After warming up the audience with a short speech, sprinkled with humor and humanity, she introduced the three judges and directed them to introduce the four winners. First up was Faith Slater, winner of the honorable mention with her story, Lest Thieves Find a Way. She was introduced by judge, David Fingerman. He mentioned his love for horror stories and science fiction and compared her story to a coming of age Harry Potter. Helen handed her a manila envelope that held her certificate and shook her hand as she approached the podium to read her winning entry.
Afterward, Helen invited another of the judges, Penny Duffy, to introduce the third place winner -- ME! Her words for my story nearly brought tears to my eyes. Here they are, exactly as she said them:
Up a flight of steps to his destiny. This is the story of Pedro Jimenez. We are immersed in Pedro's desperation, longing, his fears, frustrations, and high and low expectations from the opening paragraphs -- every well-chosen image and detail adding to our sense of the man and his plight. Equally important, we are transported into his world view through the expert rendering of his narrative voice on the page. What drives a story? Is it plot or character? Well, it's both. We want to find out what happens to Pedro, yes, but we care what happens because from the start our heart goes out to him. When you care enough, the character's fate stays with you long after you reach the end of the narrative -- in this case, long after Pedro descends the stairway -- and that is the mark of a really good story. Let's listen as author Tom Harper starts Pedro on his journey in his well-crafted story, "The Red Stamp."
WOW! I approached the podium, still awed at the wonderful introduction Penny had given me. Helen handed me my envelope with my prize money and certificate and then I read my story. I don't know how many things in life are more satisfying then sharing a creative piece of myself to an appreciative audience, but I'm sure that I could count them all on my hands and toes.
As I shared my story to the audience, which consisted of Susan and her daughters -- Rachael and Sarah -- my mom, members of the three writing groups I attend, and others who I'm sure will one day be friends, I felt so warm and at peace.
After I read my story, Helen once again called for David to come up and introduce the 2nd place winner. The third judge, Ryan Shriver, couldn't make the ceremony due to his wife having given birth to their third child a few days earlier.
Again reminding us of his love for horror stories, judge David told us why he had chosen Betty Benner's warm-hearted story, The Unexpected Gift, as one of the best of the contest. It touched him. Betty, with her warm, welcoming smile that reminds me of everything good about grandmas and chocolate chip cookies, made her way to the podium, accepted her prize envelope from Helen, and shared with us her touching story.
Then it was time for an intermission. There were plenty of cookies and plenty of coffee and plenty of people to mingle with while enjoying the goodies. The intermission lasted about fifteen minutes and then Helen called the meeting back to order. She invited Penny, once again, to introduce the first place winner, Kit Rohrbach, for her psychological thriller, The Red Hat. Penny did another marvelous job introducing her and Kit grabbed the hall's attention with the reading of her fast-moving, spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat-inviting masterpiece.
We congregated for a half hour or so after the ceremony to talk and then eight of us, the four winners included, made our way to Perkins for a celebratory late-night snack. The food was sumptious. The atmosphere was delightful. But most of all, being with friends, fellow creative souls, sharing jokes, and poems, and pieces of what makes us tick added the most delicious whipped cream topping to the chocolate sundae that was last night. And the cherry? The cherry of the evening was getting to go home afterward with Susan and fall asleep in her arms.
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