Unpublished Manuscript Awards
CATEGORY 1 – POETRY, UNRHYMED-SHORT
Category Sponsor: Norman Galaxy of Writers, in memory of Frances Searcey
Judge: Sharon Martin
Category Chair: Tamara Grantham
FIRST PLACE: “Sacrament” by Theresa Hupp, Kansas City Writers Group
SECOND PLACE: “Night Blessing” by Kristyn Reid, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Making Hay” by Jennifer Denslow, Member at Large
1st Honorable Mention: “Lost” by Judith Rycroft, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
2nd Honorable Mention: “His Last Words” by Roxana L. Cazan, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
3rd Honorable Mention: “A Wintersweet Song” by Ann Cleary, Bartlesville WordWeavers
4th Honorable Mention: “Equillibrium” by Pepper Hume, Bartlesville WordWeavers
5th Honorable Mention: “Love Speaks” by Mary Ellen Main, Writers of the Purple Sage
6th Honorable Mention: “Totality” by Linda Reising, Member at Large
CATEGORY 2 – POETRY, UNRHYMED-LONG
Category Sponsor: Scriblerus House
Judge: Grace Wagner
Category Chair: Susan Kite
FIRST PLACE: “The Coming of the Frost” by Molly Ervin, McAlester’s McSherry Writers
SECOND PLACE: “Last Call for Superman” by Gregg Winkler, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Vigil, 3 a.m.” by Marcia Preston, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
1st Honorable Mention: “Moving Day” by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
2nd Honorable Mention: “I Call Them by Name” by Judith Rycroft, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
3rd Honorable Mention: “Cancer Aesthetics” by Roxana L. Cazan, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
4th Honorable Mention: “Brushing off the Sand” by Co Bauman, Kansas City Writers Group
CATEGORY 3 – Poetry, Rhymed-Short
Category Sponsor: Enid Writers Club
Judge: Linda Boulanger
Category Chair: Darren Lyons
FIRST PLACE: “The Remaining” by Z Lee, Nevermore Edits
SECOND PLACE: “A Sand Decision” by Amy Saker, Nevermore Edits
THIRD PLACE: “Middle Age” by Jim Martin, Pen & Keyboard Writers
1st Honorable Mention: “Helen” by Jude Bayton, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “Precipitation” by Kelly Roberts, Member at Large
CATEGORY 4 – Poetry, Rhymed-long
Category Sponsor: Jacque Graham
Judge: C. M. Healy
Category Chair: Jennifer McMurrain
FIRST PLACE: “Head Bowed, Eyes Down” by Lisbeth L. McCarty, Norman Galaxy of Writers
SECOND PLACE: “Unvanquished” by Dee Dee Chumley, The Inklings
THIRD PLACE: “Final Emotions” by Darlinda Hagens, Pen & Keyboard Writers
1st Honorable Mention: “Everyday Dragons” by Billie Holladay Skelley, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “Only in Oklahoma” by Barbara Shepherd, Mid-Oklahoma Writers
3rd Honorable Mention: “Becoming Fragile” by Kristyn Reid, Member at Large
CATEGORY 5 – Essay
Judge: Eric Reitan
Category Chair: Connie Blaylock
FIRST PLACE: “Forgiveness: Not Always Black and White” by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
SECOND PLACE: “A Place of Remembering” by Beth M. Stephenson, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Endless Cycle” by Amy Saker, Nevermore Edits
1st Honorable Mention: “My Wife Is” by Michael Richard, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “From Weeding to Wisdom” by Billie Holladay Skelley, Member at Large
CATEGORY 6 - Technical and/or How-To Article
Judge: Amy Shojai
Category Chair: Carol Johnson
FIRST PLACE: “Tropical Milkweed: Monarch Friend and Foe” by Kimberly Toscano, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “How to Survive the Death of a Spouse” by Sally Jadlow, Kansas City Writers Group
THIRD PLACE: “How to Lose Your Family Gofer Job” by Renee’ La Viness, Tulsa NightWriters
1st Honorable Mention: “Ten Tips and Tricks to Make Writing/Editing Easier Using Word” by Shannon Iwanski, Nevermore Edits
2nd Honorable Mention: “How to Flip a House Without Flipping Out” by Beth M. Stephenson, Member at Large
CATEGORY 7 - Feature Article: Nonfiction (Any Subject)
Judge: Robin Patchen
Category Chair: Carol Johnson
FIRST PLACE: “Free Leonard Peltier?” by John T. Biggs, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
SECOND PLACE: “The Magic of the Ozarks: Poppets and Spite Dolls” by Billie Holladay Skelley, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Virginia Hall, Pertinacious WWII Spy” by Mary Ellen Main, Writers of the Purple Sage
