Creative Writing Short Story Contest
Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, October 11
7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
at the Gualala Arts Center

Gualala Arts is sponsoring a short story contest open to all full-time and part-time coastal residents from Timber Cove to Elk who have not previously had their work professionally published. The contest has two categories, one for adults eighteen and older and one for contestants ages twelve to seventeen.

Prize winners will be awarded certificates from Gualala Arts. Prizes will be awarded on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at the Gualala Arts Center.

In each category, the first prize will be $250 and publication in the Redwood Coast Review. Second and third prizes will be $150 and $100 respectively in each category. Funds for the prizes are donated by the Gualala Rotary Club and The Sea Ranch Foundation.

Entries must be original short stories of at least 500 but no more than 2,500 words. Only one entry per contestant will be accepted.

To submit an entry, fill out an application form and send it with your story, typed and double-spaced. Your story should NOT have your name or any identifying information on it. Manuscripts will be coded with the application form. These forms are available at Gualala Arts or online at GualalaArts.org. All entries must be received at Gualala Arts, PO Box 244, Gualala CA 95445, by September 12, 2006. All decisions of the judges will be final.

The judges are Carolyn Cooke, Janet Gage, Stephen Kessler, George Rathmell and David Skibbins. Carolyn Cooke is the award-winning author of the the short story collection, The Bostons. Janet Gage, former high school and college writing instructor, was a judge for the National Council of Teachers of English Writing Contest. Stephen Kessler is the editor of the Redwood Coast Review and author of seventeen books. George Rathmell is a staff writer for The Nob Hill Gazette and author of the novel, The Pickle Girl. David Skibbins is the author of Working Clean and Sober and the Tarot Card Mystery series, Eight of Swords and High Priestess.

Located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, the Arts Center is open weekdays 9 am to 4 pm, and weekends from noon to 4 pm. Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information.