Please note that everyone involved in the OWFI contest is a volunteer--the category chairs, the judges and the amazing and extremely patient 1st Vice President, Sonia Gensler and 2nd Vice President, Tony LoPresti. The opinions of the judges are just that--opinions. Some people think Stephanie Myers is the most brilliant author ever. Others prefer the works of Stephen King. It's all subjective. View the advice/opinions given by the judges as a dinner buffet.  Feed on the items you find tasty and helpful and ignore the rest. Please be thankful these people took time out of their busy lives to give you this opportunity. We all learn from the experience and as a result, we become better writers.

 

 

 

Category 1  ~  Mainstream Novel  ~  19 Entries

Judge: Maria Rachel Hooley, Lawton, OK

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

First Place: “Mahout’s Elephant” by Neena Kahlon,

Fort Worth Writers

Second Place: “Mercy” by Jodi Thompson, MAL

Third Place: “Trial Separation” by John Biggs, MAL

1^st HM: “Fit to Survive” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters

Category  2  ~  Contemporary Romance  ~  10 Entries

Judge: Desiree Holt, Sisterdale, TX

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

First Place: “Tall, Green and Gorgeous” by Linda Basinger, Norman Galaxy of Writers

Second Place: “The Lingering Lie” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters

Third Place: “Fear of Danger” by Mary Ann Kerl, McAlester’s McSherry Writers

1^st HM: “Kiss and Don’t Tell” by Joan Minor, MAL

Category 3  ~  Historical Novel  ~  11 Entries

Judge: Marcia Preston, Edmond, OK

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

First Place: “Loyalty” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

Second Place: “Last Grain” by Cynthia Henzel, MAL

Third Place: “Tangled Garden” by Susan Cogan, Norman Galaxy of Writers

1^st HM: “Black Gold” by Jeanie Horn, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Category 4  ~  Mystery/Suspense Novel  ~  21 Entries

Judge: Rene Gutteridge, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

First Place: “One Death Two Early” by Sandra Parsons, MAL

Second Place: “Cobwebs” by Mary Coley, Tulsa Night Writers

Third Place: “River Story” by Kathleen Norris Park, Norman Galaxy of Writers

1^st HM: “The Dead Don’t Bleed” by Joan Minor, MAL

2^nd HM: “Dark Thickets” by Lowell Long, Writers of the Purple Sage

Category 5  ~  Western Novel  ~  7 Entries

(OWFI contest rules require 10 entries before awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards)

Judge: Charlotte Anne Smith, Nowata, OK

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

HONORABLE MENTION: “The Last Real Cowboy” by Kathleen  Gibbs, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.

Category 6 ~ SF/Fantasy/Horror Novel ~ 26 Entries

Judge: Sara D’Emic, Cold Spring, NY

Category Chair: Julia Mozingo, Lone Star NightWriters

First Place: “Catalyst” by Rebekah Loper, MAL

Second Place: “Ebon Blade” by Jere Ellison, MAL

Third Place: “Tilly & Tulli,” by Sarah Denton, MAL

1^st HM: “The Blackthorne Wolves” by Sandy Leppin, MAL

2^nd HM:  “The War of All Time” by Erin York, MAL  

Category 7  ~  Nonfiction Book  ~  8 Entries

(OWFI contest rules require 10 entries before awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards)

Judge: Amy Shojai, Sherman, Texas

Category Chair: Arlene Graber, Kansas Writers Association

HONORABLE MENTION: “Red Heels and Smokin’” by Nequita Hanna, Tulsa Night Writers

Category 8  ~  Picture Book  ~  20 Entries

Judge: Darleen Bailey Beard, Norman, OK

Category Chair: Nita Beshear, McAlester’s McSherry Writers

First Place: “Bedtime Lullabayou” by Angie Kay Dilmore, MAL

Second Place: “‘Twas the Age of Augustus” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