1st Honorable Mention: “When Genius Goes Wrong” by Lisbeth L. McCarty, Norman Galaxy of Writers
CATEGORY 8 - Blog: Nonfiction
Judge: Maria Veres
Category Chair: Kelly Roberts
FIRST PLACE: “Battling the Winter Blues” by Staci Mauney, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
SECOND PLACE: “Waving Around Your Backstory” by Shannon Iwanski, Nevermore Edits
THIRD PLACE: “Beneath Our Feet” by M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa NightWriters
1st Honorable Mention: “Things No One Told Me About Being on a Board” by Mary Moran, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “Friendship Application With Instructions” by Eva Mahoney, Pen & Keyboard Writers
3rd Honorable Mention: “Flying Solo in the Kitchen” by Pepper Hume, Bartlesville WordWeavers
CATEGORY 9 - Inspirational Article
Judge: Julia Mozingo
Category Chair: Jennifer McMurrain
FIRST PLACE: “Butterflies: Heaven’s Messengers” by Dion Mayes-Burnett, Rose Rock wRiters
SECOND PLACE: “Dreams of Sandy” by Lisbeth L. McCarty, Norman Galaxy of Writers
THIRD PLACE: “Tomorrow” by Jim Martin, Pen & Keyboard Writers
1st Honorable Mention: “Never Too Late To Be A Star” by Jerry L. Davis, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “The Unwanted” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
3rd Honorable Mention: “For Sammi” by Susan Blumenthal Donchin, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 10 - Memoir/Nostalgia Short Story
Category Sponsor: Green Country Ruff Riters
Judge: Cecilia Wilson
Category Chair: Myloe Yeager
FIRST PLACE: “Fish Tale” by Dee Dee Chumley, The Inklings
SECOND PLACE: “Saturday at the Store” by Bob Hargrove, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Amazon.com: Hired, Tired, and Didn’t Get Fired” by Ann Cleary, Bartlesville WordWeavers
1st Honorable Mention: “Cycle of Life” by Mary Moran, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “But Honey, the Game is On” by Amy Saker, Nevermore Edits
3rd Honorable Mention: “Lessons From Mama” by Karen Evans, Enid Writers Club
4th Honorable Mention: “Ten Years Later” by Ryan C. Bradley, Nevermore Edits
CATEGORY 11 - Flash Fiction
Judge: Marla Jones
Category Chair: Eva Mahoney
FIRST PLACE: “A Voluntary Victim” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
SECOND PLACE: “Drip” by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
THIRD PLACE: “The Microscopic Manipulator” by Billie Holladay Skelley, Member at Large
1st Honorable Mention: “Third Storey Window” by Pepper Hume, Bartlesville WordWeavers
2nd Honorable Mention: “Road Rage to Tears” by Mary Moran, Member at Large
3rd Honorable Mention: “Hanging On” by Dixie Maxwell, Tulsa NightWriters
4th Honorable Mention: “Freedom Flight” by Beverly Strader, Tulsa NightWriters
CATEGORY 12 - Short-Short Story (Adult): Fiction
Category Sponsor: Maria Veres
Judge: Natasha Tinsley
Category Chair: Kristi Hanson
FIRST PLACE: “A Lesson in Origami” by Linda Reising, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “Savory Tarts” by Storme Maynard, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Peppers and Salt” by Lisbeth L. McCarty, Norman Galaxy of Writers
1st Honorable Mention: “The Resistance” by Laura Atanacio Edington, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “Nineteen Steps” by J. Allen Harris, Member at Large
3rd Honorable Mention: “Negotiations” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
4th Honorable Mention: “The Kind You Can Ride” by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
5th Honorable Mention: “Rodeo (Not the Drive)” by Jude Bayton, Member at Large
CATEGORY 13 - Juvenile Short Story: Fiction
Category Sponsor: Lisbeth L. McCarty
Judge: Wayne Wyrick-Harris
Category Chair: Connie Blaylock
FIRST PLACE: “The Stinky Cheese Incident” by Kimberly Toscano, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “Kate’s Best Character” by Jennifer Sneed, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “The Fat Black Cat” by Cathy L. Collar, Bartlesville WordWeavers
1st Honorable Mention: “The Boy Who Wanted to Wash Dishes” by Barbara Shepherd, Mid-Oklahoma Writers
CATEGORY 14 - Young Adult Short Story: Fiction
Judge: Tamara Hart Heiner
Category Chair: Sharon Worthey
