Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Announces Winner of 2009 Short Fiction Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 16, 2009

“1969,” written by Brooklyn-based writer Robin Martin, has taken top honors in the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival’s inaugural fiction-writing contest, announced executive director Paul Willis. The contest, open to short fiction works no longer than 7.000 words, was judged by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford.

“In ‘1969’ the essential and eternal love story is told through the experience of two teenagers,” says Martin. “On the surface they fall in love and drift apart, neither innocence nor beauty lasts but as [character] Aggie Wells says, ‘If you keep something in your memory, then it will always exist; memory is proof of existence.’” Continued »

Congratulations to Robin Martin, winner of our first annual Fiction Writing Contest. Robin's winning story entry is forthcoming in the New Orleans Review, November 2009. Robin read her story at the 2009 Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, discussing her work onstage with the final round judge of the contest, Pulitzer-winning writer Richard Ford.

Competition takes place right after sign-up. Each entrant competes by calling " "Stella!" (or "Stanley!") three times. Loudness counts, but contestants should also portray Stanley’s angst and emotion. Finalists selected in the outdoor portion of the contest compete on the main stage of Le Petit Theatre for the grand prize. Prizes include bowling passes to New Orleans’ famed Rock-n-Bowl for all participants, Festival "Tenn-abelia," gift certificates for local restaurants and attractions, and the Golden Stella trophies. The Golden Stella statuette holds a large star aloft and is given to the top three winners. Plus there are certificates; what’s not to love?