Talk about intense competition! So many awesome tales for fellow judges Sheri Yutzy, Laura L. Zimmerman, and I to choose from. Narrowing them down was difficult.
The top three spots were hotly contested, but we finally selected the winning entries for our flash fiction contest.
First Place: Sam Graber, with Starfinder’s Sacrifice
Somehow, I missed this entry the first time I read through the stories. As soon as I read it, however, I knew I’d found my first choice. The quick action and high stakes grabbed my attention right away. And the ending!
Favourite line? Starlight thrums through my veins.
Second Place: Maggie Graber, with A Million Heartbeats
This narrative shows off a perfect YA voice. Not to mention quirky details (how’d she fit so much characterization in such a short story?!?), a dynamic brother/sister relationship, and hints of trauma and isolation. Plus, it has all the feels!
Favourite line? Above me stretches the ceiling of heaven itself, a vast canopy of inky, fathomless darkness pierced by thousands and thousands of pure white lights.
Third Place: Catherine Hinkle, with Bones of Cobalt Blue
I loved the imagery in this story. Such a strong setting that swept me into the moment! The themes of love and loss are palpable. I feel like there’s so much more that could explored with the two characters, and I was sad to finish reading!
Favourite line? Unfurling her wings, she soared high in the currents, where stars whispered of hope.
We were thrilled with the response to this contest and appreciated each story we received. Some amazing talent out there. We hope you keep reaching for the stars!
Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island in a town filled with thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering your identity, living without fear, and enjoys creating fantastic worlds. Her unpublished YA fantasy, The Two Queens of Kyrie, won both the American Christian Fiction Writer’s 2015 First Impressions contest and the 2016 Genesis contest. She loves coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and harbours a secret penchant for British spelling.
jebraunclifford.com 
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