Writers' guild members win Delaware Press Association awards

The Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild announces that four of its members, Nancy Sakaduski, Crystal Heidel, Victor Letonoff and Maribeth Fischer, have been notified that they won first-place awards in the Delaware Press Association Communications Contest. Their work will now be sent on to compete in the 2014 National Federation of Press Women Annual Contest

Nancy Sakaduski, publisher of Cat and Mouse Press, took first place in two categories. In the category of Children’s Nonfiction Book, she was awarded first place for "A Rehoboth ABC"; she also received first place for her editing work on the short story collection "The Beach House," which comprises stories and essays gleaned from the first Rehoboth Beach Reads contest.

Also receiving first place for a book, in the category of Adult Novel, is Crystal Heidel, author of "Still Life in Blood," a Delaware State Police Homicide Unit Mystery, the first in a series. Heidel worked on "Still Life" for nearly 10 years, doing extensive research and honing the book chapter by chapter in the guild’s novel workshops. “I’m thrilled with this award,” Heidel said. “Writing the book was easy compared to the difficulties of marketing it, so being able to cite this award helps enormously!”

Victor Letonoff, a sergeant with the Rehoboth Beach Police, was awarded first place for a feature story in a print magazine or newsletter. Suicide by Cop, which appeared in the July 2013 issue of Delaware Today, is Letonoff’s first published piece. He’s working on a number of essays about other police-related experiences and currently has a feature in Delaware Beach Life magazine about a controversial incident that went viral on YouTube last April.

Finally, Maribeth Fischer, received first place for her short story, “Rehoboth” which appeared in the June 2013 issue of Delaware Beach Life. The story is a love story, Fischer says, or maybe a love letter to the town of Rehoboth. “It stemmed from my constant awareness that I live in a town that others dream of visiting all year,” she said.

For more information about the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild, go to www.rehobothbeachwritersguild.com. Click on the Our Writers tab to read complete bios.