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2013 Writing Contest Winners

Here are the winners of our 2013 Short Story Writing Contest. Our thanks to everyone who entered. Ronna L. Edelstein – Dismissed Vincent Guiliano – Consumed Drew Hardman – To Endure Mike Tuohy and Susan Zimmerman – Capisce? TJ Perkins – Redemption Io Kirkwood – The White Carpet Kristin Swenson – The Flood Chelle Wotowiec – When We Become the Photographs Catharine Leggett – All of Me Mike Tuohy – War of the World’s Fair Amelia Perry - Watcher Author bios and other information will follow shortly.

Writing Contest Deadline Approaching

August 31, 2013 is quickly approaching! For the Eleventh Annual Scribes ValleyShort Story Writing Contest , we are looking for stories that enthrall us, leave us breathless, make us say “Wow!” and stay in our minds even weeks after we read them. You've worked hard on your story, pondered every word, developed characters so real you know them personally, and created a setting which pulls readers out of the real world. Don’t keep it to yourself, don't let it sit on your computer yearning for the light of day! Let others read it. Let US read it! Online submissions available.

Writing Contest FAQs

We get many questions about the Scribes Valley Writing Contest . We thought we would list and the most frequently asked Why do you have a reading/entry fee?      Basically, we use the reading/entry fee to fund the contest. We use it cover costs such as advertising the contest and building the anthology. Any prize money awarded also comes straight from the reading/entry fee. What are the prizes?      All finalist stories (usually 10-15 stories) are published in our annual contest anthology. Each finalist author receives a complimentary copy of the print anthology, along with a discount on any other copies they would like. Please note, there is absolutely no obligation to purchase additional copies. We’re not that kind of publisher. From the 10-15 stories, we select the top three and award those authors with a monetary prize. The monetary prize is based on the number of entries in the contest—the more entries we get, the bigger the prizes. What type of story has the bes

Me Grow Up? Forget About It!

My wife and I love to take day-long road trips. We get in the car with no particular destination in mind, stop at a local grocery store to stock up on “rations,” then hit the road, making decisions on which way to turn as needed. Most of the time, we are pleasantly surprised where we end up. Last weekend, however, we had a destination in mind. My wife and I grew up in a small town in Tennessee. While we didn’t know each other until we were older, we both frequented, over the years, the same establishments in town. One, specifically, was the Blue Circle Restaurant (http://www.bluecircleburger.com). It was a drive-in style restaurant, part of a small chain in East Tennessee, famed for their steamed-bun hamburgers. The restaurant was wildly popular with both the older and younger crowds in our town, but, as with most popular things, it eventually faded, then went out of business. Sometimes we sit around and reminisce about such things from our past; how it seemed so much easi

Novel Receives Honorable Mention at the 2013 Paris Book Festival

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Lessons from the Gypsy Camp by Elizabeth Appell has been honored with an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Paris Book Festival! Amazing recognition for an amazing book! We couldn't be more proud. Come see what the fuss is about .  A girl...A gypsy...A murder...A choice

Scribes Valley Publishing 11th Annual Short Story Writing Contest

Our 11th annual short story writing contest is now accepting submissions. We are looking for stories that actually tell stories, stories that grab readers by the throat and won't let go, stories that make readers sit back, wipe their brow, and--if able to speak--say, "Wow!" We know you've worked hard on your story, pouring a little of your own soul into each word. You know your characters inside and out. You've actually lived in the setting and made it your own. It is now time to let others in. To share your work with the world. Click here to enter the Scribes Valley Writing Contest .

Spend Money, She'll Love You For It

I’ve written about this before, but it’s such a sticking point with me, I have to vent again about Valentine’s Day. Grrrrrr……. How can love be measured? How can you show your significant other that you love her beyond all others? That’s simple: buy her something. Not just something…something expensive . The more money you drop, the more you love her. Just about every advertisement for Valentine’s Day bobbles has a version of: “Show her how much you care…buy her this.” That bothers me. Love is not something to be taken lightly. It’s a powerful emotion that has toppled regimes, caused an untold number of wars, caused people to take their own lives, and others to lose their minds. How can something so big and commanding be held in your hand? No problem, it fits in a tiny velvet box with a hinge that snaps open. A guy I work with has made himself physically sick the past few weeks, wracking his brain for the perfect gift that will please his girlfriend enough to keep him “

And How Are You?

“How are you today?” We hear that question often, and usually our response is automatic: “I’m fine. How are you?” A simple and courteous exchange of pleasantries that is forgotten almost as quickly as it began. Rarely do we really care how the other person is, and vice-versa. Even if we are truly not “fine” we shy away from voicing it. We don’t want to bother anyone with our problems. Of course, there are some who have no qualms about laying out their issues in graphic detail, but most of us just respond, smile, and move on. But is this a good thing? Maybe not. Maybe we should stop and run an inventory of ourselves. Maybe we should take time to ensure that we are actually fine and be thankful that we are. We’re all so eager to complain about our aches and pains and how bad our day is going, but do we ever stop and realize that we are truly doing well? Think back to the last problem you had with your body. Toothache? Sore joint? Cold sore? Constipation? Now, think about