West Virginia New Writers Fiction Competition Winners

You may click on the first prize winner to read the story.

2007 Winners Selected by Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

First Prize: Ann Claycomb, Morgantown, WV, "Proof of a Wedding Photo, 1969"

Second Prize: Jim Koenig, Harpers Ferry, WV, "Love 1969"

Third Prize: Barbara Townsend, Springfield, WV, "Dan"

Honorable Mentions: John Shumate, Morgantown, WV, "My Lil' Reminder" and D. C. Gallant, Harpers Ferry, WV, "Coin Purse"

2006 Winners Selected by Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Terry Kay

First Prize: Suzanne Samples, Huntington, WV, "Bump"

Second Prize: Jim Koenig, Harpers Ferry, WV, "Get Moving"

Natalie Sypolt: Kingwood, WV, "Fire Makes It New"

2005 Winners Selected by Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Jayne Anne Phillips

First Prize: Ellen Simonson, Martinsburg, WV, “Ask”

Second Prize: Shawn Beckner, Huntington, WV, “White Room”

Joint Third Prize:  Gregory W. Leatherman, Fairmont, WV, “Baptism” and Mary Claire Johnson, Morgantown, WV, “Personal Consultation”

2004 Winners Selected by Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Fred Chappell

First Prize: Maggie Allen, Ravenswood, WV, “Chapters”

Second Prize: Justin S. Batton, Martinsburg, WV, “He Is My Sandman”

Third Prize: Brittany A. Conkle, Wheeling, WV, “Broken Down Belle”

2003 Winners Selected by Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence Robert Morgan

First Prize: Charlotte M. Henning, Charles Town, WV, “Unseen”

Second Prize: Abigale Aikens, Morgantown, WV, “Fung Shwee”

Third Prize: Natalie Sypolt, Masontown, WV, “Flaming Jesus”