This year, we received nearly four hundred and fifty manuscripts. It was a pleasure to read them and we
found many moving and well-written stories and non-fiction pieces. Thanks to all who entered and we
look forward to reading many wonderful manuscripts in 2024.
MOST PROMISING FICTION MANUSCRIPT WINNER
The winner of the most promising Fiction manuscript goes to Trenise Ferreira for her delightful story
Post Office Bay. A young boy finds an old, framed letter in the attic and asks Grandpa about it. So begins
a fascinating tale of how long-ago sailors traveling the world kept in touch with families and friends
using a unique postal system. Post Office Bay is based on a real place that began in the 18th century and
still exists.
TWO MOST PROMISING FICTION MANUSCRIPT HONORABLE MENTIONS
We honor S.K. Van Zandt for The Violinist. This is a heartfelt tale about a boy who so worries for his father
working in a war zone hospital, he can’t understand why an old violinist plays happy songs on his violin.
Told in lyrical and evocative language, the boy grows to learn that happy music is needed more than
ever in troubled times.
Honorable Mention in Fiction goes to Amanda Im for her warm and gentle story Grandpa’s Garden, told
by a young child who tries to help her Grandfather adjust to his new home in the United States by
working together to make a garden. Following the four seasons (with their names in both English and
Korean) they finally harvest their bounty, but there’s still more to be done.
THE MOST PROMISING NONFICTION MANUSCRIPT WINNER
The winner of the Most Promising Nonfiction Manuscript goes to Meghan Downs’ The Colors of the
Harp. This inspiring story follows the trials of Ann Hobson Pilot, a girl who, in spite of the many obstacles
faced because of the color of her skin, continued to practice, study, and play the harp. Her hard work
eventually led to her becoming the first Black woman to be a principal musician in an orchestra. Downs’
musical language with musical terms sprinkled throughout is perfectly matched to the story.
THE MOST PROMISING NONFICTION MANUSCRIPT HONORABLE MENTION
Honorable Mention in Nonfiction goes to Deirdre Laide for Blue: The Life Cycle of a Colorful Iceberg.
This lyrical text, told from the unique perspective of an iceberg, follows Blue from birth as a flurry of snowfall
to a towering skyscraper of the Antarctic Ocean where seabirds nest and penguins rest. Beautifully evocative language
tells of Blue’s eventual melting, but hope prevails as we hear the calving of a new iceberg in the
distance.