place, Shelley E. White – The Yellow “One”
Honorable Mention, Kathleen Listman – “Why Were They Laughing?”
CATEGORY 5 POETRY
JUDGE: Carol Hamilton, a well-known and revered Oklahoma author. The recipient of an Oklahoma Book Award and a Southwest Book Award, Carol has published children’s novels, Polish legends, poetry books, and chapbooks . She served as Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate 1995-97.
1st Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Elegy for Norman”
2nd Place, Terri Lynn Cummings – “First Loss”
3rd Place, Jody Karr – “Soaking Up Summer”
Honorable Mentions (Unranked-Equal Order)
Lisbeth L. McCarty – “The Choreography of Chlorophyll”
Doris Beaton – “No More”
Barbara Shepherd – “She’s Always Late”
CATEGORY 6 SHORT STORY
JUDGE: Vickey Malone Kennedy – Former Editor in Chief of 4 RV Publishing, Vickey has won OWFI’s Crème de la Crème Award and 1st place in genre fiction in the Writer’ Digest 85th writing competition. Many of us have attended and been inspired by her workshops.
1st Place, Kristin Kaldahl – “A Dog’s Life”
2nd Place, Shelley E. White – “Rumpled”
3rd Place, Gail Mattingly – “Calvin”
3rd HM, Lorelei Sawtelle – “In Defense of Fairies”
2nd HM, Kathleen Listman – “A Kind of Immortality”
1st HM, Laci Liter – “Baking Bread”
CATEGORY 7 FLASH FICTION
JUDGE: Harvey Stanbrough – writer and editor, Harvey’s works have been nominated for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. His books include Punctuation for Writers and Writing Realistic Dialogue, as well as poetry books. A very interesting man who says he was “born in New Mexico, seasoned in Texas, and baked in Arizona.” You can sign up for his blog.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “Impasse”
2nd Place, Gail Mattingly – “My Peculiar Night With a Pint of Punctuation”
3rd Place, Mary Flowers Brannon – “Red Lips, Spike Heels, and Attitude”
Honorable Mention, Kathleen Listman – “Reaching Home Base”
CATEGORY 8 FEATURE ARTICLE
JUDGE: Karlie Tipton is the Managing Editor of Oklahoma Today magazine. She writes features for every issue of the magazines and also reads submissions.
1st Place, John T. Biggs – “Wounded Knee: the second time around”
2nd Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Bassoon Man: Arizona Musician, Bill Schink”
3rd Place, Bradley Neece – “LeBron James, Laura Ingraham, and the Importance of Knowing Your Audience”
CATEGORY 9 NOSTALGIA
JUDGE: Louise Farmer Smith facilitates a workshop around the country, “Saving Family Memories.” She is the author of One Hundred Years of Marriage and an award-winning story collection, Cadillac, Oklahoma (edited by my co-chair Sandy). Her latest is The Woman Without a Voice; all are set in Oklahoma.
1st Place, Marlys Gallagher – “The Best Dog in the World”
2nd Place, Gail Mattingly – “The Five and Ten Cent Stores”
3rd Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Every Day is a Nature Day”
Honorable Mentions (Unranked, Equal Order)
Vivian Finley Nida – “Indian Territory”
Terri Lynn Cummings – “Muse”
Barbara Shepherd – “Rag Rugs”
CATEGORY 10 BOOK (Adult)
JUDGE: Marcia Preston is an Honorary Lifetime Member of both OCWI and OWFI. She has six published novels; and another, The Spiderling, is under contract. In 2004 Marcia won both the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Oklahoma Book award.
1st Place, Richard M. McClellan – “Return to Rainbow Ridge”
2nd Place, Shelley E. White – “Daughters of God, Daughters of Man”
3rd Place, Laurin Keller – “The First World”
Honorable Mention, Shelley Pagach – “Broken Together”
CATEGORY 11 BOOK (Juvenile)
JUDGE: Nick Lyon is the author of the young adult fantasy series Tales of Toratoga and a collection of short stories It’ll All Work Out .When not writing, he spends time teaching high school English, and playing with his band, The Dead Armadillos. As an Indie author of fantasy, crime, and historical novels, he is shopping for an agent.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “Moon Crusher”
2nd Place, Kristin Kaldahl – “Aslan: Running Joy”
3rd Place, Kathleen Listman – “Fleeing the Sunset”
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
JUDGE: Carla Walker is editor of the Oklahoma Humanities magazine and director of communications for the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Carla has been honored for interviews and columns; under her leadership the magazine has earned 39 journalism awards.
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME - Kristin Kaldahl for her short story “A Dog’s Life”
Judge’s comment: Congratulations to the author of this year’s Crème de la Crème Award, “A Dog’s Life.” The imagery is vivid, constructing a presence of place and substance. Colloquial speech is hard to achieve, but she succeeded in defining the character of the old woman such that we want to steer well clear of her. This is a great piece of writing—inventive, suspenseful, and it leaves us wanting to know more of the story. Very well done!
JUDGE: William Bernhardt has sold more than 10 million books throughout the world in several genre and is the founder of the annual Red Sneakers Writing Conference. Most recent title is Justice Returns, in his wonderful Ben Kincaid series.
