The Society of Southwestern Authors Writing Contest


THE 2011 WINNERS ARE:

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR:

1st - "The Last Letter Home" Durrone Schuler - Snowflake, AZ
2nd - "From the Heart" Nichole J. Vick - Green Valley, AZ
3rd - "The Catafalque" James Wharton - Queen Creek, AZ
Honorable Mention - "The Morning Cup" Anthony Ramirez - Phoenix, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Trains" Patricia Simons - Clyde, TX

Commendations:
"Beaches" Twinkle Shaheen - Tucson, AZ
"Preconceived Notions" Eleanor Whitney Nelson - Tucson, AZ
"My Last Stay" Kristina Morgan - Scottsdale, AZ
"Summer of Love" Denise Roessle - Green Valley, AZ

POETRY:
1st - "Rough Beast" Albert Vetere Lannon - Tucson, AZ
2nd - "Arizona Pastorale" Mary Myers - Tucson, AZ
3rd - "Recalling Death in Venice" Kelly Nelson - Tempe, AZ
Honorable Mention - "And Dust to Dust" Curt Stubbs - Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Beene Street" Judy Starbuck - Scottsdale, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Beaver Pond" William Ward - Sedona, AZ

Commendations:
"Being Quiet Together" Eileen Erickson - Tucson, AZ
"The Piano" Eileen Erickson - Tucson, AZ
"To a City Boy" Hannah Nguyen -Tucson, AZ
"Kitchen Sink" Gabrielle Goeglein - Albuquerque, NM

SHORT STORY:
1st - "Owlshead Stew" Susan Cummins Miller - Tucson, AZ
2nd - "Waves of Regret" Deborah J. Ledford - Scottsdale, AZ
3rd - "The Last Ride" Dianne Post - Phoenix, AZ
Honorable Mention - ""Delivery" Bill Butler - Scottsdale, AZ
Honorable Mention - "The River Beast" John Ledford - Green Valley, AZ

Commendations:
"Crosswords" Elizabeth Berlin - Tucson, AZ
"Parade" James Belshaw - Corrales, NM
"General Tarasov's Diary" James Wharton - Queen Creek, AZ
"Betrayal" Duke Southard - Green Valley, AZ



THE 2010 WINNERS ARE:

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR:

1st - "Fishing For My Father" Paige Burton - Columbia, MO
2nd - "The Fallacy of Closure" Duke Southard - Green Valley, AZ
3rd - "The Family Room" Mary Ellen Barnes - Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Momma and the One-Legged Santa" Susan Fisher - Phoenix, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Catafalques and Silver Bullets" Murray Edwards - Clyde, TX

Commendations:
"Children of the Bow" Eleanor Whitney Nelson - Tucson, AZ
"Getting Over Messiness" Jo Russell - Taylor, AZ
"Gather and Hunt" Kelly Nelson - Tempe, AZ
"The Farm Sale" Kalli Deschamps - Missoula, MT

POETRY:
1st - "The Terrible Fight" Joyce Snow - Richland, MI
2nd - "The Open Door on Sixth Street" Eileen Erickson - Tucson, AZ
3rd - "Wild Desert Ride" Rosalyn Becker - Fort Myers, FL
Honorable Mention - "Another Sunset in Mesa" Linda Marie Prather - Modesto, CA
Honorable Mention - "Julie's Death" Paula K. Bowman - Green Valley, AZ

Commendations:
"The American Billboard" Paige Burton - Columbia, MO
"Sunset" D.R. Wise - Oro Valley, AZ

SHORT STORY:
1st - "Missing" Dennis Herrick - Rio Rancho, NM
2nd - "Oliver Allen's Fields" Duke Southard - Green Valley, AZ
3rd - "The Tug of War" Alice Holden - Green Valley, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Sunset Beach" Donna Gamache - Manitoba, Canada
Honorable Mention - "The Playroom" Mary Darling - Nogales, AZ
Honorable Mention - "The Ants and the Grasshopper" David Schafer - Dragoon, AZ

