2022

OWFI CONTEST

WINNER'S LIST

679 entries from 145 contestants

CATEGORY 1 — PERSONAL BLOG

(22 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Fire, Snow, and Chocolate — Barbara Shepherd — Hunt and Peck

SECOND PLACE — Reduce, Reuse, Remember — Melissa Heath-Lee — McAlester's McSherry Writers

THIRD PLACE — All I Wanted Was a Hamburger — Pepper Hume — Bartlesville WordWeavers

First Honorable Mention — Two Balloons — Aleasha Wales Shelnutt — Member at Large

Second Honorable Mention — Clumsiest Person in the World — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

Third Honorable Mention — A Dog Named Wide Load — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

Fourth Honorable Mention — When Someone Tarnishes Your Shie — Dee Dee Chumley — The Inklings

CATEGORY 2 — ESSAY

(24 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Let Go — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

SECOND PLACE — Mountain or Molehill — Billie Holladay Skelley — Member at Large

THIRD PLACE — Crash! Slide! Bam! — Mary-Lane Kamberg — Kansas City Writers Group

First Honorable Mention — The Season is the Reason — Sid Martin — Tulsa NightWriters

Second Honorable Mention — To Inherit is Human - But Then What — Mary Lou Moran — Member at Large

CATEGORY 3 — MEMOIR/NOSTALGIA

(34 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — The White Duckling — Brian Francis O'Dea — Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers

SECOND PLACE — The King of Left Field — J. Allen Harris — Member at Large

THIRD PLACE — Stories In The Heartland — Sue McMurphy — Writers of the Purple Sage

First Honorable Mention — Ahoy, Robin Hood — Mary Ellen Main — Writers of the Purple Sage

SECOND Honorable Mention — Eating High on the Hog Food — Kelly Bristow — The Inklings

THIRD Honorable Mention — If This Pen Could Talk — Peggy Chambers — Enid Writers Club

CATEGORY 4 — PROSE HUMOR

(24 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Mr. Fix-It Strikes Again — Mary Lou Moran — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — Then Singer Sewing Club — Dee Dee Chumley — The Inklings

THIRD PLACE — But It's All Downhill — Sharon J. Wilson — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — Switched — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

SECOND Honorable Mention — Reality Magazines — Russell Gayer — Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers

CATEGORY 5 — SCRIPT: FILM, PLAY, OR TV

(15 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Ripped — Everett Robert — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — The Job — H.B. Berlow — Rose Rock wRiters

THIRD PLACE — Waltzing Matilda — Bob Hargrove — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — Knock Knock — Stephen Patrick — Member at Large

SECOND Honorable Mention — Gizella's Big Day — Melissa Heath-Lee — McAlester's McSherry Writers

THIRD Honorable Mention — Heard It In A Love Song — Dona Walton — Member at Large

CATEGORY 6 ARTICLE: INSPIRATIONAL

(20 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — The Dilemma of Bird Feeding JW Coop — Peter B. Tirrell — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — Saving Bridgett — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

THIRD PLACE — The Place Where the Heart Should Be — Kelly Bristow — The Inklings

First Honorable Mention — When One Door Closes, Just Jump Through the Window — Aleasha Wales Shelnutt — Member at Large

Second Honorable Mention — Heavenly Helpers in Hawaii — Sally Jadlow — Kansas City Writers Group

Third Honorable Mention — The Motherhood Matrix — Dianne McCartney — Rose Rock wRiters

Fourth Honorable Mention — The Wedding Game — Billie Holladay Skelley — Member at Large

CATEGORY 7 — ARTICLE: NON-FICTION FEATURE

(18 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Karaoke 365 — F. Ray Gaskin — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — Tragedy at Buffalo Creek — Billie Holladay Skelley — Member at Large

THIRD PLACE — The Frontier Photographer — Carolyn B. Leonard — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

First Honorable Mention — Happy Trails — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