1st Place, Shelley Anne Richter – “When Chi Chi Did the Cha Cha”
2nd Place, Terri Lynn Cummings – “Do Something”
3rd Place, Lorelei Sawtelle – “Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden”
CATEGORY 2 INSPIRATIONAL
JUDGE: Louise Tucker Jones is an Inspirational Speaker, Author, columnist for Edmond Outlook magazine, and founder of “Wives With Heavenly Husbands,” a support group for widows.
1st Place, Susan Kite – “Fire”
2nd Place, Shelley Anne Richter – “The Essence of Simplicity”
3rd Place, Kathleen Listman – “The Price of Miracles”
Honorable Mention, Susan Blumenthal Donchin – “For Sammi”
CATEGORY 3 JUVENILE
JUDGE: Sharon Edge Martin – Author of a picture book, Froggy Bottom Blues and a poetry collection, Not a Prodigal. A book of children’s poetry will be out next year. Sharon hosts the 2nd Sunday poetry series at Tidewater Winery in Drumright.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “The Legend of Billy Bob Flybottom”
2nd Place, Barbara Shepherd – “The Noisy Peacock”
3rd Place, Lisbeth L. McCarty – “Eli Eats Eighty Eggs Every Evening”
CATEGORY 4 ESSAY
JUDGE: Dr. Constance Squires-Johnston is a creative writing professor at the University of Central Oklahoma. She received an Oklahoma Book Award for her novel Along the Watchtower. Her second novel is Live from Medicine Park, which is in the running for a major award for Rock & Roll writing. Connie’s book of short stories is due out in 2019. Especially grateful to her for stepping in when the original judge was hospitalized.
1st Place, Susan Blumenthal – “Building Towers”
2nd Place, Barbara Shepherd – “Keys to My Future”
3rd Place, Shelley E. White – The Yellow “One”
Honorable Mention, Kathleen Listman – “Why Were They Laughing?”
CATEGORY 5 POETRY
JUDGE: Carol Hamilton, a well-known and revered Oklahoma author. The recipient of an Oklahoma Book Award and a Southwest Book Award, Carol has published children’s novels, Polish legends, poetry books, and chapbooks . She served as Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate 1995-97.
1st Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Elegy for Norman”
2nd Place, Terri Lynn Cummings – “First Loss”
3rd Place, Jody Karr – “Soaking Up Summer”
Honorable Mentions (Unranked-Equal Order)
Lisbeth L. McCarty – “The Choreography of Chlorophyll”
Doris Beaton – “No More”
Barbara Shepherd – “She’s Always Late”
CATEGORY 6 SHORT STORY
JUDGE: Vickey Malone Kennedy – Former Editor in Chief of 4 RV Publishing, Vickey has won OWFI’s Crème de la Crème Award and 1st place in genre fiction in the Writer’ Digest 85th writing competition. Many of us have attended and been inspired by her workshops.
1st Place, Kristin Kaldahl – “A Dog’s Life”
2nd Place, Shelley E. White – “Rumpled”
3rd Place, Gail Mattingly – “Calvin”
3rd HM, Lorelei Sawtelle – “In Defense of Fairies”
2nd HM, Kathleen Listman – “A Kind of Immortality”
1st HM, Laci Liter – “Baking Bread”
CATEGORY 7 FLASH FICTION
JUDGE: Harvey Stanbrough – writer and editor, Harvey’s works have been nominated for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. His books include Punctuation for Writers and Writing Realistic Dialogue, as well as poetry books. A very interesting man who says he was “born in New Mexico, seasoned in Texas, and baked in Arizona.” You can sign up for his blog.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “Impasse”
2nd Place, Gail Mattingly – “My Peculiar Night With a Pint of Punctuation”
3rd Place, Mary Flowers Brannon – “Red Lips, Spike Heels, and Attitude”
Honorable Mention, Kathleen Listman – “Reaching Home Base”
CATEGORY 8 FEATURE ARTICLE
JUDGE: Karlie Tipton is the Managing Editor of Oklahoma Today magazine. She writes features for every issue of the magazines and also reads submissions.
1st Place, John T. Biggs – “Wounded Knee: the second time around”
2nd Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Bassoon Man: Arizona Musician, Bill Schink”
3rd Place, Bradley Neece – “LeBron James, Laura Ingraham, and the Importance of Knowing Your Audience”
CATEGORY 9 NOSTALGIA
JUDGE: Louise Farmer Smith facilitates a workshop around the country, “Saving Family Memories.” She is the author of One Hundred Years of Marriage and an award-winning story collection, Cadillac, Oklahoma (edited by my co-chair Sandy). Her latest is The Woman Without a Voice; all are set in Oklahoma.
1st Place, Marlys Gallagher – “The Best Dog in the World”
2nd Place, Gail Mattingly – “The Five and Ten Cent Stores”
3rd Place, Sylvia Forbes – “Every Day is a Nature Day”
Honorable Mentions (Unranked, Equal Order)
Vivian Finley Nida – “Indian Territory”
Terri Lynn Cummings – “Muse”
Barbara Shepherd – “Rag Rugs”
CATEGORY 10 BOOK (Adult)
JUDGE: Marcia Preston is an Honorary Lifetime Member of both OCWI and OWFI. She has six published novels; and another, The Spiderling, is under contract. In 2004 Marcia won both the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Oklahoma Book award.
