The Utah Division of Arts & Museums has chosen 22 writers in seven categories as the winners of the 60th annual Utah Original Writing Competition. The winners were selected from a total of 195 entries from Utah-based writers.

Manuscripts were reviewed in a blind process by judges who reside outside of Utah. First- and second-place winners are awarded prize money ranging from $150 to $1,000, depending on the category.

A day celebrating Utah writers and the Original Writing Competition will take place on Saturday, November 3, 2017, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Glendale Branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library. There will be an awards ceremony and readings by 2017 competition winners.

Past winners of the Utah Original Writing Competition include four past Utah Poets Laureate, including David Lee, Ken Brewer, Katharine Coles, and Lance Larsen. Expect to see some of this year’s winners at upcoming READ LOCAL Onsite events.

Winners
Category A: Novel, judged by Benjamin Reed

• First Place: Lightheaded, by Shane Camoin (Salt Lake City)
• Second Place: Thoughts and Prayers, by Sydney Husseman (Layton)
• Honorable Mention: The Birds of Eurasia, by James Ure (Salt Lake City)

Category B: Creative Nonfiction Book, judged by Darlin’ Neal

• First Place: Walking Through Walls, by Michelle Forstrom (Provo)
• Second Place: Cold Desert, by David Pace (Salt Lake City)
• Honorable Mention: Terroir: Essays on Otherness, by Natasha Saje (Salt Lake City)

Category C: Book-length Collection of Poetry, judged by Sidney Wade

• First Place: After Earth, by Michael Lavers (Provo)
• Second Place: Easy Street, by Cindy King (St. George)
• Honorable Mention: Lily or Bone, by Kim Welliver (Kearns)
• Honorable Mention: Utah Reclamation Project, by Amy Brunvand (Salt Lake City)

Category D: Children’s Book, judged by Rachel Searles

• First Place: B&T Detective Agency, by Lori Seppi (North Salt Lake)
• Second Place: The Solitary, by Courtney Cope (Provo)
• Honorable Mention: Mrs. Hecht Will Give You Heck, by Sabrina Vienneau (Salt Lake City)

Category E: Poetry, judged by Andrew McFayden-Ketchum

• First Place: “Thriving,” by Kim Welliver (Kearns)
• Second Place: “Circadian,” by Danielle Dubrasky (Cedar City)
• Honorable Mention: “Topography of Light,” by Pam Tucker (Washington)

Category F: Short Story, judged by Martin Cloutier

• First Place: “Through a Glass but Darkly,” by Daniel Robertson (Provo)
• Second Place: “Bombay Curry Kitchen,” by Ranjan Adiga (Salt Lake City)
• Honorable Mention: “Rescue Dog,” by Coleton Smith (Draper)

Category G: Creative Nonfiction Essay, judged by Joseph Rein

• First Place: “War and Peace. And Music,” by Gerald Elias (Salt Lake City)
• Second Place: “Leaven,” by Sunni Wilkinson (Ogden)
• Honorable Mention: “Juliet,” by Danielle Dubrasky (Cedar City)

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UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.