I’M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE that I am no longer simply a bridesmaid, but now a bride. “But, Audrey,” you’re likely thinking, “you’ve been married a long time.” Oh, yes, I have. However, I recently placed first in a writing competition, making me a “bride” after numerous past honorable mentions and second placings as a “bridesmaid.”
This past Saturday I traveled to Jack Pines Resort near Park Rapids in far northern Minnesota to collect my cash prize and to read my winning short story, “Ingrid’s Dream.” It is the story of a writer who plans to build a writer’s shed with wood salvaged from the barn on the homestead of her great grandparents. Conflict arises when her husband objects.
I’m not giving away the ending to this 564-word short story. You’ll have to buy a copy of Lyrics, Talking Stick #35 published by the nonprofit Jack Pine Writers’ Bloc (no connection to the resort). But I will share that, even though I didn’t realize it while writing this piece back in February, real-life events subconsciously influenced my story. Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement effort in Minnesota, was in full-on mode when I crafted “Ingrid’s Dream.” And Ingrid’s great grandparents were Norwegian immigrants with hopes and dreams.
This story is in no way a political statement. Those are not allowed in the Talking Stick competition. But it touches on immigration, reminding all of us that, unless we are Native or the descendants of slaves, we are, or are of, immigrants.
To read Ingrid’s story aloud to an appreciative audience of Minnesota writers and others on Saturday felt simultaneously humbling and empowering. I was honored to have my work initially selected by the Talking Stick editorial team for prize consideration and then chosen by Minnesota author Jeanne Cooney for the top fiction prize. Cooney writes the Hot Dish Heaven mysteries and the It’s Murder series.
Lyrics, Talking Stick #35 features the work of 68 writers who are either Minnesotans or who have a strong connection to our state. That’s an entry requirement. In this year’s contest, 132 writers submitted 330 entries with 71 poems, 18 creative nonfiction stories, 15 fiction stories and 17 creative twist stories chosen for publication.
I enter in all four categories, a bit of an anomaly among writers. My writing has published for nearly 20 consecutive years in the Talking Stick anthology. In addition to the fictional “Ingrid’s Dream,” my creative nonfiction entries, “About That Hole in the Wall” and “Unlocking Silence,” made it into this year’s book. One is about an embarrassing cardboard wall covering a hole in my dining room and the other about an aged accordion gifted from an aunt to her nephew.
While listening to other writers read their works at Jack Pines Resort, I was once again reminded of the incredible creative talent rooted in Minnesota. This includes recognizable names like Nicole Borg, Charmaine Pappas Donovan, Laura L. Hansen, Margaret Hasse, Mike Lein, Niomi Rohn Phillips and more along with Brenda Charpentier, a newbie to the competition and first place winner in creative nonfiction. Like me, she comes to creative writing with a journalism background as does another writer, Bernadette Hondl Thomasy, originally from Owatonna and with a poem and creative nonfiction story published in Lyrics, Talking Stick #35.
My admiration of Minnesota writers was reinforced after the reading when some of us socialized and talked shop afterwards over dinner. Writing is such a solitary pursuit. But in gathering with others who love the craft, I felt a surge of energy, of validation, of gratitude that I can do what I love. Write.
FYI: Lyrics, Talking Stick #35 is available for purchase online.
Congratulations, Audrey!!
Thank you kindly.
How exciting! Huge congratulations !!!!! You deserve those exclamation marks!
I will absolutely accept all of your exclamation marks. Thank you, my friend.
Congratulations on your accomplishment, Audrey!
From one fiction writer to another, thank you, Beth.
Congratulations Audrey. Well deserved. I’m grateful you received recognition for your good writing! Sounds like an interesting story!
Thank you, Valerie.
Congratulations Audrey! I really enjoyed your story. Ingrid was so brave to stick to her dreams. I was so fortunate to be there to congratulate you in person! I was thrilled to be there to support two of my good friends who were both first place winners! And they both signed the Talking Stick book I bought! I was so happy to be there, it was such an interesting and educational event.
Rose, it was a joy to have you there. Thank you for supporting Brenda and me in our writing. So glad I got to meet Brenda!
Congratulations, Audrey. First place in fiction is a high honor that you have worked hard to achieve. I was able to read your story on the Amazon preview of Lyrics and enjoyed how you tied your writer’s heart and appreciation of immigrant family together. Thank you for the kind mention of my pieces. I would never have known about the Talking Stick without your writing about it in your blog.
Bernadette, it’s always fun to read your writing in TS, this year your creative nonfiction story, “The Cactus,” and your poem, “Home from the Field.” As always, your pieces show your talents as a writer in your ability to really connect with the reader.
Thank you for pointing out that my story is available for reading on the Amazon preview of Lyrics. I didn’t scroll through to see if it was there so I appreciate your doing that.
Congratulations! And a cash prize too!
Cash prizes are paid for the top two stories in each category. My prize money went primarily for my trip expenses. With the price of gas, that adds up quickly.
Another plus of this competition is no entry fee.
I’d suspected that your cash prize went for gas. 😒 But your recognition as a literary artist is worth way more than the cash. 😁
You are correct on that. Thank you for your support of my writing.
Congratulations, Audrey!
Kathleen Cassen Mickelson – One Minnesota Crone older women don’t disappear – they branch out
Visit One Minnesota Crone at http://www.oneminnesotacrone.com
Thank you, Kathleen. I’m sorry I missed seeing you and hearing Abby play with Bonnie Drunken Lad.
I’m betting they will play there again! what a beautiful venue that cathedral is.
Glad you enjoyed the concert at The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour. I’ve attended countless concerts there and the acoustics are incredible. I also love the history of this space, which was Bishop Henry Whipple’s church. Yes, that Whipple. He is buried below the cathedral.
Huge, congrats Audrey! I’m so happy for you and it’s very well deserved. I’m going to buy a copy not only to read it but to help. When you mentioned that you entered things and all the different categories, it just reinforced what a good writer you are to be able to write at that level in different genres. This is very well deserved and a long time coming. Enjoy your time in the spotlight
Thank you, Beth. I’ve won often before, but never a first place. So this was exciting for me. Thank you for buying a copy of the anthology and supporting Minnesota writers.
Congratulations Audrey! That is a well deserved honor! I just ordered my Talking Stick and look forward to reading Ingrid’s Dream.
Thank you and thanks for buying this anthology. You’ll also get to read your sister’s story and poem.
Kudos to you! As Minnesotan’s say, this is a kinda big deal!
I will be sending a suggestion to selectors at the Hennepin County Library (HCL), that they consider purchasing Jackpine Writers’ Bloc publications. I was a bit surprised to not find any of them listed in the HCL catalog.
Thank you for asking the HCL system to buy Jackpine Writers’ Bloc publications. In our library system, I found only one past Talking Stick anthology, at the Faribault library. I believe I requested purchase of that. I wish more libraries would carry this book, giving many gifted Minnesota writers added exposure and more readers the opportunity to read their work. I appreciate your “kinda big deal” congrats and your library request.
Congratulations, Audrey!!
Thank you so much!
This is marvelous, Audrey!
Thank you, Michael.
Congratulations, Audrey! What an awesome accomplishment and great experience for you to read your story among your peers! Well done!!!
Thank you, Lori. I’ve read previously at the Talking Stick book launch and at many other events. I’m becoming more comfortable with reading in front of a group.