1st Place, Richard M. McClellan – “Return to Rainbow Ridge”
2nd Place, Shelley E. White – “Daughters of God, Daughters of Man”
3rd Place, Laurin Keller – “The First World”
Honorable Mention, Shelley Pagach – “Broken Together”
CATEGORY 11 BOOK (Juvenile)
JUDGE: Nick Lyon is the author of the young adult fantasy series Tales of Toratoga and a collection of short stories It’ll All Work Out .When not writing, he spends time teaching high school English, and playing with his band, The Dead Armadillos. As an Indie author of fantasy, crime, and historical novels, he is shopping for an agent.
1st Place, Susan L. Kite – “Moon Crusher”
2nd Place, Kristin Kaldahl – “Aslan: Running Joy”
3rd Place, Kathleen Listman – “Fleeing the Sunset”
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME
JUDGE: Carla Walker is editor of the Oklahoma Humanities magazine and director of communications for the Oklahoma Humanities Council. Carla has been honored for interviews and columns; under her leadership the magazine has earned 39 journalism awards.
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME - Kristin Kaldahl for her short story “A Dog’s Life”
Judge’s comment: Congratulations to the author of this year’s Crème de la Crème Award, “A Dog’s Life.” The imagery is vivid, constructing a presence of place and substance. Colloquial speech is hard to achieve, but she succeeded in defining the character of the old woman such that we want to steer well clear of her. This is a great piece of writing—inventive, suspenseful, and it leaves us wanting to know more of the story. Very well done!
2017 Contest Winners
2017 Contest Chair: Marcia Preston
1. Humor – Robyn Conley has written and edited all types of humor from satire to silliness during 25 years as a freelance writer and book doctor. Go to www.robynconley.com to take advantage of her FREE critique service.
1st place, “Coon Hunters” – Gail Mattingly
2nd place, “Are Men Necessary?” – Lynda Stephenson
3rd place, “Lincoln Park” – Judith Rycroft
2. Inspirational – Melanie Hemry has been writing for Guideposts magazine for 31 years. She has written 54 books, including Jerry Fallwell: His Life and Legacy, which she ghosted for his widow, Macel.
1st place, “Ann” – Judith Rycroft
2nd place, “West Memphis” – Kathleen Listman
3rd place, “Robin Redbreast Family” – Charles Richter
HM, “A Colossal Mistake” – Sylvia Forbes
3. Juvenile – Gwendolyn Hooks is the author of more than 20 books for young readers. She writes both fiction and nonfiction, including the award winning picture book biography, Tiny Stitches-The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas.
1st place, “The Riddle of the Golden Kid” – Nda-jiya M. Suberu
2nd place, “The Other Twin” – Mary Flowers Brannon
3rd place, “Thirteen” – Vivian Finley Nida
1st HM, “Oink! Chomp! Splash!” – Barbara Shepherd
2nd HM, “My Earliest Fine-Art Memory” – Skye Brannon Lucking
4. Essay – Gordon Greene is a retired theatre professional, a former college professor and an award-winning journalist. He is the author of six books, two produced plays and dozens of stories, essays, columns, articles, and poems. He was twice president of Oklahoma City Writers and is a past president of the OK Writers Federation.
1st place, “A Skunk by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet” – Lynda Stephenson
2nd place, “To Go or Not to Go” – Gail Mattingly
3rd place, “Oscar Moments” – Mary Flowers Brannon
5. Poetry – Sandra Soli is a well-known poet. She’s a past president of OKC Writers and has won our Crème de la Creme award. She’s the author of two poetry chapbooks, one of which won the Oklahoma Book Award in Poetry. She’s also written a workbook for memoir writers, called Who Will Tell the Story If Not You?
1st place, “Saffron” – Cynthia Boyd
2nd place, “Instructions to the Reader: Herta Muller Intertwined in Brain Space with White Space” – Doris Beaton
3rd place, “Whistle Blower” – Carol Muirhead
6. Short story – Jeff Spelman began writing for the Daily O'Collegian at Oklahoma State. He's published short stories and poetry in Byline Magazine, academic journals, and e-zines. He has won first place in the short story contests of the Oklahoma City Writers and Oklahoma Writers Federation, and placed in the Writers' Digest National Short Story contest.
1st place, “Daffodil Waltz” – Barbara Shepherd
2nd place, “Round Trip” – Lynda Stephenson
3rd place, “Alli” – Kathleen Listman
1st HM, “Eight Ball, Corner Pocket” – Lisbeth McCarty
2nd HM, “Becoming Dr. Myra” – Onis L. Cox
7. Flash Fiction – Wayne Wyrick is the author of four children's books and has written a monthly column since 1984. He has long been a reader, writer, and lover of flash fiction and presented a workshop on flash fiction to creative writing students at East Central University.