CATEGORY 8 — ARTICLE: TECHNICAL OR HOW-TO

(12 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Pet Experts Bark About the Top Healthy Dog Treats   — Amy Shojai — Rose Rock wRiters

SECOND PLACE — Beware the DNA  — Lisbeth L. McCarty — Norman Galaxy of Writers

THIRD PLACE — Orbital Power Plants   — Richard D. Sadok — Bartlesville WordWeavers

First Honorable Mention — Getting Deep Into Translations with DeepL  — Bre Lockhart — Tulsa Writers Syndicate

CATEGORY 9 — POETRY: RHYMED SHORT

(41 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — I Lie Awake — Mary Ellen Main — Writers of the Purple Sage

SECOND PLACE — How Brave is a Bell — J.W. Rose — Bartlesville WordWeavers

THIRD PLACE — Working from Home: 2020 — Alice Collinsworth — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — Stopping by Woods for a Tasty Morsel — Mary-Lane Kamberg — Kansas City Writers Group

SECOND Honorable Mention — Bedtime Stories — Holly Jahangiri — Invite to Write

THIRD Honorable Mention — At the Bazaar — Dee Dee Chumley — The Inklings

CATEGORY 10 — POETRY: RHYMED LONG

(39 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Survivor — Jude Bayton — Central Region Oklahoma Writers

SECOND PLACE — The Cycle — Connie Palmer — Tulsa NightWriters

THIRD PLACE — Tonight — Haleigh Diann — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — Late December 31, 2021 — Martha K. Draper — Enid Writers Club

Second Honorable Mention — The Feast — Aleasha Wales Shelnutt — — — Member at Large

Third Honorable Mention — The Man — Glenda Benefield — Ada Writer's Group

Fourth Honorable Mention — Wordle for Seniors — Alice Collinsworth — Member at Large

CATEGORY 11 — POETRY: UNRHYMED SHORT

(46 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Iron Spirit — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

SECOND PLACE — Monarchs and Their Milkweed — Natalie Rebacz — — — Bartlesville WordWeavers

THIRD PLACE — Winter Compline — Catherine Miller — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — What I Came to Say — Holly Jahangiri — Invite to Write

Second Honorable Mention — Promise — Patricia L Miller — Kansas City Writers Group

Third Honorable Mention — Echoes — Dana McLennan — Invite to Write

Fourth Honorable Mention — My Son — Jude Bayton — Central Region Oklahoma Writers

CATEGORY 12 — POETRY: UNRHYMED LONG

(49 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Looking at Photos of My Family Is like This — Roxana L Cazan — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — Starlight Corona — Melissa Heath-Lee — McAlester's McSherry Writers

THIRD PLACE — It Always Starts with the Sun — Bre Lockhart — — — Tulsa Writers Syndicate

First Honorable Mention — Undeveloped — Maria Veres — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

Second Honorable Mention — Compendium of Crazed Chicks — Dana McLennan — Invite to Write

Third Honorable Mention — Changing the Sheets — Alice Collinsworth — Member at Large

Fourth Honorable Mention — Book Swap — Dee Dee Chumley — The Inklings

CATEGORY 13 — SHORT STORY: FLASH FICTION

(46 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Third Story Window — Pepper Hume — Bartlesville WordWeavers

SECOND PLACE — Deadly Deeds — Dianne McCartney — Rose Rock wRiters

THIRD PLACE — A CALL FOR HELP — Mary Ann Kerl — McAlester's McSherry Writers

First Honorable Mention — Financial Planning — Dee Dee Chumley — The Inklings

Second Honorable Mention — All Systems Go — F. Ray Gaskin — Member at Large

Third Honorable Mention — Before It Rains — Kathleen Listman — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

Fourth Honorable Mention — Finale — Winona Bennett Cross — Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild

CATEGORY 14 — SHORT STORY-SHORT (Juvenile)

(14 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Frank the Spider — Kim Toscano — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — The Orange Bird Search — Kathlyn Smith — Tulsa NightWriters

