Winners of the 2009 Spirit of Writing Contest

Grand Prize:
David Hearn takes the 2009 Spirit of Writing grand prize with his short story, "The Truth of Relationship." This year's prize is "A Day at the MFA," one day's participation in the January residency schedule of the Whidbey Writers Workshop Master of Fine Arts degree program. The Whidbey Island Writers Association and the Whidbey Writers Workshop are sponsored by the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts.

Poetry

First Place: Dallas Huth, Langley, The Sound

Second Place: Cynthia Trenshaw, Freeland, Piss

Third Place: Patricia Brooks, Coupeville, When the poet lives alone...

Fourth Place tie: Jean Shaw, Langley, HAIKU POEMS: Theme of Self-revelations and Allison Schrecengost, Freeland, Under the Apple Tree

Fiction

First Place: David Hearn, Langley, The Truth of Relationship

Second Place: Richard Bennett, Clinton, Dreaming Man

Third Place: Calvin Edholm, Langley, Rabbit Valley

Fourth Place tie: Patricia Brooks, Records and Terrence J. Kandzor, Oak Harbor, ...in Pieces on the Ground

Essay

First Place: Richard Bennett, Zombie Revolution

Second Place: Dallas Huth, Knitting My Shroud

Third Place: Laura Castle, Freeland, Only on Whidbey

Fourth Place: Teresa McElhinny, Langley, On the Edge

Memoir

First Place: Richard Brauer, Langley, The Blue Bus

Second Place: Margaret Bendet, Clinton, Mom's Gun

Third Place: Dale Kerslake, Clinton, A Matter of Priorities

Children's Literature

First Place: Richard Brauer, The White Bear

Second Place: Sue D. Idso, Freeland , Split Decision

Third Place: Martha Martin, Langley, Danger Stalks the Campground

Fourth Place: Joan Simon, Langley, The Gift

Sno-Isle branch libraries on Whidbey Island will display anthologies of the winning works after December 1st. Winners will present programs of readings, hosted by the libraries in January and February. Contest coordinators Dorothy Read and Marilyn Brownstein thank this year's participants and invite all local writers to look for details of the 2010 contest next summer at www.writeonwhidbey.org or check with the local libraries.