1st place, “The Moment” – John Biggs
2nd place, “The Ram” – Barbara Shepherd
3rd place, “Glow” – Lisbeth McCarty
8. Feature Article – Lynda Haller has been writing magazine articles for 50 years and holds a Masters in Creative Studies from UCO. Her credits include Persimmon Hill, Heartland USA, and The Ketchpen, a publication of the Rodeo Historical Society.
1st place, “Out for an Afternoon Stroll” – Sylvia Forbes
2nd place, “Blood Suckers” – Gail Mattingly
3rd place, “Why Appeal a Jury Verdict?” – Lisbeth McCarty
HM, “William Scott Receives Quilt of Valor” – Barbara Shepherd
9. Nostalgia – Nathan Gunter is the managing editor of Oklahoma Today magazine, and also managing editor of vox poetica, an online poetry salon. His writing has appeared in the Times of London, CNN.com, This Land Press, the Bingo Bugle of Wisconsin, and in the 2017 Woody Guthrie poetry anthology, Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way.
1st place, “On Leaving the Freeway” – Kathleen Listman
2nd place, “Yellow Card Table” – Carol Muirhead
3rd place, “As We Become Our Mothers” – Lynda Stephenson
HM, “Madam” – Judith Rycroft
HM, “Buster Brown” – Vivian Finley Nida
10. Adult Book – Linda Apple is the author of two women's fiction books and five nonfiction books. Her stories have appeared in sixteen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. In addition to writing she is a speaker and teaches writing workshops in both fiction and nonfiction.
1st place, The Murder House – John Biggs
2nd place, Galen’s Gift – Paulette Henderson
3rd place, The Bowels of Paris – Kathleen Listman
HM, Valor – Margy Pezdirtz
11. Juvenile Book – Anna Myers is the author of 20 nationally published books for children. She is a winner of the lifetime achievement award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book, a member of the Oklahoma Writers' Hall of Fame, and the recipient of numerous other awards for writing.
Only four entries, so according to our contest rules, no cash will be awarded, but the judge did name a first place.
1st place, Reinventing Maria – Kathleen Listman
Crème de la Crème Award – Judge was Sonia Gensler. Sonia is the award-winning author of three young adult novels published by Alfred Knopf/Random House Kids. She taught literature and writing for ten years. Her latest book is called Ghostlight.
The Crème de la Crème Award
“On Leaving the Freeway,” (Nostalgia category), by Kathleen Listman
1st place, “Coon Hunters” – Gail Mattingly
2nd place, “Are Men Necessary?” – Lynda Stephenson
3rd place, “Lincoln Park” – Judith Rycroft
2. Inspirational – Melanie Hemry has been writing for Guideposts magazine for 31 years. She has written 54 books, including Jerry Fallwell: His Life and Legacy, which she ghosted for his widow, Macel.
1st place, “Ann” – Judith Rycroft
2nd place, “West Memphis” – Kathleen Listman
3rd place, “Robin Redbreast Family” – Charles Richter
HM, “A Colossal Mistake” – Sylvia Forbes
3. Juvenile – Gwendolyn Hooks is the author of more than 20 books for young readers. She writes both fiction and nonfiction, including the award winning picture book biography, Tiny Stitches-The Life of Medical Pioneer Vivien Thomas.
1st place, “The Riddle of the Golden Kid” – Nda-jiya M. Suberu
2nd place, “The Other Twin” – Mary Flowers Brannon
3rd place, “Thirteen” – Vivian Finley Nida
1st HM, “Oink! Chomp! Splash!” – Barbara Shepherd
2nd HM, “My Earliest Fine-Art Memory” – Skye Brannon Lucking
4. Essay – Gordon Greene is a retired theatre professional, a former college professor and an award-winning journalist. He is the author of six books, two produced plays and dozens of stories, essays, columns, articles, and poems. He was twice president of Oklahoma City Writers and is a past president of the OK Writers Federation.
1st place, “A Skunk by Any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet” – Lynda Stephenson
2nd place, “To Go or Not to Go” – Gail Mattingly
3rd place, “Oscar Moments” – Mary Flowers Brannon
5. Poetry – Sandra Soli is a well-known poet. She’s a past president of OKC Writers and has won our Crème de la Creme award. She’s the author of two poetry chapbooks, one of which won the Oklahoma Book Award in Poetry. She’s also written a workbook for memoir writers, called Who Will Tell the Story If Not You?
1st place, “Saffron” – Cynthia Boyd
2nd place, “Instructions to the Reader: Herta Muller Intertwined in Brain Space with White Space” – Doris Beaton
3rd place, “Whistle Blower” – Carol Muirhead
6. Short story – Jeff Spelman began writing for the Daily O'Collegian at Oklahoma State. He's published short stories and poetry in Byline Magazine, academic journals, and e-zines. He has won first place in the short story contests of the Oklahoma City Writers and Oklahoma Writers Federation, and placed in the Writers' Digest National Short Story contest.
1st place, “Daffodil Waltz” – Barbara Shepherd
2nd place, “Round Trip” – Lynda Stephenson
3rd place, “Alli” – Kathleen Listman
1st HM, “Eight Ball, Corner Pocket” – Lisbeth McCarty
2nd HM, “Becoming Dr. Myra” – Onis L. Cox
7. Flash Fiction – Wayne Wyrick is the author of four children's books and has written a monthly column since 1984. He has long been a reader, writer, and lover of flash fiction and presented a workshop on flash fiction to creative writing students at East Central University.
