The breadth and depth of writing talent that we see in the world never ceases to amaze us, and we remain perpetually delighted that we have the honor of judging the wonderful entries we receive from around the globe. That we may be able to play some part in bringing these entries to the public eye is a prospect that never ceases to energize and motivate us.
Thank you to every writer who entrusted us with their work, and who honored us by considering The Letter Review a possible home for their valuable writing. Every entry is a work of art, every piece is evidently labored over with care and attention. Our sincere thanks to every single entrant, whether listed below or not. Our most heartfelt congratulations to the winners and those on the shortlist below.
The Short Fiction winners were a joy to read in this round, Mirra’s restraint and verisimilitude had us rolling in the aisles. The piece drew our eyes relentlessly down the page. When we desperately want to read from first word to last, we suspect we are engaged with something others might enjoy too. Gardner’s ability to vividly conjure place / setting contributes to the power and complexity of the emotions felt as we read: This work tackles big themes in a way that left us feeling richer, more informed, and wiser. Smith’s use of beautiful imagery while discussing at times difficult subject matter left us near speechless: The soul feels elevated. A wonderfully balanced, and original piece, with a complex and satisfying message.
Wu’s poem Hunger has a transfixing power to transfigure a lack, or a need, into something more beautiful, and sustaining. Absence itself is a possession. Reading Tailbone was a simply electric experience: Goosebumps. We marvelled at Thuma’s ability to conjure images, feelings, thoughts. The ending left us tumbling, feeling weightless. Mindgame is so intimate, so inventive, so solemn, yet so explosively determined. We feel that the imagery, and the psychological insight and richness are to be treasured.
Again, what makes the book category so challenging to judge is the very high level of polish writers bring these works to: In many cases laboring faithfully for years on these gems. When we enjoy reading an entry, and we find that we are interested in reading the work in its entirety, we know we’ve got a potential winner on our hands. Our considerations include pacing, originality, craft, rich imagery, psychological insight, intrigue and much more. Donor Family bubbles with the richest insights, humor which feels drawn from real life, and a cracking pace that left us breathless. What a charming, and heartbreaking extract. We just have to know more about these vulnerable characters. Levick’s work of fantasy is a masterclass of tension, description, place, and character. We are immersed in a world so rich in detail: We can feel, taste, and see it clearly. The characters are beautifully detailed, and we are ready to set off on their adventure with them. It’s a wonderful lesson in craft and we just want to read on.
So. It’s time. Pour yourself a warm drink, or a cold drink, or whatever magic item lands you in that reading mood, and enjoy! We’re jittery with excitement at the thought of you imbibing these works, and stunned that we have the honor of being the ones to serve them up. Here’s to literature, and here’s to writers everywhere.
Short Fiction
Winners
- Nicholas Mirra – Concerning Renovations to the Community Pool
- Jonathan Daniel Gardner – Liable To Be
- George Smith – How Foolish to Worry
Shortlist
- Sharan Yaso – On April 14th I fell in Love with a Witch
- Adam Pond – The Broom Tree
- P.X. Vayalumkal – The Coin
- Emily Pollack – Imaginary Boyfriend
- Joshua Forehand – The Least of These
- Adam Lock – The Blackbird and the Dragonfly
- JT Schultz – Imagination Bleeding
- J. K. Marconi – The Second Coming
- Col Robinson – Jumping the Safety
- Rivka Arbetter – From the Ashes of Self-Loathing a Fat Phoenix Rises
- Charlotte Beck – Safe Objects
- Mary Upton – Splitting Hairs
- Britt MacKenzie-Dale – Half-life
- C.W. Spooner – The Best Laid Plans
- Akash Dubey – Rogue
- Henrick Karoliszyn – Takanakuy
- Katie Rizzo – After Death Communication
- Ethel Beach – Head Trip
Poetry
Winners
Shortlist
- Kapu Lewis – Tutoring Welsh Style
- Haley Green – Theology of Sun and Memory
- Jillain McCarthy – Visit Me In The Morning
- Elaine Haddox – Sit Among the Trees
- Nina Tulloch – Valentine’s Day
- Jim Glaser – All The Words
- Topher Shields – Entry: Animal Not Located
- Kt Dorfman – The Untouchings
- John Schneider – March Variations
- Clark Elder Morrow – The Dead You Have Always With You
- Christie Nordhielm – Sundog
- Amanda J. Bradley – Teaching Young Adults in the 21 st Century for 25 Years
- Kae D. Anann – Happy St. Patrick’s Day
- Marsha Howland – Change of Heart
- Khushie Verma – Growing up: Terms and Conditions
Books
Winners
Shortlist
- Julia Pidutti – Since That Happened
- Namita Aavriti – Camera-less
- Benjamin Weinberg – Swapping Souls
- Evan Tighe – Heirs of Anam
- Jeff LeBlanc – A Collections of American Days
- Jaime Koritza – Terrible Liar
- Jean Setrakian – I Write To You In Many Ways
- James Ross Kelly – Above Neil Rock: Stories & Poems
- Syndia A. Payne – How I Became a Cowgirl: One Woman’s Journey with Rare Migraine Disease
- Rafael Roa – To you. Just before waking.
- Tom Driscoll – The Flawed Education of a Mystic
- Gayathri Sankar – In The Event of Dissolution
- Aleks Filmore – Terms of Living
- Kevin G Wilkinson – Cloud Nine
- DL Pravda – As If a Field Were a Movie Star
- Fran Abrams – The Last Appointment
- Finlay McQuade – Growing Up in Down