UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS) is pleased to share the finalists of the 2022 Okanagan Short Story Contest.
The Okanagan Short Story Contest awards the best new short stories by fiction writers in the Southern Interior of British Columbia: east of Hope, west of the Alberta border, north of the US border and south of Williams Lake. Past winners have gone on to publish with Penguin Random House, Arsenal Pulp Press, and NeWest Press, as well as numerous magazines and journals nationally and internationally.
A total of 121 short story entries were submitted for the adult category, and 70 stories for the high school category.
“It is exciting to see so many entries from all over the region,” says FCCS professor Nancy Holmes. “We are looking forward to see who will take home the prizes!”
Shortlisted authors: adult category
- Steven Lattey – Vernon, B.C.
- Shawn Bird – Salmon Arm, B.C.
- Amber Nuyens – Lake Country, b.C
- Debra Kennedy – Cranbrook, B.C.
- Anthea McLean – West Kelowna, B.C.
- Ximena Gordillo Cruz – Kelowna, B.C.
- Sid Ruhland – Oliver, B.C.
- Laura Foisy – Cherryville, B.C.
- Stephanie Plumb – Kelowna, B.C.
- Kristin Burns – Vernon, B.C.
- Manjinder Sidhu-Kong – Penticton, B.C.
Shortlisted authors: high school category
- Kai Greenhough – Kelowna, B.C.
- Mae Glerum – Kelowna, B.C.
- Olivia Bagnall – West Kelowna, B.C.
- Brooke-Lynn Andersson – Penticton, B.C.
- Annika Crum – Vernon, B.C.
- Frances Myers Lynch – Nelson, B.C.
Fun facts about a few of our finalists: Kristin Burns is a UBCO MFA alumna, and received second place in the 2021 contest. Manjinder Sidhu-Kong is a current MFA student. Amber Nuyens is a current UBCO student, and has just been accepted into the MFA program at UVIC. Steve Lattey has been a finalist in the past. Shawn Bird has been shortlisted three times before and is a UBC MEd alumnus.
FCCS is offering cash prizes to the top three stories—$1,000, $400 and $200; the first prize winner also wins a one-week retreat at The Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre in Kelowna. The top story by a high school student receives a cash prize of $200. Co-sponsors of the contest are FCCS, TD and the Central Okanagan Foundation.
Winning submissions will be selected by FCCS Writer in Residence, Naben Ruthnum, who will announce the final four writers at the March 31st event.
The free, one-hour public event takes place Thursday, March 31st, at the Okanagan Regional Library, downtown Kelowna, 1380 Ellis St., starting at 7:00 p.m.
There is no need to register, please note that public health orders will be followed and vaccine passports will be checked upon entry to the space.