1st place, “The Moment” – John Biggs
2nd place, “The Ram” – Barbara Shepherd
3rd place, “Glow” – Lisbeth McCarty
8. Feature Article – Lynda Haller has been writing magazine articles for 50 years and holds a Masters in Creative Studies from UCO. Her credits include Persimmon Hill, Heartland USA, and The Ketchpen, a publication of the Rodeo Historical Society.
1st place, “Out for an Afternoon Stroll” – Sylvia Forbes
2nd place, “Blood Suckers” – Gail Mattingly
3rd place, “Why Appeal a Jury Verdict?” – Lisbeth McCarty
HM, “William Scott Receives Quilt of Valor” – Barbara Shepherd
9. Nostalgia – Nathan Gunter is the managing editor of Oklahoma Today magazine, and also managing editor of vox poetica, an online poetry salon. His writing has appeared in the Times of London, CNN.com, This Land Press, the Bingo Bugle of Wisconsin, and in the 2017 Woody Guthrie poetry anthology, Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way.
1st place, “On Leaving the Freeway” – Kathleen Listman
2nd place, “Yellow Card Table” – Carol Muirhead
3rd place, “As We Become Our Mothers” – Lynda Stephenson
HM, “Madam” – Judith Rycroft
HM, “Buster Brown” – Vivian Finley Nida
10. Adult Book – Linda Apple is the author of two women's fiction books and five nonfiction books. Her stories have appeared in sixteen Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. In addition to writing she is a speaker and teaches writing workshops in both fiction and nonfiction.
1st place, The Murder House – John Biggs
2nd place, Galen’s Gift – Paulette Henderson
3rd place, The Bowels of Paris – Kathleen Listman
HM, Valor – Margy Pezdirtz
11. Juvenile Book – Anna Myers is the author of 20 nationally published books for children. She is a winner of the lifetime achievement award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book, a member of the Oklahoma Writers' Hall of Fame, and the recipient of numerous other awards for writing.
Only four entries, so according to our contest rules, no cash will be awarded, but the judge did name a first place.
1st place, Reinventing Maria – Kathleen Listman
Crème de la Crème Award – Judge was Sonia Gensler. Sonia is the award-winning author of three young adult novels published by Alfred Knopf/Random House Kids. She taught literature and writing for ten years. Her latest book is called Ghostlight.
The Crème de la Crème Award
“On Leaving the Freeway,” (Nostalgia category), by Kathleen Listman
2016 Contest Chair: Gail Mattingly, 405-494-7384, evamattingly@cox.net
:2016 Rules: PDF Print Version
:2016 Rules: PDF Print Version
2016 Contest Winners
Humor - Judged by J. B. Hogan, the author of Tin Hollow, Losing Cotton, Fallen, & Living Behind Time.
Honorable Mention – A Gardner’s Woes by: Sylvia Forbes
Third Place – The Senility Rap by: Judith Rycroft
Second Place – The Living Dead by: Marlys Gallagher
First Place – Guess What’s Coming to Dinner: Mary Flowers Brannon
Inspirational - Judged by Jo Smith from Del City. A romance writer who is not yet published.
Third Place – Fifty Years of Closeness by: Shelley Anne Richter
Second Place – Dirt Stained Tears by: Robbie White
First Place – Lady in the Mantilla by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Juvenile – Judged by Jeanie Hagy, the author of several children’s books.
Honorable Mention – The Cooking Contest by: Staci Mauney
Third Place – Mystery at Black River Ranch by: Sylvia Forbes
Second Place – Miss Katy, The Squirrel Lady by: Carolyn Sue Bigbie
First Place – Web of Deceit by: Barbara Shepherd
Essay - Judged by Nathan Gunter. Nathan is managing editor and contributing writer of Oklahoma Today Magazine.
Honorable Mention – A Dog Named Wide Load by: Shelley Anne Richter
Third Place – Canyon Time by: Sylvia Forbes
Second Place – Saturday Afternoon in 1968 by: Mary Flowers Brannon
First Place – No Contest by: Judith Rycroft
Poetry – Judged by Robert Ferrier. He is an award-winning poet.
Fourth Honorable Mention – Windows by: Trina Lee
Third Honorable Mention – Lies by: Skye Lucking
Second Honorable Mention – The Cemetery by: Carolyn Sue Bigbie
First Honorable Mention – No Regrets by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Third Place – Oklahoma Seasons by: Bill Boudreau
Second Place – Sarah Pearl Hammond by: Lynda Stephenson
First Place – Ice Storm by: Judith S. Rycroft
Short Story – Judged by Nancy Hartney from Fayetteville, AR. She is the author of Washed in the Water.
Third Place – Warrior of Words by: Shelley Anne Richter
Second Place – The Family by: Nelda Paden
First Place – The Ride by: Brenda Thomas
Flash Fiction - Judged by Carolyn Leonard who is the author of Who’s Your Daddy? and To Israel With Love.