THIRD PLACE — Edinburgh Manor — Billie Holladay Skelley — Member at Large

First Honorable Mention — Cecile's Big Wheel — D. T. Mularkey — McAlester's McSherry Writers

CATEGORY 15 — SHORT STORY: SHORT-SHORT (YOUNG ADULT)

(11 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Journey — Haleigh Baker — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — One More Chapter — Patrick McCully —  

THIRD PLACE — Rivalries — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

First Honorable Mention — Something In the Genes — Jeff Dosser — Member at Large

CATEGORY 16 — SHORT STORY: ADULT

(40 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Folks Back East — John T Biggs — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — SOME HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK — Brenda Clark Thomas — Central Region Oklahoma Writers

THIRD PLACE — The Soldier, 1836 — M. Carolyn Steele — Tulsa NightWriters

First Honorable Mention — Last Dinner at Tallahassee Bill's — Melissa Heath-Lee — McAlester's McSherry Writers

Second Honorable Mention — Apocalypse Transport — Kristin Kaldahl — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

Third Honorable Mention — The Wagon in the Weeds — Z Lee — Tulsa Writers Syndicate

Fourth Honorable Mention — Shell Shocked — Eva M Mahoney — Pen and Keyboard Writers

CATEGORY 17 — SHORT STORY: HORROR

(14 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Broken Fence — Haleigh Diann — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — Last Supper (Communion) — Kelly Bristow — The Inklings

THIRD PLACE — Cassandra's Dream — Richard D. Sadok — Bartlesville WordWeavers

First Honorable Mention — Unnoticed — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

Second Honorable Mention — The Dark Inside — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

CATEGORY 18 — SHORT STORY: SCI-FI/FANTASY

(20 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — The Decision — Clifton F. Savoy — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — VALLEY OF THE SHADOW — Brenda Clark Thomas — Central Region Oklahoma Writers

THIRD PLACE — Purslane & Pocketbooks — Holly Jahangiri — Invite to Write

First Honorable Mention — Red — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

CATEGORY 19 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: PICTURE

(15 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Why Does a Cow Say Moo? — Mary Ellen Main — Writers of the Purple Sage

SECOND PLACE — Honey Bun: World-Famous Pangolin — Meg Welch Dendler — Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers

THIRD PLACE — The Noisy Peacock — Barbara Shepherd — Hunt and Peck

First Honorable Mention — ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN — Mary Ann Kerl — McAlester's McSherry Writers

Second Honorable Mention — Blaze's Race — Peggy Chambers — Enid Writers Club

CATEGORY 20 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: MIDDLE GRADE

(11 Entries)

Entries)

FIRST PLACE — For the Love of Bandit — Sandra Byrd Lawson — Hunt and Peck

SECOND PLACE — The Camp Breckinridge Episode — Cary Herwig — Rose Rock wRiters

THIRD PLACE — The Weird Life of Chester, the Chalk Boy — Paula Benge — Enid Writers Club

First Honorable Mention — The Valley of Sinful People — Barbara Shepherd — Hunt and Peck

CATEGORY 21 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: NON-FICTION

(8 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Love Isn't Always the Answer — Shelley L. Levisay — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

SECOND PLACE — Write that Book! — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

THIRD PLACE — The Price of Passion — Kathleen Listman — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

CATEGORY 22 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: HISTORICAL FICTION

(17 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — His Captain — Stephanie Lake — McAlester's McSherry Writers

SECOND PLACE — The Cane Brake: An Oklahoma Great Depression Saga — Glenda Benefield — Ada Writer's Group

THIRD PLACE — She Rode Point — Barbara Shepherd — Hunt and Peck

First Honorable Mention — BETWEEN TWO FIRES: THE BLACK MAGIC OF THE MAGIC CITY — J.D. Colbert — Tulsa Writers Syndicate

CATEGORY 23 — UNPUBLISHED NOVEL: GRAPHIC NOVEL

NO ENTRIES

CATEGORY 24 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: MAINSTREAM

(15 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Into the Flame — Kim Toscano — Member at Large