Commendations:
"Present Tense" Marlene Baird - Prescott, AZ
"Recalcitrant, the Cat" Brian K. Bryans - Tucson, AZ
"Reflections" Ashleen O'Gaea - Tucson, AZ
"The Gifts" Charlie Hanline - Pueblo, CO
"Saved" Murray Edwards - Clyde, TX
"Shaking Up Sugar" Jennifer L. Beauchamp - Tucson, AZ
"Borders" Molly McKinney - Tucson, AZ
"Community Service" Robert Carlile - Sedona, AZ
"Roxy's Rescue" Julie Kimbrell - Conway, AR
"Riding Miss Daisy" William Ward - Sedona, AZ
"Haulin' Miami to Chicago" Larry Hoth - Green Valley, AZ

CHILDREN'S SHORT STORY:
1st - "B.J. Bug and the Fairy" Karen Troncale - Tombstone, AZ
2nd - "In Sync" Donna Gamache - Manitoba, Canada
3rd - "Keekutuk and the Secret of the Far North" Marty Roselius - Scottsdale, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Grandma's Wolf" Karen Troncale - Tombstone, AZ
Honorable Mention - "H is for Happy" Laura Aldir-Hernandez - Punta Gorda, FL

Commendations:
"Angelina Louise Tricks Cowboy" Susan Fisher - Phoenix, AZ
"Sunbeam Meets a Real Puppet" Susan Fisher - Phoenix, AZ
"Biscuit, the Tombstone Horse" Jane Moor - Tombstone, AZ
"The Grandest Adventure Ever" Margaret Brassington - Williamstown, South Australia


THE 2009 WINNERS ARE:

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR:

1st - "Murderers" Ken Vorndran - Tucson, AZ
 2nd - "Arachne" Rita Henry - Tucson, AZ
 3rd - "Biking With Buddha" Carol Tetrick - Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mention - "The Barrio" José Haro - Tucson, AZ
 Honorable Mention - "Mama's Chutzpah Christmas Tree" Patricia McFarland - Colorado Springs, CO

 Commendations:
"Critics of Relative Value" Wilma Gore - Sedona, AZ
 "A Man and His Car" Shelley Mosley - Glendale, AZ
 "Presumed Innocent" Elaine Jordan - Prescott, AZ
 "Taps For Dov-Ber-Rasofsky" Robert Natiello - Sedona, AZ
 "Baby" James Williamson - Tucson, AZ
 "August 14, 1945" Marion Ekholm - Glendale, AZ
POETRY:
1st - "Rubenstein" Maude Larke - Dijon, France
 2nd - "Body Work" Christine Gross - Tucson, AZ
 3rd - "Red Dream" Corrine Rawlin - Wickenburg, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Dusty Bus" Mickey Thomas - Tucson, AZ
 Honorable Mention - "At Moonrise" Maude Larke - Dijon, France

 Poetry Commendations:
"Why Needles on the Cactus?" Jo Anderson - Urbana, UH
 "The Long Road Home" Robert Robeson - Lincoln, NB
 "Hey Dad" T.E. "Sam" Harrington - Tucson, AZ
 "For a Friend Just Coming Out" Curt Stubbs - Tucson, AZ
 "Untitled" Shannon Brandenburg - Tucson, AZ
SHORT STORY:
1st - "Dear Julia" Kate Cusumano - Tucson, AZ
 2nd - "Hadrian's Wall" Ken Vorndran - Tucson, AZ
 3rd - "Water, Wine" Elizabeth Berlin - Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mentions - "The Ticket" Elizabeth Berlin - Tucson, AZ
 Honorable Mentions - "In the Company of Dock Campilletti" Robert Robeson - Lincoln, NB