Second Honorable Mention – A Scary Situation by: Patti Koch
First Honorable Mention – The Cattyman by: Michelle Hendry
Third Place – Black Widow by: Edward Doney
Second Place – Summer Bliss by: Barbara Shepherd
First Place – A Minor Second by: Sylvia Forbes
Feature Article – Judged by Richard Mize, the real estate editor for the Oklahoman.
Third Place – How to Keep your Teeth by: Lisbeth McCarty
Second Place – Becoming a Story Book Character by: Sylvia Forbes
First Place – But Son, You Don’t Need a Pierced Ear by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Nostalgia – Judged by Frank Steele, an OWFI member from Sherman, Texas.
Third Place – Cobalt and Steel by: Lisbeth McCarty
Second Place – Da Adventures of Ollie and Olga by: Marlys Gallagher
First Place – Could He Do It? by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Book – Judged by Linda Basinger of Norman, Ok. Linda is a long-time member of the Norman Galaxy of Writers.
Honorable Mention – The Anuan Legacy by: Traci Ison Schafer
Third Place – Death of Innocence by: Kathleen Gibbs
Second Place – A Place to Belong by: Lorelei Sawtelle
First Place – A Threefold Cord by: Brenda Thomas
~~~~~~~~
Creme de la Creme - Judged by Marcia Preston, the author of Piano Man, Butterfly House, Trudy’s Promise and several other books.
No Contest by: Judith Rycroft
Honorable Mention – A Gardner’s Woes by: Sylvia Forbes
Third Place – The Senility Rap by: Judith Rycroft
Second Place – The Living Dead by: Marlys Gallagher
First Place – Guess What’s Coming to Dinner: Mary Flowers Brannon
Inspirational - Judged by Jo Smith from Del City. A romance writer who is not yet published.
Third Place – Fifty Years of Closeness by: Shelley Anne Richter
Second Place – Dirt Stained Tears by: Robbie White
First Place – Lady in the Mantilla by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Juvenile – Judged by Jeanie Hagy, the author of several children’s books.
Honorable Mention – The Cooking Contest by: Staci Mauney
Third Place – Mystery at Black River Ranch by: Sylvia Forbes
Second Place – Miss Katy, The Squirrel Lady by: Carolyn Sue Bigbie
First Place – Web of Deceit by: Barbara Shepherd
Essay - Judged by Nathan Gunter. Nathan is managing editor and contributing writer of Oklahoma Today Magazine.
Honorable Mention – A Dog Named Wide Load by: Shelley Anne Richter
Third Place – Canyon Time by: Sylvia Forbes
Second Place – Saturday Afternoon in 1968 by: Mary Flowers Brannon
First Place – No Contest by: Judith Rycroft
Poetry – Judged by Robert Ferrier. He is an award-winning poet.
Fourth Honorable Mention – Windows by: Trina Lee
Third Honorable Mention – Lies by: Skye Lucking
Second Honorable Mention – The Cemetery by: Carolyn Sue Bigbie
First Honorable Mention – No Regrets by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Third Place – Oklahoma Seasons by: Bill Boudreau
Second Place – Sarah Pearl Hammond by: Lynda Stephenson
First Place – Ice Storm by: Judith S. Rycroft
Short Story – Judged by Nancy Hartney from Fayetteville, AR. She is the author of Washed in the Water.
Third Place – Warrior of Words by: Shelley Anne Richter
Second Place – The Family by: Nelda Paden
First Place – The Ride by: Brenda Thomas
Flash Fiction - Judged by Carolyn Leonard who is the author of Who’s Your Daddy? and To Israel With Love.
Second Honorable Mention – A Scary Situation by: Patti Koch
First Honorable Mention – The Cattyman by: Michelle Hendry
Third Place – Black Widow by: Edward Doney
Second Place – Summer Bliss by: Barbara Shepherd
First Place – A Minor Second by: Sylvia Forbes
Feature Article – Judged by Richard Mize, the real estate editor for the Oklahoman.
Third Place – How to Keep your Teeth by: Lisbeth McCarty
Second Place – Becoming a Story Book Character by: Sylvia Forbes
First Place – But Son, You Don’t Need a Pierced Ear by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Nostalgia – Judged by Frank Steele, an OWFI member from Sherman, Texas.
Third Place – Cobalt and Steel by: Lisbeth McCarty
Second Place – Da Adventures of Ollie and Olga by: Marlys Gallagher
First Place – Could He Do It? by: Mary Flowers Brannon
Book – Judged by Linda Basinger of Norman, Ok. Linda is a long-time member of the Norman Galaxy of Writers.
Honorable Mention – The Anuan Legacy by: Traci Ison Schafer
Third Place – Death of Innocence by: Kathleen Gibbs
Second Place – A Place to Belong by: Lorelei Sawtelle
First Place – A Threefold Cord by: Brenda Thomas
~~~~~~~~
Creme de la Creme - Judged by Marcia Preston, the author of Piano Man, Butterfly House, Trudy’s Promise and several other books.
