Short Story Award Winners

2012--Stories for All Seasons

Guest judge: Jonathan Maberry

1st Place: "Autumn Pursuit" by David Chesney

2nd Place: "The Old Neighborhood" by Joyce Lekas

3rd Place: "Man and Dog" by Ken Burrows

2013--Winter's Tales or Spring Stories

Guest judge: Hank Phillippi Ryan

1st Place: "Ave Maria" by Katherine Fast

2nd Place: "Weaver's Trade" by KB Inglee

3rd Place: "Long in Tooth" by Paula Gail Benson

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

Winter Rain" by Shannon Guerreso

"Ball Mason Preserves" by Kou Nelson

"SARS Season" by Suzanne Purvis

2014--Food Stories

Guest Judge: Rebecca Forster

1st Place: "Preserves" by Tracy Falenwolfe

2nd Place: "Fish Supper" by Lynne Voyce

3rd Place: "The Devil You Know" by Christine Venzon

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"Funeral Luncheons" by P. Jo Anne Burgh

"Six at Six" by Margo Lemberger

"Macchiato Mix Up" by Suzanne Purvis

2015--Food Stories

Guest Judge: Curtis Smith

1st Place: "The History of a Fruitcake" by C. A. Rowland

2nd Place: "Maggots and Milk" by Henry Supchak

3rd Place: "The Banquet" by Rich Mantle

Honorable Mention:

"The Honey Clusters" by Christina Dalcher

2016--Children's Stories

Guest Judge: Marisa A. Corvisiero

1st Place: "Stick to the Bypathings" by Eleanor Ingbretson

2nd Place: "Lara's Tree" by Asha Azariah-Kribbs

3rd Place: "Scarecrow Moon" by David M. Simon

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"The Rider in Black" by Asha Azariah-Kribbs

"Naughty Angel" by Elizabeth Bonadio

"Jeremy's Masterpiece" by Kimberly Clair

"Tigers in Tutus" by Caitlin Prozonic

2017--Stories of the Paranormal

Guest Judge: Carrie Vaughn

1st Place: "Casting Off" by Suzanne Purvis

2nd Place: "The Last First Time" by Leigh Saunders

3rd Place: "1977, The Bronx" by Eleanor Ingbretson

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"Phone Service" by Epiphany Ferrell

"So Hungry . . ." by Phil Giunta

"Semper Fi" by Robert McCrillis

"The Souk" by Joan Wright Mularz

"Tag Team" by Robert Walton

"Lara" by Laurel Wilczek

2018--Stories of the Paranormal

Guest Judge: Kimberly Brower

1st Place: "Sisters in the Museum" by Christine Eskilson

2nd Place: "The Psychic and the Foodie" by Chris S. Burns

3rd Place: "Lainey and the Monsters" by Cecily Nabors

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"The Dinner Gift" by Debra H. Goldstein

"Mozambique Archambeault" by Eleanor Ingbretson

"The Witch’s Gift" by Caitlyn Prozonic

"In Moonlight" by Lynda Gene Rymond

"Mirror Me" by Mary C. Sutton

2019--Animal Stories

Guest Judge: John Grogan

1st Place: "Oranges and Roses" by Angela Albertson

2nd Place: "The Spouses Club" by Jeanne Moran

3rd Place: "A.E.S.O.P." by Sarah Felsted

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"Cooper" by Anne Anthony

"Take a Cue from the Canine" by Phil Giunta

"Stanley the Cat" by Bill White

2020--Animal Stories

Guest Judge: Peter Abrahams w/a Spencer Quinn

1st Place: "Hubbard Had a Fancy Bra," by Brett Wolff

2nd Place: "Cosway's Confidence," by Paula Gail Benson

3rd Place: "Last But Not Leashed," by Alexandra Otto

Honorable Mentions (jn alphabetical order by author's last name):

"Wabbit's Carat" by Debra Goldstein

"The Elevens" by Louella M. Nelson

"Clover" by Ramona Scarborough

2021--Stories of Mystery and Intrigue

Guest Judge: Charlaine Harris

1st Place: "Good Cop/Bad Cop" by Trey Dowell

2nd Place: "Blessed Are the Meek and Wily" by R. L. Blake

3rd Place: "The Magic of Giving" by Kevin Sandefut

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"Nanoni and Shish-ka-toomi" by Claire A. Murray

"Jacob" by William Sharon

2022--Stories of Mystery and Intrigue

Guest Judge: Kate Carlisle

1st Place: "The Tabac Man" by Eleanor Ingbretson

2nd Place: "Money, Truth, and Lies" by Steve Shrott

3rd Place: "For the Love of Dottie" by Ellen Kazimer

2023--Holiday Tales2023--Holiday Tales

Guest Judge: Barb Goffman

1st Place: "First Thanksgiving" by Sally Milliken

2nd Place: "On the Road to Bethlehem" by Janice Rodgers

Third Place: "The Holiday Parade Princess vs. the Big Chicken" by Pat Remick

2024--Holiday Tales

Guest Judge: Marlo Berliner

1st Place: "Oh! Christmas Tree" by Rhonda Zangwill

2nd Place: "Just Ask Santa" by Bettie Nebergall

3rd Place: "Nellie the Narragansett and the Transferware Platter" by Mary Adler

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by author's last name):

"A Feast to Die For" by A. C. Blake

"A Wintry Mix" by J. Bosley

"Cousin Bonnie's Plus One" by Joan Wright Mularz