We are thrilled to announce the winners for this year’s American Short(er) Fiction Prize, judged by Danielle Dutton. Thank you to everyone who submitted. The winning stories will be published in the magazine’s summer issue.
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First-Place Prize:
“Time of the Testudinidae” by Kirstin Allio
Judge Danielle Dutton writes, “On each reading, this puzzling gem-like story continues to surprise me, its language a knotty delight.”
Kirstin Allio is the author of the novels Garner (Coffee House Press, 2005) and Buddhism for Western Children (University of Iowa Press, 2018), and the short story collection Clothed, Female Figure (Dzanc, 2016). She lives in Providence, RI. https://www.kirstinallio.com
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Second-Place Prize:
“All These Words” by Meg Pinto
“On the surface this story feels playful, even whimsical,” writes Dutton, “but inside all the puzzles and lists is an internal fairy tale that moved me.”
Meg Pinto has been a documentary scriptwriter, an essayist, a poet, and a fiction writer. Her work has appeared in literary magazines and in a book on Rome in the era of the Romantics. She’s an editor and teacher who’s taught in universities, affordable housing settings, and the New York public schools, with an MFA from the University of Massachusetts. She divides her time between New York and Western Massachusetts, and often accompanies her husband when his work takes him to Italy.
Danielle Dutton (judge) is the author of Margaret the First, SPRAWL, and Attempts at a Life. Her work has also appeared in Harper’s, BOMB, Fence, Noon
Congratulations to the winners, and many thanks to Danielle Dutton!
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While our Short(er) Fiction contest is now closed, The Halifax Ranch Prize contest is currently accepting submissions and will be judged by acclaimed author Rebecca Makkai. The deadline for submission is June 15, 2019. Click here for more information on how to submit your work.