The winners of the Bucks County Short Fiction Contest, hosted and funded by Bucks County Community College, have been announced. Bob McCrillis, of Doylestown, won first place for “Hotel Oklahoma.” Megan Monforte, of Doylestown, was awarded second place for “Strawberry Moon.” Jennifer Fritch, of New Hope, captured third place for “Come Clean.” Novelist Margarita Montimore, author of Oona Out of Order and Acts of Violet, made the final selection.
A celebration will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m. in room 124 Tyler Hall, on the Newtown Campus. During the event, the winners will read from their stories. Montimore will join to discuss the creative writing process. The event is free and open to the public.
On the winning story “Hotel Oklahoma,” Montimore said, “A riveting story full of everyday people found in the center of a tense situation. The sharp dialogue, well-drawn descriptions and high stakes offer both suspense and heart. Then there’s the fantastic ending, which packs a delightful, surprising punch.”
McCrillis has used his retirement to focus on writing. He has published a novel and a short story collection on Amazon, and has other projects in the works.
The contest is open to adults who are residents of Bucks County. The winners will receive honoraria of $200, $100 and $50, respectively. Elizabeth Luciano, an associate professor at the college, is the contest administrator. A contest for high school students will be held next spring. Email Elizabeth.Luciano@bucks.edu or visit bucks.edu/academics/department/lang-lit/shortfictioncontest/ for more information.
