Saturday, August 15, 2009

I won something!

On Tuesday, I received a letter in the mail from the Smth-Bland Regional Library. I was pleased to learn that I had won first place for short-story writing in the adult division of the 2009 Sherwood Anderson Short Story Contest. The competition is one of the longest-running writing contests in Virginia.

The contest was introduced in 1976 to celebrate the life of Sherwood Anderson, editor of two Virginia newspapers and author of Winesburg, Ohio, a collection of short stories published in 1919 that has become one of the most influential works of American literature. The purpose of the competition is to encourage writers who are interested in the same themes of small town life that captivated Anderson throughout his literary career.

My short story, The Last Cutting, is about a farmer, a dog and the hard choices families sometimes must make. An awards ceremony will be held in Marion, Virginia on September 12, one day before Sherwood Anderson's birthday 133 years ago.

12 comments:

  1. Congratulations!

    As a former winner, I can tell you first hand that the ceremony and dinner is delightful. The Smythe-Bland Regional Library has a wonderful collection of Sherwood Anderson memorabilia. And make sure to take your camera if you visit his gravesite. The view from the cemetery (on top of a high hill) is grand.

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  2. Congratulations! Where can we read your short story?

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  3. This is awesome! And it looks like you're in a fine company of winners!

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  4. Thanks everyone. Lenora, the story is not online anywhere, at least not yet. Thanks for asking.

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  5. Wonderful - and richly deserved. Hurrah!

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  6. That's wonderful, Anita...congratulations! I'd love to read your short story, too, if you ever want to share it.

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  7. I'll "third" the comment about wanting to read the short story. Let us know where to go ...

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  8. Congrats! But you leave us so curious! We want to read your story!

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  9. As a three-time winner of the contest, I offer my congratulations. I hope you are able to attend the awards ceremony at Ripshin; it's very gratifying.

    - Steve Gullion

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