Our shortlist is announced! Congratulations to the authors selected and thank you to everyone who submitted. It was a tough decision as we had so many wonderful stories to choose from. The shortlist is being sent to our guest judge AM Homes for final selection and those results will announce in May. In the meantime keep your fingers crossed for your favorite stories!

Here is the official list:

Set of Four Short Stories BY KIIK AK

UC San Diego, MFA

“Like Royalty” BY CATHERINE CAMPBELL

Queens University of Charlotte, MFA

“Sunshiny Days and Mostly Clear Nights” BY LAURIE ANN CEDILNIK

Western Michigan University, PhD

“Missed” BY TRACI COX

George Mason University in Fairfax, MFA

“Dancing at the Zoo” BY JENNIFER DUPREE

Stonecoast, MFA

“Scraping” BY LOUISE ELLS

Anglia Ruskin University, PhD

“How to Like Girls” BY COURTNEY GILLETTE

Lesley University, MFA

“Almost Touching, Almost Free” BY DUSTIN M. HOFFMAN

Western Michigan University, PhD

“American Girls are Easy” BY NICOLE KELLY

UC Irvine, MFA

“The Boy and The Bear” BY BLAKE KIMZEY

UC Irvine, MFA

“The Brackish” BY DREW KREPP

University of North Carolina Wilmington, MFA

“Sickle” BY RANA MCCOLE

Antioch University, MFA

“Potomac” BY ANDREW PAYTON

Iowa State University, MFA

“Peaceful Village” BY JANE SUMMER

Goddard College, MFA

“Coffee for Dead Children” BY ZOE VANDEVEER

UC Irvine, MFA