Third Place: “Simon’s Birthday Party” by Una Belle Townsend, MAL

1^st HM: “Amelia” by Kendra Henthorn, MAL

2^nd HM: “A Land Not So Very Far Away” by Cathy Collar, Bartlesville Wordweavers    

Category 9  ~  Middle Grade Book  ~  19 Entries

Judge: Vivian Zabel, Edmond, OK

Category Chair: Nita Beshear, McAlester’s McSherry Writers

First Place: “Mid-Evil” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

Second Place: “Daughter of the Centaurs” by Cynthia Henzel, MAL

Third Place: Home Schooling for Hawks” by Priscilla H. Wilson, Kansas City Writers Group

Category 10  ~  Young Adult Book  ~  27 Entries

Category Sponsor: Bartlesville WordWeavers

Judge: Saundra Mitchell, Greenwood, IN

Category Chairs: Nita Beshear, McAlester’s McSherry Writers

First Place: “Fierce” by M.M. Cox, MAL

Second Place: “A Girl Named Jude,” by E.R. Arroyo, Rose Rock wRiters

Third Place: “Blink” by Natasha Hanova, Midwest Pen & Ink

1^st HM: “Angels & Guitars” by Nicola Eddy Daubert, MAL

2^nd HM: “Armadillo Queen” by Eric Reitan, MAL 

Category 11  ~  Poetry Unrhymed Short  ~  56 Entries

Judge: Sharon Martin, Oilton, OK

Category Chair: Maria Veres, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.

First Place: “The AA Order” by Erin York, MAL

Second Place: “After the Procedure” by Eric Reitan, MAL

Third Place: “Afghan Moon” by Keli Wright, Arkansas Ridge Writers

1^st HM: “Black Boys” by R.C. Neighbors, Student

2^nd HM: “Bathing My Youngest Daughter” by Ann Cleary, Bartlesville Wordweavers

3^rd HM: “Elegy for an Apple Tree” by Neal Huffaker, Norman Galaxy of Writers

4^th HM: “Rumor” by James Graham, Pen and Keyboard Writers

5^th HM: “Fancy Flight” by Julia Mozingo, Lone Star Writers

Category 12  ~  Poetry Unrhymed Long  ~  52 Entries

Judge: Robert Ferrier, Norman, OK

Category Chair: Sharon Worthey, Member at Large

First Place: “Death of Winter” by Diana Keathley, MAL

Second Place: “Skin Hunger” by Christine Nichols, Stillwater Writers Group

Third Place: “Remembering Proofrock” by Eric Reitan, MAL

1^st HM: “Bus Stop” by Maria Rachel Hooley, Rose Rock wRiters

2^nd HM: “When Death Sat Next to Me” by Vivian Zabel, Pen and Keyboard Writers

3^rd HM: “Seasons of Change” by Jeannie Horn, Arkansas Ridge Writers

4^th HM: “Insomniac” by Lynda Stephenson, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.

5^th HM: “The Harvest” by Fred Causley Sr., Stillwater Writers Club 

Category 13  ~  Poetry Rhymed Short  ~  39 Entries

Judge: Susan Peters, Merriam, KS

Category Chair: John Morris, Member at Large

First Place: “Hours Married to Shadow” by Kristyn Reid, Oklahoma Write Now

Second Place: “The Ring” by R.C. Neighbors, Student

Third Place: “A Living” by Charlotte Anne Smith, Bartlesville Wordweavers

1^st HM: “Sonnet (Why did Grandma Keep Old Letters)” by Charlotte Schreck Burns, MAL

2^nd HM: “Christ Within the Crown of Thorns” by Carol Snow,   Tulsa Night Writers

3^rd HM: “The Dieter” by Beth Stephenson, Red Dirt Writers Society 

Category 14  ~  Poetry Rhymed Long  ~  43 Entries

Judge: Maria Veres, Edmond, OK

Category Chair: Sharon Worthey, Member at Large

First Place: “A Poet’s Prayer” by Carol Snow, Tulsa Night Writers

Second Place: “Consider Young Thaddeus Baker” by Kelly Roberts, Red Dirt Writers Society