 Short Story Commendations:
"Do No Harm" Gail Gibbs - Oro Valley, AZ
 "Tom's Shadow" Jerry Borchardt - Tucson, AZ
 "Walking the Dog" Greg Knowles - Tucson, AZ
 "The Closet" T.E. "Sam" Harrington - Tucson, AZ
 "The Ring" Susi Learn - Tucson, AZ
CHILDREN'S SHORT STORY:
1st - "Outside My House" Carolyne Ruck - Cave Creek, AZ
 2nd - "If the Tent Leaks" Donna Garnache - Manitoba, Canada
 3rd - "Lost and Found" Karen Troncale - Tombstone, AZ
Honorable Mentions - "I Must Have More Toys!" Daniel King - Tucson, AZ
 Honorable Mentions - "Cookie Snow" Karen Troncale - Tombstone, AZ

 Children's Short Story Commendations:
"The Adventures of Backpack Betty" Wilma Gore - Sedona, AZ
 "Easy Money" Joan Cox - Tucson, AZ
 "Silver From the Wind" Evan Guilford-Blake - Stone Mountain, GA


THE 2008 WINNERS ARE:

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR:

1st - "En Aquel Entonces - Christine Gross - Tucson, AZ
2nd - "En el Boca del Leon - In the Mouth of the Lion" - Valerie James - Amado, AZ
3rd - "Kangaroo at My Door" - Eleanor Whitney Nelson - Tucson, AZ

Honorable Mention - "Charlie Horse" - Heidi Horchler, - Scottsdale, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Dancing on the Waters" - Willma C. Gore - Sedona, AZ

Commendations: "Leaving Neverland" - Elaine G. Gordon - Prescott, AZ
"A Saturday Night Date" - Sharon Landeen - Tucson, AZ
"Take One Gopher a Day" - Pinkie Paranya - Winterhaven, CA

POETRY:
1st - "Margarita, No Salt" - Mary Jo Maguire - Denver, CO
2nd - "The Widow and I" - Barbara Peabody - Tucson, AZ
3rd - "Mother-Daughter Devotion" - Corrine Rawlin - Wickenburg, AZ

Honorable Mention - "In My Writing Class" - Jean Gietzen - Fox Point, WI
Honorable Mention - "Steer Gone Crazy" - Jay Krenz Lichtsinn - Goodyear, AZ

Commendations:
"The Days May Go" - Ned Mackey - Tucson, AZ
"While I Was Napping" - Barbara Atwood - Tucson, AZ
"White Mountains" - Kindall Gray - Tucson, AZ
"Two Addresses" - Stacy Campbell - Hurst, TX

SHORT STORY:
1st - "Glen Plaid Bird's Eye" - Tom Marshall - Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, Canada
2nd - "The Wind" - Marlene Baird - Prescott, AZ
3rd - "Honest to Google" - Robert Carlile - Sedona, AZ

Honorable Mention - "The Last Tat" - Denise Roessle - Green Valley, AZ
Honorable Mention - "Family Affair" - Arthur Kerns - Scottsdale, AZ

Commendations:
"Life Insurance" - Molly McKinney - Tucson, AZ
"The Rifle" - Laraine Eddington - Mesa, AZ
"The Perfect Color" - Bruce Weber - Tucson, AZ

CHILDREN'S SHORT STORY:
1st -"The Girl Who Would Be King" - Cathy C. Hall - Lilburn, GA
2nd -"Boy's Best Friend" - Susan Fisher -Phoenix, AZ
3rd - "Tater's Escape" - Susan Fisher - Phoenix, AZ

Honorable Mention - "Nick and Noah Meet La Llorona" - Charlie Hanline - Pueblo, CO
Honorable Mention - "Mrs. Star and Lucy Belt" - Carol Costa - Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mention - "All the Same Endings" - Cindi Glidden Tracey - Tempe, AZ

