fish

Ask and ye shall receive….as we did, an almost overwhelming number of entries to our annual short story contest. Most of you adhered nicely to the guidelines, keeping your stories under 1000 words and incorporating fish and all things aquatic somewhere in your work.

Our team of fiction-loving editors spent the holidays poring over hundreds of stories, which featured a vast collection of everything under the sea. Your fish took every form from frozen stick to living creature imbued with markedly human traits. In one, a woman's affair with a mackerel leads her husband to a surprising conclusion; in another, a schadenfreude-afflicted goldfish takes a violent last journey. Through your words we experienced final fishing trips with Grandpa, lovers' quarrels in fancy seafood restaurants, even a moonlight journey in the belly of a whale.

We were impressed by your range and creativity, and encouraged by the fact that there are so many talented writers out there waiting to be read. We thank you all for participating in our contest and hope that you will do so again next year. Though it was not easy, we reached a decision, and so without further ado, here are the results:

Grand Prize:
Morgan McDermott, "Tires"

Runners-up (tie):
Logan Hill, "The Lost City Bar & Grille"
Anthony Schneider, "Zoothapsis"

Honorable Mention:
Michelle Lee, "Gills"