No Contest by: Judith Rycroft
2015 Contest Chair: Inez Phillips, Contest Chair 6200 N. Quapah Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Home: 946-0981
2015 Rules: PDF Print Version
2015 Rules: PDF Print Version
2015 Contest Winners
Humor
1st place – Shelley Anne Richter, Switched
2nd place – David Severe, Making an Audience Disappear
3rd place – Molly Lemmon, Patsy’s Ghost
Inspirational
1st place – Terri Lynn Cummings, A new Season
2nd place – Maria Veres, Okay, God, I Got It
3rd place – Mary Brannon, Christmas in March
1st HM – Trina Lee, Wanting to Write
1st HM – David Severe, The Lost Drum Major Lessons
2nd HM – Sandy Soli, God with Us: A Devotion
3rd HM – Karen Graham, Rose Chintz
Juvenile
1st place – Shelley Anne Richter, Tattletale
2nd place – Barbara Shepherd, Hear Me on the Radio
3rd place – Maria Veres, The Secret Life of Ketchup
Essay
1st place – Maria Veres, Worst Employee of the Year
2nd place – Marlys Gallagher, Plastique
3rd place – Paula Severe, A Russian Tea Party
HM – Karen Graham, Tentative Steps
Poetry
1st place – David Severe, Shining Mountains
2nd place – Terri Lynn Cummings, His Goodnight Moon
3rd place – Maria Veres, What to Do with Thought of Suicide
Short Story
1st place – Mariana Llanos, The Unimportance of Being Oscar
2nd place – Maria Veres, The Color of Hope
3rd place – Gail Mattingly, Such a Nice Family
Flash Fiction
1st place – Sandra Soli, War Lords
2nd place – Barbara Shepherd, Soldier Lost
3rd place – Maria Veres, Caught
Feature Article
1st place – Jean Stover, From a Creek Springs a Town
2nd place – Sandy Soli, Open Courseware: Get Smart for Free
3rd place – Nelda Holliman-Paden, Miniature Garden
HM – Shelley Pagach, 52 Card Pick Up
Nostalgia
1st place – Marlys Gallagher, At Home on the West Bank
2nd place – Hart Tillett, Yoli
3rd place – Gail Mattingly, Riding with Daddy
Book
1st place – Barbara Shepherd, Searching for Mandalay
2nd place – Ed Doney, Target: Rocky Mountain High
3rd place – Brenda Clark Thomas, Dryiege’S Key
HM – Hart Tillett, The Other Fort George
Crème de la Crème
Sandra Soli, War Lords
1st place – Shelley Anne Richter, Switched
2nd place – David Severe, Making an Audience Disappear
3rd place – Molly Lemmon, Patsy’s Ghost
Inspirational
1st place – Terri Lynn Cummings, A new Season
2nd place – Maria Veres, Okay, God, I Got It
3rd place – Mary Brannon, Christmas in March
1st HM – Trina Lee, Wanting to Write
1st HM – David Severe, The Lost Drum Major Lessons
2nd HM – Sandy Soli, God with Us: A Devotion
3rd HM – Karen Graham, Rose Chintz
Juvenile
1st place – Shelley Anne Richter, Tattletale
2nd place – Barbara Shepherd, Hear Me on the Radio
3rd place – Maria Veres, The Secret Life of Ketchup
Essay
1st place – Maria Veres, Worst Employee of the Year
2nd place – Marlys Gallagher, Plastique
3rd place – Paula Severe, A Russian Tea Party
HM – Karen Graham, Tentative Steps
Poetry
1st place – David Severe, Shining Mountains
2nd place – Terri Lynn Cummings, His Goodnight Moon
3rd place – Maria Veres, What to Do with Thought of Suicide
Short Story
1st place – Mariana Llanos, The Unimportance of Being Oscar
2nd place – Maria Veres, The Color of Hope
3rd place – Gail Mattingly, Such a Nice Family
Flash Fiction
1st place – Sandra Soli, War Lords
2nd place – Barbara Shepherd, Soldier Lost
3rd place – Maria Veres, Caught
Feature Article
1st place – Jean Stover, From a Creek Springs a Town
2nd place – Sandy Soli, Open Courseware: Get Smart for Free
3rd place – Nelda Holliman-Paden, Miniature Garden
HM – Shelley Pagach, 52 Card Pick Up
Nostalgia
1st place – Marlys Gallagher, At Home on the West Bank
2nd place – Hart Tillett, Yoli
3rd place – Gail Mattingly, Riding with Daddy
Book
1st place – Barbara Shepherd, Searching for Mandalay
2nd place – Ed Doney, Target: Rocky Mountain High
3rd place – Brenda Clark Thomas, Dryiege’S Key
HM – Hart Tillett, The Other Fort George
Crème de la Crème
Sandra Soli, War Lords
OCWI 2014 Contest Winners
CATEGORY #1 HUMOR
HONORABLE MENTION: NANCY E. VINEYARD- ONE COOL PAT DOWN
THIRD PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- PACEMAKERS-ARE THEY THE REAL DEAL?
SECOND PLACE: PATRICIA J. KOCH- A HAIR-RAISING TALE
FIRST PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- TAINTED LARGESS
CATEGORY #2 INSPIRATIONAL
THIRD PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- NIGHT OF THIEVES
SECOND PLACE: PAULA SEVERE- WHAT DO CROWS KNOW?
