Joseph Crossen wins 2014 Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest
Cat & Mouse Press has announced the winners of the 2014 Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest. The contest sought beach reads set in Rehoboth that fit the theme The Boardwalk. The 25 stories selected will appear in a book the company will publish later this year.
The book resulting from last year’s contest, "The Beach House," has been a best seller at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, the contest sponsor and the only bookstore outlet for the Rehoboth Beach Reads books. Locals and visitors alike enjoy reading the stories, which mention many local streets, restaurants, hotels, and activities.
The first-place winner for the 2014 contest is Joseph Crossen of Dover, who also had a story in "The Beach House." The story he submitted this year, The Case of the Artist’s Stain, is a clever tale that brings legendary detective Sherlock Holmes to Rehoboth. Crossen received the $500 cash prize sponsored by Browseabout. Second prize went to Tiffany Schultz for her story, The Keepers, in which fans of a home makeover show learn what in life is worth keeping. Third prize was given to Dennis Lawson for his story, No Business at the Beach. Area residents may remember that Lawson’s noir story from "The Beach House," Fair Warning, was made into a radio drama which aired on Delmarva Public Radio and can be listened to at http://delmarvapublicradio.net/post/delmarva-today-writers-edition-13.
The six judges for the Rehoboth Beach Reads contest each chose a story they felt deserved special merit. Authors whose stories won judge’s awards include Sandy Donnelly, Jen Epler, Matthew Hastings, Chris Jacobsen, Keith Phillips, and Renay Regardie.
Other writers whose stories were selected for "The Boardwalk" include: Terri Clifton, Bob Davis, Heather Lynne Davis, Robin Glanden, Kimberly Gray, Elizabeth Harner, Cathy Heller, Mary Ann Hillier, Margaret Kirby, Trish Kocher, Bruce Krug, Emily Littleton, Nancy Michelson, Russell Reece, Judy Shandler, and David Strauss.
Judges for the 2014 contest were Rich Barnett, Sarah Barnett (no relation to Rich), Lisa Graff, Kristen Gramer, Alex Colevas and Ramona DeFelice Long.
The Rehoboth Beach Reads Short Story Contest invites writers to submit short pieces of fiction or nonfiction that are entertaining, interesting, humorous, or just plain fun. Each story must incorporate the year’s theme and also have a strong connection to Rehoboth Beach. A panel of judges selects the best entries, which are published in a paperback book. "The Boardwalk" will be for sale at Browseabout Books later this year.
For more information on the contest and on books published by Cat & Mouse Press, go to www.catandmousepress.com and follow at www.facebook.com/catandmousepress.