FIRST PLACE: “Supernova” by Jennifer Sneed, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “The Ginger Man” by Jeff A. Dosser, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “It Never Happened” by Christine Jarmola, Bartlesville WordWeavers
1st Honorable Mention: “Birthright” by Gene La Viness, Tulsa NightWriters
CATEGORY 15 - Short Story (Adult): Fiction
Category Sponsor: Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
Judge: Amelia Appel
Category Chair: Sharon Worthey
FIRST PLACE: “Alfalfa Blues” by Gregg Winkler, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “Comforting Lies” by Jeff A. Dosser, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Forever Young” by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
1st Honorable Mention: “Undertow” by Haleigh Diann, Nevermore Edits
2nd Honorable Mention: “Dead Armadillos” by Teresa Coffey, Member at Large
CATEGORY 16 - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short Story: Fiction
Category Sponsor: SoonerCon
Judge: Jack Burgos
Category Chair: Sharon Worthey
FIRST PLACE: “Treatment” by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
SECOND PLACE: “Slaine Well” by Vaun Murphrey, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “The Choice” by Dee Dee Chumley, The Inklings
1st Honorable Mention: “iFriend” by Jeff A. Dosser, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “A Dog’s Life” by Kristin Kaldahl, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 17 - Horror Short Story: Fiction
Category Sponsor: Phantasmagoria Books and Records
Judge: Melissa Ann Singer
Category Chair: Erin Cochran
FIRST PLACE: “Spirit Troubles” by John T. Biggs, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
SECOND PLACE: “Tornado Myra” by Jeff A. Dosser, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Eye of the Beholder” Nicki Rycroft, Member at Large
1st Honorable Mention: “Monsters” by Storme Maynard, Member at Large
2nd Honorable Mention: “A Sailor’s Nightmare” by Haleigh Diann, Nevermore Edits
CATEGORY 18 - Prose Humor: Fiction or Nonfiction
Category Sponsor: Nequita Hanna
Judge: Ally Robertson
Category Chair: Sharon Martin
FIRST PLACE: “Help! I’m Available” by Jude Bayton, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “Toddler Chili Bomber” by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
THIRD PLACE: “Girl in the White Bathing Suit” by Fay Smalling Guinn, Member at Large
1st Honorable Mention: “Traffic Report From Checkout Line Four” by Russell Gayer, Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers
2nd Honorable Mention: “The One That Got Away” by Karla Hamlett Sullivan, Enid Writers Club
3rd Honorable Mention: “I Was a Male Red Hatter” by Gary Robert Pinnell, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 19 - Play, Film, or TV Script
Category Sponsor: Ruth H. Weeks
Judge: Frank Steele
Category Chair: Maria Veres
FIRST PLACE: “The Mall-Teaser’s Flamingo” by Jerry L. Davis, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: “Ned Christie” by Devon Mihesuah, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: “Lady Trail Boss” Barbara Shepherd, Mid-Oklahoma Writers
CATEGORY 20 - Picture Book
Category Sponsor: 4RV Publishing
Judge: Vickey Kennedy
Category Chair: Evelyn Wilson-Martin
FIRST PLACE: Dancing Kite, Laughing Wind by Pepper Hume, Bartlesville WordWeavers
SECOND PLACE: The Lion’s Roar by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
THIRD PLACE: Watch Night by Sharon J. Wilson, Member at Large
1st Honorable Mention: Princess of the Honeybees by Zach Roberts, Tulsa NightWriters
2nd Honorable Mention: The Bugahump by Kathlyn Smith, Tulsa NightWriters
CATEGORY 21 - Middle Grade Book
Judge: Jere Ellison
Category Chair: Evelyn Wilson-Martin
FIRST PLACE: Bray by Sharon J. Wilson, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: Kimba’s Christmas by Meg Welch Dendler, Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers
THIRD PLACE: The Pink Sneaker Club by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
1st Honorable Mention: The Legend of Billy Bob Flybottom by Susan Kite, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 22 - Young Adult Novel
Judge: Amy Brewer
Category Chair: Ariel White
FIRST PLACE: The 7th Lie by Tamara Grantham, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: OFF WITH THEIR HEADS by Vickey Malone Kennedy, Rose Rock wRiters
THIRD PLACE: Western Skies by Haleigh Diann, Nevermore Edits