Third Place: “Dual Citizen” by Kristyn Reid, Oklahoma Write Now

1^st HM: “Old Town: In Memoriam” by Ann Cleary, Bartlesville Wordweavers

2^nd HM: “The Procrastinator” by Neal Huffaker, Norman Galaxy of Writers

3^rd HM: “Reality Renting” by Frances Wykes Searcey, Norman  Galaxy of Writers

4^th HM: “A Legend in His Own Time” by Marianne Logan, Ol’ Tascosa Word Slingers

Category 15  ~  Flash Fiction  ~  56 Entries

Category Sponsor: The Inklings

Judge: Frank Steele, Sherman, TX

Category Chair: Jen Nipps, Web Writing Wonders

First Place: “Table for One” by Franklin Ray Gaskin, MAL

Second Place: “Walk a Mile in her Heels” by Shel Harrington, The Inklings

Third Place: “Molly’s Malaise” by Sally Jadlow, Kansas City Writers Group

1^st HM: “Life Ends” by Nick Lyon, Red Dirt Writers Society

2^nd HM: “The Rose Garden” by Pam Wetterman, Tulsa Night Writers

3^rd HM: “The Switch” by Kathlyn Smith, Tulsa Night Writers

4^th HM: “Inca 4” by Bill Wetterman, Tulsa Night Writers

5^th HM: “Seeing Clearly” by Chantell Tiatrakul, Enid Writers  Group

Category 16  ~  Short Short Story  ~  67 Entries

Judge: Inez Phillips, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Adrienne Crezo, Lawton, OK

First Place: “Kill the Cat” by Christine Jarmola, Bartlesville   Wordweavers

Second Place: “The Mysterious Mr. Smith” by Charles R. Vassel, Mid-Oklahoma Writers

Third Place: “Down on Bayou Boeuf” by Maxine Taylor, River Valley Writers

1^st HM: “Goldilocks, Two Bears and the Great Pumpkin” by Leora Bridgewater, Writers of the Purple Sage

2^nd HM: “Johnny Adair” by Art Youmans, Tulsa Night Writers

3^rd HM: “Emerging Release” by Frances Wykes Searcey, Norman Galaxy of Writers

4^th HM: “The Bee Martin” by M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa Night Writers

5^th HM: “A Silhouette Romance, Sort of” by Marjorie Bixler, Fort  Worth Writers

6^th HM: “An Honorable Man” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters

Category 17  ~  Short Story  ~  55 Entries

Judge: John T. Biggs, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters

First Place: “A Good Hand” by Katherine West, Norman Galaxy of Writers

Second Place: “Listening to the Imp” by Eric Reitan, MAL

Third Place: “Macho Man” by R.C. Neighbors, Student

1^st HM: “Forest Cat” by Mary Coley, Tulsa Night Writers

2^nd HM: “Make Ahead Macaroni Salad” by Beth Stephenson, Red Dirt Writers Society

3^rd HM: “Twisted Little Women” by Donna Welch Jones, Tulsa Night Writers

4^th HM: “A Buttercup in the Flats” by Mary Keilly, Fort Worth Writers

5^th HM: “The Turd Wagon” by Terry Alexander, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Category 18  ~ Juvenile Short Story  ~  24 Entries

Judge: Gwendolyn Hooks, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Jan Morrill, Arkansas Ridge Writers

First Place: “Jellica’s Pot of Gold” by Renee Roberts, MAL

Second Place: “Life Saving Polka Dot Umbrella” by Donna Welch Jones, Tulsa Night Writers

Third Place: “In Old Sweden One Summer” by Katherine West, Norman Galaxy of Writers

1^st HM: “The Warrior and the Mist” by M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa  Night Writers

Category 19 ~ Young Adult Short Story ~ 19 Entries

Judge: Tessa Gratton, Lawrence, KS

Category Chair: Jan Morrill, Arkansas Ridge Writers

First Place: “Puzzle Pieces” by R.C. Neighbors, Student

Second Place: “Harvest Queen” by Jennifer McMurrain,   Bartlesville Wordweavers

Third Place: “Meet Me at the Kissing Post” by Marilyn Boone,  Bartlesville Wordweavers

1^st HM: “Serena and the Chocolate of Destiny” by Jenny Beverage,   MAL

Category 20 ~ SF/Fantasy/Horror Story ~ 35 Entries

Judge: Alex Miner, Seattle, WA

Category Chair: Sylvia Forbes, Arkansas Ridge Writers

First Place: “The Dog Who Swallowed the Fish” by Katherine West, Norman Galaxy of Writers

