TOPPING THE POP CHARTS

Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards grand-prize winner Marcy Kennedy receives $2,500, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and a copy of the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.

The first-place winners in each of the five categories receive $500 cash, $100 worth of Writer’s Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.

Honorable mentions each receive a copy of the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market.

GRAND PRIZE

“A Purple Elephant” by Marcy Kennedy

HORROR

1. “Penance” by Jerry Guern

2. “What Goes Around” by Adrienne Byers 3. “Skin Deep” by J.R. Carr

4. “A Killing Frost” by Iris Weidner 5. “Lucy’s Bell” by Seth Cipriano

MYSTERY/CRIME FICTION

1. “The Recidivist” by Olaf Kroneman

2. “The Smoker” by Trista Fennell

3. “In Search of Gwen Guattari” by Hamilton Waymire 4. “Ada’s Smoking Guns” by Amanda Lofton

5. “The Perfect Garden” by Joyce Slobogian

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY

1. “The Goodsman” by Tony L. Stephenson

2. “The Desolation Will Consume You” by Ken Brosky

3. “The Horn Screamed” by Joe Luca 4. “The Choice” by Krystal Bingham 5. “The Rules of Raffle” by Rena Dictor LeBlanc

ROMANCE

1. “The Asylum Queen” by Jason Wilder

2. “Oranna’s Song” by Peter A. Balaskas

3. “He Wasn’t a Farmer” by Barbra Heavner 4. “Moment of Truth” by Patricia Watters

5. “The Marty/Dixon Line” by Iris Litt

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

1. “The Grimblethorne” by Gregory Kaufman 2. “Toll Man” by Adam Russ

3. “Broken Girl” by Gregory Buford

4. “Call of the Wild” by Elissa Vann Struth 5. “Wasabi Joe” by Steve Pantazis

CALLING ALL GENRE WRITERS Enter your story ( 4,000 words or fewer) in the fifth annual Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards contest. Categories are horror, science fiction/ fantasy, mystery/crime, thriller/suspense and romance. Visit writersdigest.com/popularfiction awards for deadline and entry fee information, as well as complete contest rules. To submit your story online, access our secure entry form at writersdigest.com/competitions. To enter via regular mail, send your manuscript, entry form and fee to: Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990.

INSPIRATION:

Jane Austen. A writer in any genre can learn from her attention to detail and subtle wit. Moreover, the way she portrayed life in her work is

something I’d like to emulate. She was able to deal with unpleasant realities without abandoning hope, and she didn’t take herself or her society so seriously that she lost the ability to poke fun at the absurdities around her.

seem to represent the personality of a character that I’m writing. I find that especially helpful when working on a novel with more than one point of view.

KENNEDY PHOTO © SUZANNE KENNEDY

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Music. I have an easier time concentrating on my work when I have music playing. I’ve also used it to help me enter the right mood and mindset for the scene or story I’m working on. Sometimes I’ve even created a playlist of songs that

BEST WRITING ADVICE
EVER RECEIVED:
Writer’s block is an excuse. Neuro-
surgeons aren’t allowed to wake
up in the morning and say, “I have
surgeon’s block today. I think I’ll
stay home and play Sudoku.” If you
want to be a professional, you do
your job whether you feel like
it or not.