ISSUED: 15 August 2023
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Costa
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities has announced the winners of the 2023 West Virginia Fiction Competition.
Joelle McDonald, Bridgeport, West Virginia, won first prize for her story “A Mourner.” Second-place honors went to Riley Kilmore, Toboyne Township, Pennsylvania, for “Mother, May I.” Audrey Chapman, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, received third place for her story “Belly’s Angel.” The Judges’ Choice Prize for middle and high school students this year went to Robin Chancey’s fifth-grade class at Kenna Elementary School in Jackson County, West Virginia.
“While the Judges’ Choice Award is traditionally given to a single middle or high school student writer, the submissions from this fifth-grade class were so charming, creative, and genuinely heart-felt that we wanted the whole class and this dedicated elementary school teacher to receive recognition,” said Dr. Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt, director, Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities. Prize money for the award will go toward classroom resources and materials.
Winners were selected by 2023 One Book One West Virginia author and Shepherd Appalachian Writer-in-Residence Ann Pancake. She made her selections from a pool of finalists determined by a committee that included David O. Hoffman, Anthology of Appalachian Writers literary editor; Julie Beacraft-Shehan, Center for Appalachian Studies board member; Dr. James Pate, Shepherd associate professor of English; and Shurbutt. The winners will receive their awards on September 28 during Shepherd’s annualAppalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence and Festival week.
Finalists include Clara Monson, Martinsburg, West Virginia, for her story “Closing Soon”; Jim Koenig, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, for “Battle Lines”; and Patricia Donohoe for “Noodling,” Lee Doty for “Waffle House,” and Madison Malin for “Porcelain,” all of Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
“Several fine writers were designated finalists, and all finalists and winners received story critiques from writer Ann Pancake,” Shurbutt said.
The West Virginia Fiction Competition is supported by the Shepherd University Foundation, West Virginia Humanities Council, West Virginia Center for the Book, and Shepherd University Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities. For more information, email Shurbutt.
— 30 —