Second Place: “The Roses are Beautiful this Year” by Nancy Hartney, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Third Place: “Dear Boy” by John T. Biggs, MAL

1^st HM: “The Price of Blood” by Susan Cogan, Norman Galaxy of Writers

2^nd HM: “Communion” by Kelly Bristow, The Inklings

3^rd HM: “Unholy Ground” by Natasha Hanova, Midwest Pen & Ink

Category 21  ~  Prose Humor  ~  39 Entries

Judge: Carol Shenold, Bethany, OK

Category Chair: Janet Bradburn, Web Writing Wonders

First Place: “Loving a Cowboy is Like Running with Scissors” by Nequita Hanna, Tulsa Night Writers

Second Place: “Nap Strike” by Jennifer McMurrain, Bartlesville Wordweavers

Third Place: “The Family of Potticus” by Katherine West, Norman Galaxy of Writers

1^st HM: “Lather, Rinse, Repeat” by Heather Davis, Bartlesville Wordweavers

2^nd HM: “The Exchange” by Cathy Collar, Bartlesville Wordweavers

3^rd HM: “Interstate Salvation” by John T. Biggs, MAL

Category 22  ~  Essay  ~  35 Entries

Judge: Eric Reitan, Stillwater, OK

Category Chair: Arlene Graber, Kansas Writers Association

First Place: “A Creed for Creed” by Angela Peters, MAL

Second Place: “A Lapse in Judgment” by Tracy Paul, Writers of the Woodlands

Third Place: “How Long Did It Take?” by Gayleen Rabakukk, MAL

1^st HM: “Poll Axed” by Neal Huffaker, Norman Galaxy of Writers

2^nd HM: “One Man’s Art” by Martha Lea Bryant, The Inklings

3^rd HM: “It’s a Sickness” by Heather Davis, Bartlesville  Wordweavers

Category 23  ~  Play/Film/TV Script  ~  12 Entries

Category Sponsor: Barbara Shepherd and Maria Veres and Family

In memory of Monte Shepherd, son of Barbara Shepherd

Judge: Terry Phelps, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Sylvia Forbes, Arkansas Ridge Writers

First Place: “The First One Hundred Days” by Darrell D. Bartell, Fort Worth Writers

Second Place: “Elysian Fields” by Linda Marshall, MAL

Third Place: “Anything Less Than Beautiful” by Eric Reitan, MAL

1^st HM: “The Band You’re About to Hear” by R.C. Neighbors, Student

Category 24 ~  Technical/How-To Article  ~  18 Entries

Judge: Barbara Rollins, Abilene, TX

Category Chair: Arlene Graber, Kansas Writers Association

First Place: “Pressure’s On!” by Beth Stephenson, Red Dirt Writers

Second Place: “International Travel with Children” by Jodi Thompson, MAL

Third Place: “It’s a Win Win: How to Make Credit Cards Pay You” by Christine Jarmola, Bartlesville Wordweavers

1^st HM: “More Meal, Less Mess” by Rhonda Franz, Writers Guild of America

Category 25  ~  Feature Article  ~  16 Entries

Judge: Mary-Lane Kamberg, Olathe, KS

Category Chair: DesJean Jones, Member at Large

First Place: “Going Off the Beaten Path in Hawaii” by Michael Varhola, MAL

Second Place: “Spokane: City for All Seasons” by Bernadine Wells, Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.

Third Place: “The Kings of Copper” by Dianne McCartney, Rose Rock wRiters

1^st HM: “Full Disclosure Mom Hits the Big City” by Heather Davis, Bartlesville Wordweavers

Category 26  ~  Western Article  ~  9 Entries

(OWFI contest rules require 10 entries before awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards)

Judge: Sandy Whiting, Park City, KS

Category Chair: DesJean Jones, Member at Large

HONORABLE MENTION: “Giddy Up, Japanese Style!” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

