Contest Prizes!

Lost on the Rock 2011 Flash Fiction Contest



There are only 7 days left to get your entries in for the Lost on the Rock 2011 flash fiction contest. For those of you still pondering this, you can link to my earlier blog here with all of the contest rules. We are expecting a varied selection of story genres on this ‘Lost’ theme from our combined circle of friends. We're really looking forward to how some of you worked this theme of things 'Lost'.

Laurita Miller and I have had some discussion about prizes and decided on the following four (in no particular order). We're thinking that the story selected as the Contest Winner will get first choice from this list, second place gets second pick, and so forth.

A copy of 52 Stitches horror anthology, edited by Aaron Polson. Strange Publications, 2010. Trade Paperback, 129 pages.This collection of 52 flash stories come in bit-sized pieces of 750 words or less by horror writers from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and Australia. You will find frightening tales from established writers such as Alan Baxter, Cate Gardner, Jeremy Kelly, Jonathan Pinnock and Laura Eno.

A copy of The Cuffer Anthology: Volume II, edited by Pam Frampton. Killick Press, 2010. Trade Paperback, 152 pages. This anthology of 34 short fiction (1200 word max.) features stories of local flair by both new and established writers from Newfoundland and Labrador. This is a collection that varies from literary fiction to science fiction, humour and horror. The feature story is Holes to China by Cuffer winner Chad Pelley. Also included are stories by Jillian Butler and Gerard Collins, not to mention Fledgling by my friend and writing buddy Laurita Miller. My story The Inscription also lurks somewhere within the anthology.

A copy of Haunted Shores: True Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador, by Dale Jarvis. Flanker Press, 2004. Trade Paperback, 208 pages. Dale Jarvis is a writer, researcher and story teller who lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland. He has searched archival sources and taken first-hand accounts of mysterious lights, ghost ships, headless pirates and other unexplained entities and weaved them into dark tales from all parts of this historic province.

And finally, a $15 gift card from Amazon to get whatever the heck you like...Woot!

We'd like to remind everyone that not only do the top four stories selected by the judges get their stories published either here or at Calling Shotgun, they will also be interviewed by us and have the interview posted on the same day. Think of the crazy things one can say. Think of the promotional value. Does it get any cooler than that? (Don't answer that...)

We would also like to give the prizes a personal touch and perhaps include a load of moose droppings an item or two with each book that screams 'Newfoundland'. Have no fear...there will be no Jiggs Dinners, cod tongues or seal flippers sent out with the prizes...

Contest Prizes

I had a nice couple of days visiting my parents outside of the city. I'm convinced that it's best to commune with nature once in a while...even if it kills me. I will now add to Saturday's post where I announced the Land's Edge flash fiction contest. See previous blog for submission rules/information. I think the best way to handle the giving out of books is to present the facts here and let first place get first pick, second the next pick and third place gets the residuals. Note that I shall cover the postage to wherever you live. The next 5 or so stories get 'honourable mention' status with accompanying bragging rights. All other entries receive my eternal thanks for participating (yeah, I hear you all now...big whoop!). The available prizes of Newfoundland and Labrador literature are:

Livyers World by Robin McGrath. Tuckamore Books, 2007. Trade Paperback, 128 pages.


Livyers World* is a YA science fiction tale set in a future Newfoundland. I came across a great review of this book by Newfoundland writer Trudy Morgan-Cole. She does a much better job of describing this book than I ever could. You can link to her full blog posting here. *Note: according to the Dictionary of Newfoundland English, a livyer is a permanent inhabitant or settler along the Newfoundland Coast.

Catherine Snow by Nellie P. Strowbridge. Flanker Press, 2009. Trade Paperback (signed by author), 353 pages.

Catherine Snow is a novel based on the true story of the last woman hanged in Newfoundland in 1834. Here is a link to more information at the Flanker Press web site.

"The balance between fiction and reality provide the reader with an opportunity to empathize with Catherine and her family while obtaining an account of what is known historically."~Atlantic Books Today.

The Custodian of Paradise by Wayne Johnstone. Knopf Canada, 2006. Hardback, 510 pages.

Wayne Johnstone, considered by many to be Newfoundland's finest writer, paints a wonderful portrait of Sheilagh Fielding...renowned wit and eccentric. The novel opens in the final days of World War II with Fielding, tormented by demons from her childhood, moving to a seemingly deserted island off the southern coast of Newfoundland. You can link to a full synopsis here at Mr. Johnstone's website.

I wish to reitterate the non-spitting on judges rule. Also...hate mail is OK, but if you are going to make abusive ph0ne calls to the judges, please don't call collect. And start at Laurita's place first. Thank you, and please pass on news of the contest to your 'writerly' friends.