Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest 2009
Congratulations to the winners of the 2009 Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story Contest!
Most Highly Commended $200
- John Biggs, Total Eclipse
- James Dickson, The Decision
- Laurie Gough, The Border Crossing
- Susan Keith, Kicking Up Red Clay
- Johnmichael Simon, Terminal
Highly Commended $100
- Ray Clark, Promises to Keep
- Annie Eagleton, At the Pagoda of the Golden Tortoise
- Margo Frazier, The Prophetess of State Street
- Sally Hermsdorfer, In the Colored Waiting Room
- Evelyn Krieger, Child of the Light
- Fred McGavran, The Pennington Scarabs
- Mary Caperton Morton, The Suffer Fest
- Erin Neil, Boston Public
- Raymond Trainor, A Death on 33rd
- Barbara Orlowska-Westwood, Taste of Dirt
- DS Winkle, Summer Friends
First Prize, $2,000 - Gabriela Blandy, UK
"The Buck"
The judges said, "Gabriela Blandy's First Prize winner, 'The Buck', is set on the narrator's farm. The plot has been most assiduously crafted with several powerfully interwoven strands centering on an unlikely pair of animals who form an unexpected friendship. It's a novelty that not only delights that small rural community but assuages the pain of a national tragedy involving a member of that same small town. The author's gift for realistic characterization and cleverly homespun dialogue is so intense that her people literally leap off the page. Well-chosen details also enable the reader to see the countryside, to feel the biting cold, to re-live the tragedy itself and yet rejoice in the unlikely duo of buck and heifer." — John H. Reid
"'The Buck' presents the reader with a clear vision that life, with all its unusual hopes, its unexpected twists and turns, often moves into painful but highly sensitive modes. 'The Buck' offers a story of many levels: One is human with love and harmony; another introduces tragedy leaving a town sad and two young girls motherless. On another level, the author depicts an unusual 'romance' between a buck and a cow. These strands are so ingeniously united that the town, its inhabitants and the storyteller, as well as the buck and the cow, come together in a narrative that truly touches the heart." — Dee Konrad
Second Prize, $1,000 - Debbie Fox, USA
"Attachments"
The judges said, "In 'Attachments', Debbie Fox astringently brings home another tragedy—a tragedy that made the network news bulletins only as a general statistic, even though it struck in thousands of American homes. The author shares her grief with an emotion that becomes more impactful and harrowing as she lovingly creates a beautiful yet fully-rounded central character with whom every reader can readily identify. Incidents are carefully selected to allow readers to form a personal attachment and share in the grief of this tragic story of a young, hopeful life lost before it could blossom. Although the author identifies those responsible, the main thrusts of her recollections involve coming to terms with her loss through her memories: clear, detailed, painful, yet nonetheless thankful for the opportunity of overseeing a life that was so full of love." — John H. Reid
"'Attachments' confronts readers with an outstanding story of love and loss. The pain of a mother whose only child is sadly affected by an incurable illness, becomes almost unbearably palpable. Interacting with her love is the 'tickle' from the child's beloved shawl and the ongoing importance of that ever-diminishing piece of cloth—a sensitive study of a way in which many sensitive children find reassurance. In the end, the reality of the central situation becomes truly heartrending. This is a story to which every reader will relate in their own special, personal way." — Dee Konrad
Third Prize, $500 - Victoria Gouldthorp, USA
"The Phone Call"
The judges said, "'The Phone Call' by Victoria Gouldthorp commences intriguingly and quickly becomes a scrupulously, vividly yet selectively detailed account of domestic turmoil in which hopes are dashed and lives turned literally upside down, not by death but this time by a life unexpectedly gained. The author's ability to capture the conflicts in everyday relationships and the drama of coping with the unexpected, impacts upon the reader in every line. The author's dialogue seems crisp yet realistic, her descriptions vivid yet lean. This is a story in which every word counts and not even a comma can be rated as superfluous." — John H. Reid
"'The Phone Call' shows, carefully and sensitively, the effect of sad, unexpected news on a family. In dealing with this major change and individual reactions, the narrator uses simple, realistic wording that yet underlines her distress and pain following her daughter's confession. Disappointment, mixed with lasting love, is powerfully obvious, yet hope shines through the gloom. Resolution comes slowly, painfully, but favorably." — Dee Konrad
Fourth Prize, $250 - Dixon Hearne, USA
"The Right Eye of Justice"
The judges said, "'The Right Eye of Justice' by the multi-talented Dixon Hearne (who also has two almost equally brilliant stories in this year's Highly Commended category) covers a wider field. Accurately set in a small town the author calls 'Colton' in 1950's Tennessee, his story deals with prejudice and how this horror interacts not just with people of a different race or religion, but even against those who dare to be a little bit different in where they worship and who they vote for. Mr Hearne has not only captured the small-town atmosphere of the period perfectly, but has brought to life an equally realistic group of characters who live and breathe with such conviction they seem more like real people than an author's skillful creations." — John H. Reid
"'The Right Eye of Justice' reveals the writer's understanding, even in the title, that justice does not always see clearly with both eyes. His knowledge of the mores of a small Southern town becomes almost frighteningly real. Peculiar attitudes and acceptances, well-outlined, truly indicate how, over a period of time, those who are new or different continue to be seen as not welcome or 'safe'. A death painfully highlights this closed-in vision which is so accurately captured in these pages by the skillful author." — Dee Konrad
Contest Judges
John Reid
John Howard Reid, founder of the Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest and the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, won first prizes and other awards in prestigious literary events. A former journalist and magazine editor, he published several historical novels, a collection of poetry, a guide to winning literary contests, and over fifty books of film criticism and movie history. See his work at Lulu. He lived in Wyong, Australia, and passed away in 2018.
Contest Judges
Dee C. Konrad
A leading educator and published author, Mrs. Dee Konrad was Associate Professor in the English faculty of Barat College of DePaul University, and served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the year 2000-2001.