Category 27  ~  Inspirational  ~  33 Entries

Category Sponsor: Bernadine Wells Memoriam

Judge: Kendra Bonnett, Milbridge, ME

Category Chair: DesJean Jones, Member at Large

First Place: “On Chairs Stacked to Heaven” by Marilyn Boone, Bartlesville Wordweavers

Second Place: “Out of the Blue” by Cathy Collar, Bartlesville Wordweavers

Third Place: “Who Signed Me Up for This?” by Nequita Hanna, Tulsa Night Writers

1^st HM: “Healing my Secondary Trauma” by Kelly Roberts, Red Dirt Writers Society

2^nd HM: “The Big C” by Una Belle Townsend, MAL

3^rd HM: “Burma Born, American Made” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

Category 28 ~ Column Award ~ 12 Entries

Judge: Mari Farthing, Oklahoma City, OK

Category Chair: Debbie Smart, Member at Large

First Place: “Apocalypse Farm” by Sharon Martin, MAL

Second Place: “Watch Your Language” by Kathleen Park, Norman Galaxy of Writers

Third Place: “Minivan Momma” by Heather Smith, Bartlesville Wordweavers

1^st HM: “Making Crime Pay” by Faith Wiley, MAL

Category 29  ~  Nostalgia  ~  36 Entries

Category Sponsor: Bernadine Wells Memoriam

Judge: Matilda Butler, Corvallis, OR

Category Chair: Ginny Greene, Clyde, TX

First Place: “Red Shoes” by Brenda Black, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Second Place: “Rodeo Gold” by Martha Lea Bryant, The Inklings

Third Place: “Black Bird” by Laura Popp, Tulsa Night Writers

1^st HM “America’s Team” by Martha Heady, MAL

2^nd HM: “Meeting Grandfather” by Christine Jarmola, Bartlesville Wordweavers

3^rd HM: “Growing Pains” by Beth Stephenson, Red Dirt Writers Society

Trophy Awards

Category 30  ~  Published Juvenile Book   ~  10 Entries

Judge: Anna Myers, Chandler, OK

Category Chair: Patty Stith, Arkansas Ridge Writers

The Great Elephant Escape

Una Belle Townsend, MAL

Category 31  ~  Published Nonfiction Book  ~  10 Entries

Judge: Lela Davidson, Rogers, AR

Category Chair: Patty Stith, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Writing Alchemy: How to Write Fast and Deep

Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett, Members at Large

Category 32  ~  Published Poetry Book  ~  6 Entries

Judge: Carol Hamilton, Midwest City, OK

Category Chair: Patty Stith, Arkansas Ridge Writers

Hanging the Curveball

Ron Wallace, Red River Writers

Category 33  ~  Published Fiction Book  ~ 21 Entries

Judge: Malena Lott, Edmond, OK

Category Chair: Patty Stith, Arkansas Ridge Writers

End of the Trail

Vickie McDonough, Tulsa Night Writers

Crème de la Crème Award

Sponsored by

Bernadine Wells Memoriam

“Loving a Cowboy is Like Running with Scissors”

Category 21: Prose Humor

Nequita Han na

Tulsa Night Writers

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Judges: Vickie Malone Kennedy, 2011 Crème de la Crème Winner

Sandra Soli, Oklahoma Book Award Winner

Carolyn Wall, Oklahoma Book Award Winner

All first-place entries were read anonymously

during the judging process for this award.

This year’s Crème de la Crème Award is presented by the Bernadine Wells Memoriam. Donors to this fund include Ilene Wahl, Lee Hudson, Loretta J. Parks, Angela D. Reid, Christine L. Boerner, and the OWFI Scholarship Fund.

Bernadine Wells passed away from complications of the flu on February 2, 2013, just two weeks shy of her 92nd birthday. An Honorary Life Member of Oklahoma City Writers, Bernadine moved to Washington about 10 years ago to be with her daughter. Many of her writings were published in magazines and she was a frequent contest winner. She was always willing to help beginning writers.

Bernadine was busy writing right up until the last. There were several unfinished articles on her computer. Bernadine really enjoyed the friends she met through OWFI and Oklahoma City Writers.

46th Annual Conference May 1-3, 2014

 

Location to be determined

Next Board Meeting is September 8, 2014 at 2 PM