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NONFICTION (nature or environmental essay)
First Place ($300): An Epitaph for Minor Characters by Logan Volkmann of Wenatchee, who developed an early interest in storytelling and studying wild canids. He studies creative writing and biology at Western Washington University and plans to incorporate both in wildlife research. Read it here.
Second Place ($200): "Natural Beauty" by Diane Blake of Leavenworth. Blake grew up on a wheat farm in Douglas County, thrilled by the steady stream of canvas bags delivered to her mailbox from the North Central Regional Library. Still an avid reader, she works at the Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth. Read it here.
Third Place ($100): "My Mother's Shoes" by Tascha Spears, a registered nurse from Nighthawk, Washington, near the Canadian border. Her forensic work experience in Arizona and Nevada led to publication of one clinical book, "Children Who Witness Homicide and Other Violent Crimes." Read her winning entry here.
FICTION (short narrative)
First Place ($300): "Coming Home" by Karen McHegg of Seattle. She has a degree in literature and architecture and ran a design/build business before returning to her love of writing. She is currently working on a novel about her house. Read it here.
Second Place ($200): Emma Was Here by Elizabeth Jackson of Ellensburg. She has studied at Oxford, worked in Korea and traveled on four continents. She currently works for the Washington Conservation Corps and plans next to pursue an MA degree and a teaching career. Read it here.
Third Place ($100): Sammy and the Dark, Dark Night by Aaron Baumann of Walla Walla. A student at Whitman College, he has been published in one of the college's literary journals and is on the staff of the other. He intends to continue writing fiction and poetry. Read it here.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: The judges also had praise for these strong finalists in FICTION: Jake Lodato, Malaga; Thomas Davies, Leavenworth; Joann Anderson, East Wenatchee; and NONFICTION: Ann McCreary, Winthrop; and Cynthia Neely, Leavenworth.
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to our panel of judges for the 3rd Annual Write On The River Writers' Competition. They were ...
Karen Bonaudi, on the board of the Washington Poets Association, is a consultant and teaches writing.
Amy Carlson, a travel writer, focuses on women and Asian travel for various print and online anthologies.
Mike Cassidy who started The Wenatchee Business Journal, now owns and edits The Good Life magazine.
Andy Dappen, adventure traveler and photographer, has published books and many magazine articles.
Sharon Kanareff, Alcoas HR/Public Strategy Coordinator, writes for both the government and private sector.
Dean Marney directs the North Central Regional Library and has 11 children's books published.
Jefferson Robbins is the entertainment editor of The Wenatchee Worlds Go! Magazine.
Dan Sconce is a member of the Iamblers poetry group and won a Pacific Northwest Writers Association award for his work.
Amy Shank, poet WVC teacher and Jane Austen scholar, is working on a Western novel.
Carin Smith is a veterinarian as well as a speaker and writer widely published in her field.
Michael Sarrat was active in the Bay Area Writers Project and taught college writing classes.
Richard Taylor, a screenwriter, is a former journalism professor and television documentary producer.
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