1st Honorable Mention: Web of Deceit by Barbara Shepherd, Mid-Oklahoma Writers
CATEGORY 23 - MAINSTREAM NOVEL
Category Sponsor: Carol Johnson, in Honor of Kirk Bjornsgaard
Judge: John Biggs
Category Chair: Jodi Thompson
FIRST PLACE: This Is Why We Sing by Belinda Bruner, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: Wish You Were Here by Dixie Maxwell, Tulsa NightWriters
THIRD PLACE: The Girl Left Behind by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
1st Honorable Mention: What Swims Below by Marcia Preston, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 24 - ROMANCE NOVEL
Category Sponsor: Sharon Sala
Judge: Jennifer McMurrain
Category Chair: Jodi Thompson
FIRST PLACE: Fear the Night by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
SECOND PLACE: Crushed Promises by Linda Trout, Tulsa NightWriters
THIRD PLACE: Unleashed by Vickey Malone Kennedy, Rose Rock wRiters
1st Honorable Mention: What Will Samantha Do Next? by Shelley Pagach, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
CATEGORY 25 - HISTORICAL NOVEL
Judge: Jacque Graham
Category Chair: Inez Bowman
FIRST PLACE: Kassandra by Sharon J. Wilson, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: Plagues and Princes: The One True Prince by Thomas F. Schultz, Kansas City Writers Group
THIRD PLACE: Finding Joy by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
CATEGORY 26 - Mystery/Suspense Novel
Category Sponsor: Marcia Preston
Judge: Shannon Iwanski
Category Chair: Jodi Thompson
FIRST PLACE: H.I.P. in Prague by M. Edward Jones, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: Chameleon by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters
THIRD PLACE: Blind Shott by Gordon Kessler, Kansas Writers Association
1st Honorable Mention: The Lottery Winners by Staci Mauney, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
2nd Honorable Mention: Rapier Wit by Jennifer Denslow, Member at Large
CATEGORY 27 - Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel
Category Sponsor: Rose Rock wRiters
Judge: Lisa Willis
Category Chair: Jodi Thompson
FIRST PLACE: The Wages of Sin by Shannon Iwanski, Nevermore Edits
SECOND PLACE: The Mutant Frequency by Jerry Hanel, Tulsa NightWriters
THIRD PLACE: The Stars, the Gods by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
1st Honorable Mention: The Lost Palace of D’Nanitra Val by Keith H. Maxwell, Member at Large
CATEGORY 28 - Horror Novel
Category Sponsor: Susan Spess Shay
Judge: Nick Lyon
Category Chair: Erin Cochran
FIRST PLACE: Shattered by Jeff A. Dosser, Member at Large
SECOND PLACE: The Daughter of the Sun and Moon by Debra Dockter, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: Dante’s Freak Show Carnival by Eric Reitan, Rose Rock wRiters
CATEGORY 29 - Nonfiction Book
Judge: Dianne McCartney
Category Chair: Erin Cochran
FIRST PLACE: Indie Strong by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville WordWeavers
SECOND PLACE: Plant Noir by Kimberly Toscano, Member at Large
THIRD PLACE: Every Ten Years by Carolyn B. Leonard, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
Published Book Trophies
CATEGORY 30 - BEST JUVENILE BOOK
Judge: Meg Dendler
Category Chair: Sabrina A. Fish
FIRST PLACE: Suki and Sam by Dr. Lisa Marotta, The Inklings
CATEGORY 31 – BEST YA BOOK
Category Sponsor: LilyBear House, LLC
Judge: Sabrina A. Fish
Category Chair: Sabrina A. Fish
FIRST PLACE: Beneath Irving Island by Sue Cory Person, Tulsa NightWriters
CATEGORY 32 - BEST NONFICTION BOOK
Category Sponsor: Write Schtuff Coaching
Judge: Vivian Zabel
Category Chair: Sabrina A. Fish
FIRST PLACE: Ned Christie: The Creation of an Outlaw and Cherokee Hero by Devon Mihesuah, Member at Large
CATEGORY 33 - BEST BOOK OF POETRY
Category Sponsor: Sandra Soli
Judge: Dion Mayes-Burnett
Category Chair: Sabrina A. Fish
FIRST PLACE: Not a Prodigal by Sharon Edge Martin, Member at Large
CATEGORY 34 – BEST BOOK OF FICTION AWARD
Category Sponsor: Dianne McCartney
Judge: Marcia Preston
Category Chair: Sabrina A. Fish
FIRST PLACE: Betrayal at the Buffalo Ranch by Sara Sue Hoklotubbe, Tulsa NightWriters
Crème de la Crème
All first-place entries were read anonymously during the judging process for this award.
Award Sponsor: Marcia Preston
Trophy Sponsor: Bartlesville WordWeavers
Judges: Casey Cowan, Venessa Cerasale, and Michael Frizell
“Spirit Troubles” by John T. Biggs, Oklahoma City Writers
