Bardsy Anthology Contest Finalists
May 6, 2024:
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Bardsy Anthology Contest Finalists
Our most recent First Chapter Anthology Contest had many spectacular submissions, but these nine finalists stood out from the crowd. Each of these skilled writers has worked tirelessly, taking their editors' feedback to heart and revising until their first chapters weren't just good, but great.
Their hard work and willingness to receive and implement feedback sets an excellent example. Many are becoming outstanding members of our writing community and we are delighted to have them. To read their first chapters in their entirety, click the anthology cover, and to learn more about these talented writers, keep reading!
THE WILD TURKEYS OF PEACOCK GAP by Dan Bacon
When the birds’ beady eyes locked onto Tom, it seemed as if they
were looking through his outer appearance, through his flesh and
blood, and deep into his core. What did they see? he wondered.
Could they somehow sense his failure to sell a property in the last
eighteen months? Or his nearly depleted bank account? Or his
maxed-out credit cards? Or the letters he’d hidden from his wife
threatening foreclosure on their big, beautiful home?
Daniel Bacon lives just north of San Francisco with his wife and a rambunctious goldendoodle named Romeo. While not writing or taking long walks in the wilds of Marin County, Daniel leads tours of the Barbary Coast Trail, San Francisco’s official historical walk. Daniel has been
published in Hemispheres Magazine, Where Magazine, and Library Journal. He is currently working on his third novel, a mystery set in 1st-century Judea.
THE AMBUSH by Megan Clayton
“My father would never promise me to a monster like you.”
The words came out breathier than intended.
“Wouldn’t he, though? This is the aristocracy, my dear. Daughters of
wealthy, ambitious men are a commodity. Baron Mansfield
is ever an opportunist. Honestly, who wouldn’t want
their daughter to be a duchess?”
Megan Clayton writes about carriages, corsets, and headstrong heroines. With a BA in accounting from the University of Houston, and a JD from
South Texas College of Law, Megan focuses on family law when not writing historical romance. When she's neither wielding words to help clients nor
crafting tales of love and scandal, you'll find her galloping astride on horseback (oh, my!) or romping through Houston with her husband and
perfectly precarious five-year-old mini-me.
IN LOVING MEMORY by Gabriel Fowler
She held my gaze for as long as she could before bursting,
a fit of laughter rippling through us both. It was odd being in a
memory and knowing it. Is this how everyone feels when they
Re-member? The most interesting part was that this was how we
met, but this wasn’t the conversation we had. Can I rewrite
history in my own mind? I wondered.
By day, Gabriel Fowler, an Upstate New York native, embraces the role of a
stay-at-home dad, while by night, he dives into the culinary world as a private chef. Alongside his loving spouse and two dogs, he enjoys
navigating the complexities of family life. Beyond the kitchen, Gabriel captivates readers with his novel Remember Me, which can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other online book platforms. Currently working in diverse genres, from fantasy to crime thrillers, Gabriel can be found at gabrielfowler.com.
THE GODS ARE DEAD by Fiona Larocque
Calista didn’t approve of the Lottery, as much as Xander seemed to
think she was fine with it. It was barbaric and tragic, killing
children to protect themselves. But she had learned first-hand what
happened when the Lottery wasn’t completed, and she never
wanted another child to endure what she had.
Fiona Larocque is a full-time university student majoring in English
at Carleton University. Rarely ever found separated from her trusty
headphones, Fiona can often be found with a book in her hand or
experimenting with a new recipe. A proud cat enthusiast, she lives
in the Ottawa Valley.
DEMONS OF ALLEY ROYALE by Nicki Nance
As they walked, Mellie looked over her shoulder to talk to Michael.
“The Shoppes on Royal have helped us since my parents took their
first fosters. The people here will become as important to you as you already are to them.”
Mellie’s voice was no longer behind Michael. She spoke without speaking, mind to mind.
Dr. Nicki Nance, retired psychotherapist, is an Associate Professor of
Psychology, teaching undergraduate neurodiverse students. Her
publications include short stories in anthologies of Culture Cult, Wicked
Shadows Press, and Sherilyn Kenyon’s Sanctuary and Return to
Sanctuary.
PROJECT W.E. by Marcella Russell
Becoming an initiated agent was the only way to uphold my
promise, Without it...Well, I could not imagine without it.
The thought made me feel as though the earth would
swallow me whole, and I would welcome it.
Marcella Russell lives in Ohio with her husband and dog, where she teaches yoga and Spanish. She loves going for long runs in the woods, reading classics and fantasy, and practicing the tin whistle. Primarily working on a fantasy romance novel, she has a witchy, gothic thriller next in the queue.
CUSTOM FRIEND by Jason Schattman
“Good wake-cycle, class,” said Mr. Tau as his image sputtered on
and off, then solidified. “Today is Day 135 in the year 2120. In this
lesson, you will learn about the science of artificial sunlight. Class,
where are your manners? I believe I said, ‘Good wake-cycle’.”
Jason Schattman is a high school computer science teacher by day,
and a ballroom and hip-hop dancer by night. He has written two YA
novels, Custom Friend 1.0 and Take the Mic!, that he hopes to have
published. He'll write just about anything for fun, from the silly to
the sublime. Sermons, comedy routines, poems about economics,
and op-eds on the silliness of the English language..
WE WERE GODS by Kim Straub
“Humans once did anything to make us happy. But now, we’re
condemned to forever wander as nothing but dark memories because
those very same humans just one day decided they don’t believe in us
anymore?! Who are they to decide that?”
Kimberly Straub writes a wide variety of fiction, her specialty being
flash fiction. She has been a guest writer on numerous blogs, and her
stories have been featured in Writer’s Digest Magazine and
Scribbler. She resides in Grand Rapids, MI and is working on her first
novel, We Were Gods. When not writing, Kimberly enjoys reading,
collecting records, and listening to punk rock. You can follow her
writing journey at kimberlystraub.com.
ALL THAT REMAINS by Marcel Vasquez
Phil glanced around the room as if really seeing it for the first time.
The dark cement walls, two-way mirror, and stainless-steel table, it
was all a stage where lives went to end or change forever. This place
was cold, and he was a suspect; it was all wrong.
Marcel Vasquez, aka The Masked Writer, is a first-generation Latinx
author residing in New England. He works as a tutor, in person and online,
with the platform he built to help spread language and writing skills.
Marcel’s aim is to be an inspiration for artists of color and marginalized
communities pursuing their creative dreams. He writes in different genres
and is currently querying three novels. Learn more or reach out to Marcel
at maskedwriter.net.
Getting published isn't easy, especially for writers who've yet to establish a following. One of the many reasons we publish our anthologies is to showcase promising authors in the early stages of their careers and connect with talented writers looking to become successful novelists.
If you're ready to become a published author, it's time to enter our Spring Short Story Anthology Contest. As always, you'll receive editorial feedback and have the opportunity to revise your work before judging. The deadline is June 24, 2024, so click here to learn more today!
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