Commendations:
"Green Pea Soup" - Terry Angell - Tucson, AZ
"Hacky Sack" - Cindi Glidden Tracey - Tempe, AZ
"Bottled Up Energy" - Cindi Glidden Tracey - Tempe, AZ


2007 Winners

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR
1st-Sylvia Smart, Queen Creek, AZ
2nd-Albert V. Lannon, Tucson, AZ
3rd-Suzanne Morrone, San Jose, CA
Honorable Mention- Richard Collins, Sonoita, AZ
Commendations- Cathy Marley, Phoenix, AZ
Erec Toso, Tucson, AZ
June Venable, Georgetown, TX
Margaret Ward, Tucson, AZ

POETRY
1st-Suzanne Morrone, San Jose, CA.
2nd-Barbara Peabody, Tucson, AZ
3rd-Fred Taylor, Tucson, AZ
Honorable Mention- Janis Symmers, Oro Valley, AZ
Commendations- Larry Morris, Tucson AZ
Erec Toso, Tucson, AZ
Marian Wilson, Tucson, AZ

SHORT STORY
1st-Willma Willis Gore, Sedona, AZ
2nd-Marlene Baird, Prescott, AZ
3rd-Dixon Hearne, Huntington Bch, CA
Honorable Mention- Robert Nordmeyer, Tucson, AZ
Commendations- Beth T. Ayers, Plano, TX
Kenniston W. Lord, Jr., Tucson, AZ
Karen Hankins, Bryan, TX
Dawn Treude, Scottsdale, AZ

CHILDREN'S SHORT STORY
(Michael LaCapa Award)
1st-Shelley Mosley, Glendale, AZ
2nd-Susan Wider-Santa Fe, NM
3rd-Jean Reagan, Salt Lake City, UT
Honorable Mention- Donna Camache, Manitoba, Canada
Rusty Harris, Simi Valley, CA
Charlene Profiri, Tucson, AZ;
Commendations- Maria Costa, Tucson, AZ
Susan Fisher, Phoenix, AZ
Joan Ripley, Charlottesville, VA


2006 Winners

PERSONAL ESSAY/MEMOIR:
1st-"Fishing Buddies" Jane McKinney
2nd-"Driving Robert Frost" Ned Mackey
3rd-"A Penny and a Half a Pound" Jane Holt
HM-"Holiness" Patricia Simons
HM-"Picture Perfect" Rita Henry
Commendation-"The Red-Haired Teller" Margaret A. Farrell
Commendation-"Monday Morning" - Eleanor Hartmann

POETRY:
1st-"Back On" Arlene Louton
2nd-"When Its Time" Betty Bannister
3rd-"Late Breaking News" Marilyn Haight
HM-"Coffee at Doña Luisa's" Don Nickerson
Commendation-"Bus Stop" Robert Nordmeyer
Commendation-"Brown-Haired Woman" John L. Rommel
Commendation-"Ain't No Reason" and "Troubled Waters" Jim Ostheimer
Commendation-"Self Portrait with Apple Tree" Ryan G. Van Cleave
Commendation-"Apple" Jill Wingell

SHORT STORY:
1st-"Jungle" Harold Ramage
2nd-"Sexual Revolution" Irma Ashley
3rd-"The Path" Constance Richardson
HM-"Snakes and Other Friends" Charlie Hanline
HM-"Mama's Parade" - Terry Charuhas
Commendations-"Shamanic Gift" Raya Fand
Commendation-"Mortise & Tenon" Mathias B. Freese

CHILDREN'S SHORT STORY:
1st-"Rattlesnake Kate and Wildfire" Karen Troncale
2nd-"Suzy Girl" Susan Fisher
3rd-"The Adorable Baby" Sharon Landeen
HM-"The Contest" Valerie Chellow Garcia
HM-"Pepito's Christmas Wish" Elizabeth Bonadio
Commendation-"The Lost Shepherd Boy" Cynthia Reeg


Current Contest Rules and Entry






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