Utah Arts & Museums Announces Winners of 2012 Utah Original Writing Competition

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For immediate release                Alyssa Hickman Grove,  801.236.75486 September 2012                      Constituent Relations & Media, Utah Arts & Museums
Geoffrey Fattah,  801.245.7205Communications Director, Utah Dept. of Heritage and Arts
Utah Arts & Museums Announces Winnersof 2012 Utah Original Writing Competition
SALT LAKE CITY — The winners of the 2012 Utah Original Writing Competition have been announced. Selected from more than 200 entries received this year, Utah Arts & Museums is presenting awards to 22 writers in seven categories. The awardees are:
Novel category, judged by Ron Carlson:First place: Inclemency by Stephen Tuttle, ProvoSecond place: Wyoming Gold by Margaret L. Pettis, HyrumHonorable mention: The End of the Road by Roan W. Poulter, Ogden; Falling for Johnny by Alison McLennan, Ogden
Creative non-fiction and history category, judged by Brian Doyle:First place: 52 by 52 by Jeff Metcalf, Salt Lake CitySecond place: Lazarus’s Denial by Linda S. Rotnem, West JordanHonorable mention: White Indians by Michael Gills, Salt Lake City; Tongues of Men and of Angels and Other Adventures in Brief Memoir by Nate Liederbach, Salt Lake City
Book-length collection of poetry category, judged by Sue Walker:First place: Pretty Marrow by Shanan L. Ballam, WellsvilleSecond place: The Stars Come All the Way Down to the Ground by Dawn Houghton, Salt Lake CityHonorable mention: Miracles, Mutinies & Microbuses by David Robert Boyce, Harrisville
Juvenile book category, judged by Claudia Mills:First place: Discovering Isaac by Elaine Vickers, Cedar CitySecond place: Deliver Me by Kate Birch, Salt Lake CityHonorable mention: The Polliwog Pond War by Kimberly Jensen, Layton
Poetry category, judged by Connie Voisine:First place: “from Hermaion” by Jennifer J. Tonge, Salt Lake CitySecond place: “but the rain is full of ghosts tonight” by Dawn Lonsinger, Salt Lake CityHonorable mention: “Armor Against Air” by Elisabeth Loveland, Provo
Short story category, judged by Darrell Spencer:First place: “Petey Immigrates North, Then Moves West” by Larry Menlove, PaysonSecond place: “Zuri” by Sarah E. Allen, ProvoHonorable mention: “One Woman Rescuing Another” by Dawn Houghton, Salt Lake City
Personal essay category, judged by Phyllis Barber:First place: “On Understanding” by J. Travis Washburn, ProvoSecond place: “The Streets of Lisbon” by Nathan M. Robison, ProvoHonorable mention: “On Becoming a Lord of the Earth” by John Bennion, Provo
“We warmly congratulate the winners of the 2012 Original Writing Competition,” said Margaret Hunt, Director of Utah Arts & Museums. “We look forward to wonderful accomplishments from these talented writers. Past winners have gone on to receive such accolades as the Flannery O’Connor Award and the International Reading Association Award. These past awardees include Orson Scott Card, Ron Carlson, and all four Utah Poets Laureate: David Lee, Ken Brewer, Katharine Coles and Lance Larsen.”
Manuscripts were reviewed in a blind process by judges who reside outside of Utah. First- and second-prize winners are awarded prize money ranging from $150 to $1,000. In a new partnership with theUniversity of Utah Press, the book-length non-fiction winning manuscript will be submitted to the press to consider for publication.
An awards ceremony honoring the winners will take place October 30, 2012 at the Rio Grande Depot as part of the Utah Humanities Book Festival. Next spring, winners will read from their work at a public event. For more information, contact Literary Arts Specialist David Pace at  801.533.5760 or davidpace@utah.gov.

About Utah Arts & MuseumsUtah Arts & Museums is a division of the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts with a goal to promote innovation in and the growth of Utah’s arts and culture community. The division provides funding, education, and technical services to individuals and organizations statewide so that all Utahns, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or economic status, can access, understand, and receive the benefits of arts and culture. Additional information on the programs and services can be found at artsandmuseums.utah.gov or by calling  801.236.7555.

Alyssa Hickman GroveConstituent Relations & Media617 E. South Temple, SLC, UT 84102Phone:  801.236.7548Utah Arts & Museums on Facebook