SECOND PLACE — The Tale of the Blue Bottle Tree — Nancy Hartney — Ozark Mountains Guild of Writers

THIRD PLACE — This Is What Happens When An Old Woman Walks Into A Bar — Deborah Shouse — Kansas City Writers Group

First Honorable Mention — On the Banks of Jim Fork — Joe Scavetti — Pen and Keyboard Writers

CATEGORY 25 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: MYSTERY/SUSPENSE/THRILLER

(16 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Breathing Fire — Dianne McCartney — Rose Rock wRiters

SECOND PLACE — The Best Seller — Christina Rost — Member at Large

THIRD PLACE — The Day of Calamity — H.B. Berlow — Rose Rock wRiters

First Honorable Mention — The Merry Widow — Christine Jarmola — Bartlesville WordWeavers

CATEGORY 26 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: ROMANCE

(16 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Real Perfect — Lyr Gray — Tulsa NightWriters

SECOND PLACE — Not Enough Pigeons in Paris — Kathleen Listman — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

THIRD PLACE — Lady Jane — M. K. Davenport — Tulsa NightWriters

First Honorable Mention — Brick and Mortar — Stephanie Lake — McAlester's McSherry Writers

Second Honorable Mention — The Son of Blood and Constellations — Z Lee — Tulsa Writers Syndicate

CATEGORY 27 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: SCI-FI/FANTASY

(14 Entries)

FIRST PLACE — Betty to the Rescue — Maria Veres — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

SECOND PLACE — Reaching For Fire — Invicta — Member at Large

THIRD PLACE — The Legend of Blue Honey — Kathleen Listman — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

First Honorable Mention — Throne of Storms — Haleigh Diann — Member at Large

Second Honorable Mention — The Old Man of the Mountain — Stephen Patrick — Member at Large

Third Honorable Mention — The Parsillican Ruby — Pepper Hume — — Bartlesville WordWeavers

CATEGORY 28 — UNPUBLISHED BOOK: YOUNG ADULT

(13 Entries)

FIRST — Cemetery Sketches — Kim Toscano — Member at Large

SECOND — All the Little Things — Jennifer McMurrain — Bartlesville WordWeavers

THIRD — Secrets from None Such Road — Barbara Shepherd — Hunt and Peck

First Honorable Mention — Another Shot — Kelly Bristow — The Inklings

CATEGORY 29 — PUBLISHED BOOK: NON-FICTION TROPHY AWARD

(6 Entries)

Activities & Ideas to Enrich Young — Children's Language — Donna Castle Richardson, Ed.D — Pen and Keyboard Writers

CATEGORY 30 — PUBLISHED BOOK: JUVENILE TROPHY AWARD

(7 Entries)

Bigfoot and the Gold Star Kid — Shelley Anne Richter — Norman Galaxy of Writers

CATEGORY 31 — PUBLISHED BOOK: YOUNG ADULT TROPHY AWARD

(6 Entries)

The Not-So-Chosen One — Tamara Grantham — Oklahoma Romance Writers Guild

CATEGORY 32 — PUBLISHED BOOK: ADULT TROPHY AWARD

(24 Entries)

The Ghosts Within — Raven Lee — Bartlesville WordWeavers

CATEGORY 33 — PUBLISHED BOOK: POETRY TROPHY AWARD

(6 Entries)

Aha! and Ha-Ha — Lisbeth L. McCarty — Norman Galaxy of Writers

CATEGORY 34 — PUBLISHED BOOK: GRAPHIC NOVEL

NO ENTRIES

CATEGORY 35 — VISUAL ELEMENTS: BOOK COVER TROPHY AWARD

(10 Entries)

Crown of Light: Redemption — L.A. Willis — Rose Rock wRiters

CATEGORY 36 — VISUAL ELEMENTS: BOOK TRAILER TROPHY AWARD

(5 Entries)

The Copper Phoenix — Amy M. Le — Oklahoma City Writers Inc.

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME

Folks Back East

John T. Biggs

Member at Large