Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
We had a tremendous response to our annual writing contest, and I want to thank everyone who submitted. This year we received 177 submissions, almost double from last year. Listed below are the winners along with five honorable mentions. All eight stories will appear in a special issue of Gooseberry Pie on May 8, 2025.
Here’s a message from our wonderful guest judge, Melissa Llanes Brownlee.
Dearest Readers of Gooseberry Pie,
Thank you so much to everyone who entered Gooseberry Pie’s 2nd Annual Contest! I was blown away by the shortlist and can only imagine how difficult it was for Jeff to narrow down all of your amazing entries to just 15 micros. Even within the shortlist, the way every writer approached my prompt was inventive and inspirational. I was so grateful for the speculative elements as well as the contemplative. I wish I could have chosen all of you for first place. Truly. I hope that you enjoy all of the pieces I have selected and congratulations to Sumitra, Tiffany, and Kathryn as well as to the honorable mentions: Dawn, Eileen, Ani, Christine, and Jessica!
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Melissa
First Place: “The Undulating Movement of The Predatory Arthropod at the 10-Year College Reunion” by Sumitra Singam
Second Place: “Chitin” by Tiffany Harris
Third Place: “How to Plant a Garden in the Apocalypse” by Kathryn Kulpa
Honorable Mention (alphabetical order)
- “Girl, you ain’t missing nothing” by Dawn Tasaka Steffler
- “Goat Song” by Eileen Tomarchio
- “Love Buzz Cut, a Story About a Girl” by Ani King
- “Secret Recipe” by Christine H. Chen
- “This Is Very Concerning” by Jessica Klimesh