FIRST PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON- THE PIGHEADED HEART
CATEGORY #3 JUVENILE
HONORABLE MENTION: PATRICA J. KOCH- OLD HERBERT
THIRD PLACE: JEAN STOVER- BARNYARD ANTICS
SECOND PLACE: STACI MAUNEY- CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE?
FIRST PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- LEARN TO WRITE A HAIKU POEM
ESSAY #4 DID NOT MAKE
CATEGORY #5 POETRY
HONORABLE MENTION: NANCY E. VINEYARD- THE HANDS OF JESUS
THIRD PLACE: MARLYS GALLAGHER- I AM WOMAN
SECOND PLACE: LYNDA STEPHENSON- UPON ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF A FIRST HUSBAND
FIRST PLACE: GAIL MATTINGLY- THE PARTING
CATEGORY #6 SHORT STORY
THIRD PLACE : BARBARA SHEPHERD- ZIANNA’S NEW TRIBE
SECOND PLATE: STACI MAUNEY- LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE
FIRST PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON- THE SECRET
CATEGORY #7 FLASH FICTION
THIRD PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- GASTRONOMICAL PREFERENCES
SECOND PLACE: NELDA HOLLIMAN-PADEN- EVERYONE HAS A STORY
FIRST PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD-PAINTING ON SAFARI
FEATURE ARTICLE #8 DID NOT MAKE
CATEGORY #9 NOSTALGIA PROSE
HONORABLE MENTION: DAVID SEVERE- THE HUNTING DOG
THIRD PLACE: SHELLEY PAGACH- SWIMMING FOR CRAYONS
SECOND PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- OUR POLISH CHRISTMAS
FIRST PLACE: GAIL MATTINGLY- IT’S COMING UP A CLOUD
CATEGORY #10 BOOK
HONORABLE MENTION: KATHLEEN GIBBS- WILL MY SONG BE HEARD?
THIRD PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON-OUT BY DARK
SECOND PLACE: MARLYS GALLAGHER-GO INTO THE PAIN
FIRST PLACE: KAREN GINTHER- GRAHAM-FINDING ROCKS
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME AWARD
NIKKI FERGUSON- THE SECRET
HONORABLE MENTION: NANCY E. VINEYARD- ONE COOL PAT DOWN
THIRD PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- PACEMAKERS-ARE THEY THE REAL DEAL?
SECOND PLACE: PATRICIA J. KOCH- A HAIR-RAISING TALE
FIRST PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- TAINTED LARGESS
CATEGORY #2 INSPIRATIONAL
THIRD PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- NIGHT OF THIEVES
SECOND PLACE: PAULA SEVERE- WHAT DO CROWS KNOW?
FIRST PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON- THE PIGHEADED HEART
CATEGORY #3 JUVENILE
HONORABLE MENTION: PATRICA J. KOCH- OLD HERBERT
THIRD PLACE: JEAN STOVER- BARNYARD ANTICS
SECOND PLACE: STACI MAUNEY- CAN I HAVE THIS DANCE?
FIRST PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD- LEARN TO WRITE A HAIKU POEM
ESSAY #4 DID NOT MAKE
CATEGORY #5 POETRY
HONORABLE MENTION: NANCY E. VINEYARD- THE HANDS OF JESUS
THIRD PLACE: MARLYS GALLAGHER- I AM WOMAN
SECOND PLACE: LYNDA STEPHENSON- UPON ATTENDING THE FUNERAL OF A FIRST HUSBAND
FIRST PLACE: GAIL MATTINGLY- THE PARTING
CATEGORY #6 SHORT STORY
THIRD PLACE : BARBARA SHEPHERD- ZIANNA’S NEW TRIBE
SECOND PLATE: STACI MAUNEY- LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE
FIRST PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON- THE SECRET
CATEGORY #7 FLASH FICTION
THIRD PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- GASTRONOMICAL PREFERENCES
SECOND PLACE: NELDA HOLLIMAN-PADEN- EVERYONE HAS A STORY
FIRST PLACE: BARBARA SHEPHERD-PAINTING ON SAFARI
FEATURE ARTICLE #8 DID NOT MAKE
CATEGORY #9 NOSTALGIA PROSE
HONORABLE MENTION: DAVID SEVERE- THE HUNTING DOG
THIRD PLACE: SHELLEY PAGACH- SWIMMING FOR CRAYONS
SECOND PLACE: INEZ PHILLIPS- OUR POLISH CHRISTMAS
FIRST PLACE: GAIL MATTINGLY- IT’S COMING UP A CLOUD
CATEGORY #10 BOOK
HONORABLE MENTION: KATHLEEN GIBBS- WILL MY SONG BE HEARD?
THIRD PLACE: NIKKI FERGUSON-OUT BY DARK
SECOND PLACE: MARLYS GALLAGHER-GO INTO THE PAIN
FIRST PLACE: KAREN GINTHER- GRAHAM-FINDING ROCKS
CRÈME DE LA CRÈME AWARD
NIKKI FERGUSON- THE SECRET
