Rehoboth short story contest winners announced

Cat & Mouse Press has announced the winning stories for the 2017 Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest. The stories will be published later this year as an anthology titled “Beach Life.”

The annual contest, which is sponsored by Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, invites writers to submit short beach reads that fit the year's theme.

Entries are judged on creativity, quality of writing, suitability as a beach read and fit with the theme. The first-place winner receives $500, second place $250, third place $100, and the top stories are published in book form.

The six judges who selected the winning stories are Stephanie Fowler, Barbara Lockhart, Laurel Marshfield, Mary Pauer, William Peak and Judith Reveal.

The winning stories and their authors are:

“Some Girls,” Michael Sprouse, Lewes, first place.
”Not in My World,” Kathleen Martens, Rehoboth Beach, second place.
”The Stranger and the Horseshoe,” Alex Hannah, Washington, D.C., third place - tie.
”The Bomber Jacket,” Jackson Coppley, Rehoboth Beach, Chevy Chase, Md., third place - tie.

“Lefty and the Empty Bucket of Fries,” Tony Houck, Fredericksburg, Va., Judge’s Award.
”Rearrangements,” Marie Lathers, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Judge’s Award.
”Ralphie to the Rescue,” Carl Schiessl, Windsor Locks, Conn., Judge's Award.
”The Bench,” Jenny Scott, Greenwood, Judge's Award.
”The Nereid's Wedding,” Elizabeth Michaelson Monaghan, New York, NY, Judge's Award.
”The Swimsuit Issue,” Chris Jacobsen, Rose Valley, Pa., Judge's Award.

“A Day in the Life,” David Strauss, Bel Air, Md.
”A Beautifully Disturbing Day at the Beach,” John Edmonds, Rehoboth Beach.
”And the Sea Hath Spoken,” Darryl Forrest, Fairfax, Va.
”Bottleneck at Hole 14,” Renay Regardie, Key West, Fla., and Washington, D.C.
”Hole in One,” Amanda Linehan, Frederick, Md.
”Life Starts on Tiptoes,” Lonn Braender, Washington Crossing, Pa.
”Secrets,” Amber Tamosaitis, Delmar.
”The Boy on the Bike,” Susan Miller, Arlington, Va.
”The Fog,” Linda Chambers, Baltimore.
”We Found Buried Pirate Treasure,” Doug Harrel, Wilmington.
”The Mime's Niece,” Emily Zasada, Fairfax, Va.
”The Shot Shared Round the World,” Joy Givens, Pittsburgh, Pa.
”The Sweet Truth,” Jeanie P. Blair, Newark.
”The Understudy,” Theresa Kuenzer, Pennsburg, Pa.
”Too Many Hemmingways,” Joe Crossen, Dover.

For more information, go to www.catandmousepress.com and www.writingisashorething.com.