The Letter Review Prize Winners March – April 2023

Announcing the Winning Entries, Shortlist, and Longlist of the Letter Review Prize for Short Stories, Flash Fiction, and Poetry (March – April 2023)

It’s an enormous privilege to read the wonderful submissions to the Letter Review Prize. Each round we find the entries are of a remarkable standard. Consequently, choosing just three winners is a difficult task. This difficulty is lessened somewhat by the knowledge that those Shortlisted and Longlisted will receive some of the praise they are due, but only somewhat.

Judging this competition is truly a life enriching experience. We find each round that none of the entries are without merit: with special attention and care obviously invested in each. That’s why we feel it’s important to acknowledge the bravery, talent, and hard work that goes into preparing every entry for submission, regardless of whether the author is officially recognized in the lists below. Thank you all for your creative generosity. 

This round’s winners are a balance of different genres: Historical fiction, quirky comedy, sci-fi, literary, and many astonishing works that defy a neat compartmentalization. There’s a home for every variety of writing at Letter Review. Next round we are intending to add further categories, to ensure every writer feels that Letter Review offers them opportunities, and a road to publication. 

This round I wanted to share some of the qualities of the works that we particularly responded to. Works that make us feel or laugh intensely frequently stand out. Works that are thematically rich, complex, or original tend to read as well reasoned, or satisfyingly complete (what is this work saying?). Some of the winners’ entries address issues which feel relevant or timely. Notable characters frequently feel like real people, as though we are gaining a peek into a rich slice of their life. Strong images, and symbols linger in the mind after reading some of these works, with figurative language sparking emotion and epiphany like a variegated, vociferous firework. 

As we must acknowledge each round, the number of entries we receive is overwhelming, and the competition is just so fierce. Our sincere thanks go to Art Director Kita Das for the gorgeous bespoke artwork which accompanies each publication. Without further ado, we hope you enjoy reading the astonishing winning entries just as much as we enjoyed judging them.

Short Story Winning Entries

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Short Story Shortlist (in no particular order):

• Ciaran Buckley – Hell
• Dr. Irene Felipe – Positive
• Mark Grant – The Mine
• Emily Zasada – The Memory Chamber
• D. B. Gardner – Every Whistle Paints a Picture
• Miles Marinello – Reflections

Short Story Longlist (in no particular order):

• Hardy Griffin – In Frankfurt
• Maureen Grosvenor – Uncle Edgar
• Henry Carlos Koike-Sieira – The 4 Train
• Ciaran Buckley – Hell
• David Renton – HORSA
• Dr. Irene Felipe – Positive
• Ade Cory – A Quiet Word
• Allan Hudson – Voyage of Hope
• Mark Grant – The Mine
• Nicola Wiggins – Rhyme Time
• Chad V. Broughman – Countdown to retirement
• Emily Zasada – The Memory Chamber
• Dennis Martin – McCauley’s Rising
• D. B. Gardner – Every Whistle Paints a Picture
• Miles Marinello – Reflections
• Sarah Sousa – Library of Things
• Margaret Emerson – The Black Egg
• Nola Rose Killpack – Green House

Flash Fiction Winning Entries

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

Flash Fiction Shortlist (in no particular order):

• Morgan Karpiel – The Replacement
• Joshua Ritter – Goodnight, Mr. Halian
• Daan Spijer – Picture This
• John Siko – DETHRONED
• Dale Shank – An Element of Time
• David Osgood – Dislocation

Flash Fiction Longlist (in no particular order):

• Morgan Karpiel – The Replacement
• Oona Metz – The Flood
• André Bergeron – Lagrange Point One
• Joshua Ritter – Goodnight, Mr. Halian
• Philip Owens – Seasons
• David Martin Anderson – Life After Life
• Philip Schaefer – Fallen Angels
• Daan Spijer – Picture This
• Lawrence Patchett – Matchstick Factory
• Claire Massey – The Night the River Sang
• Janet Moore – Behold and Rejoice
• Cynthia Damon – THE CRUISE
• John Siko – DETHRONED
• Chris Barkley – Helgoland
• Dale Shank – An Element of Time
• David Osgood – Dislocation

Poetry Winning Entries

Joint First Place

Joint Third Place

Poetry Shortlist (in no particular order):

• Katy Masterman – Staying Bitter
• Jane McNulty – What Happens After
• Mitch Rayes – The Other Side
• Abby E. Murray – After a Massacre
• Cory Henniges – This poem is about how the apple in line 5 is like my heart
• Debbie Collins – 4 a.m.
• Jennifer M. Phillips – Shell Music
• Rob Carney – The Bones, of Course

Poetry Longlist (in no particular order):

• Pella Winkopp – N. fowleri ate my brain.
• Ada Pendill – Emeralds, Gold, and Honey
• Katy Masterman – Staying Bitter
• Christine Siebels-Lindquist – EATING LILACS
• Doris Edmund McGehee – ONE THOUSAND AND TEN DOLLARS
• Jane McNulty – What Happens After
• Mitch Rayes – The Other Side
• Abby E. Murray – After a Massacre
• Sissel Almgren – Unlove
• Roberts ‘Bobby’ Jekabsons – JAZZ PLUMBING
• Chelsea Fox – as i sit waiting for you on our un-made bed
• Cory Henniges – This poem is about how the apple in line 5 is like my heart
• Debbie Collins – 4 a.m.
• Maya Sorini – A Proof
• Wendel Sloan – June 30, 1990
• Story Keatley – BIRD
• Jennifer M. Phillips – Shell Music
• Rob Carney – The Bones, of Course

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