The 2012 LAURA Finalists!

Women Writing the West and The LAURA Committee, which includes myself, President Pam Tartaglio, and Past President Suzanne Lyon is proud to present the five finalists for the 2012 LAURA Short Fiction Contest. The 2012 Finalists, alphabetized by title are:

"At the Thirty-Fourth Latitude" by Sheila MacAvoy
"Elvira" by Liz Duckworth
"Grub Line Rider" by Anne Schroeder
"Pueblo Dancer" by Leslee Breen
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"Todas Las Madres" by Karen Stevenson

Short story author and creative writing instructor Melodie Johnson Howe will serve as the Final Judge. She will select the first, second and third place winners and two Honorable Mentions.The five authors will be recognized with award certificates at the LAURA Dinner on Friday, October 19 at the WWW Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At this time, we will announce the placement of the finalists.

For more information about our Final Judge, Melodie Johnson Howe, please click on the LAURA Application button on our website.

A big congratulations to our finalists!

Erin S. Gray
2012 Women Writing the West President Elect
www.erinsgray.com

What I'm reading now: The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton

I just finished The Forgotten Garden, and thinking about allegory. There are several themes in the novel, Eliza's fairy tales connecting to the plot, for one. But what really intrigued me was character names. Eliza Makepeace, always wanting to make things right, the more obvious one. But Rose, striving for perfection, and Ivory, representing purity, even under scandalous circumstances. What are your thoughts? And if you haven't read this novel yet, download or pick it up today!

Women Writing the West

Where Have I Been?

I know I haven't posted on here lately, and I have a beautiful excuse. Elliot Eero Gray was born November, 21, 2011. I also went from working full-time outside of the home to hitting the keys on my laptop again. Its a refreshing feeling to be kept from a good night's sleep because of fantastic writing ideas and a gorgeous little boy. Expect to see more posts in the future!

Women Writing the West and the LAURA Journal.

As President-Elect for Women Writing the West, a non-profit association of writers and other professionals writing and promoting the Women's West, I act as the LAURA Short Fiction Awards Coordinator. The 2011-2012 winning short stories are currently up on the website. There are five fantastic stories to read, just the perfect length to click on and read from your phone while waiting to pick up the kiddos or to get in those last few minutes of reading before bed.

I am honored to be the coordinator for the LAURA Awards and to be a member of this prestigious writing community.

Please take a few minutes to check out the website: www.womenwritingthewest.org

On-line Interview

Check out Creativity Portal to read an interview about how I manage my writing while also being a full-time mom. Fun pictures and GREAT Website for all writers / artists.


http://www.creativity-portal.com/bc/molly.childers/careers-gray.html

Above Timberline

the wind carries a prayer-on the
breath of a blooming mountain willow,
the rush of a river bed, below the
beat of a hoof.

And in the creak of a saddle,
There I am.

On a crisp morning with
coffee steam rising
and the chatter of a magpie,
the crackle of campfire,

There I am.

For a memory may be no more tangible than
wrapping your arms around love
But no less real.

It is the end of the day-the sun
finally rests behind the
peaks of a mountain valley.
There I am.

Erin Jameson Gray
For Papa