2015 Tuscany Prize for Short Story Winners Announced

Last week I was thrilled after receiving an e-mail from Mr. Peter Mongeau, Founder and Publisher of Tuscany Press, notifying me that my short story, "The Judas Goat," was selected for an honorable mention in the 2015 Tuscany Prize for short story.

When I called Mr. Mongeau to accept the award, he congratulated me and asked me to tell him about myself and the background of my story.

During our forty-five minute conversation, he shared with me what he liked about "The Judas Goat" as well as why it didn't make the top five. I thanked him for the gift of his time and his candid comments and told him I'm looking forward to revising my story before it appears in the anthology.

The official announcement, which includes the names of the winning stories and bios of all the winners, was posted on the Tuscany Press blog yesterday. After reading the bios of the winners, I'm  humbled to have my story included among such an esteemed group of writers.

The publication date for the anthology, The Grove and Other Stories, is Spring of 2016. To share these stories with my blog visitors, I plan to give away a copy of the anthology some time next spring.

2015 Tuscany Prize Short Story Finalists and Notable Entries Announced

Earlier today I was surprised and thrilled when I received  an e-mail from the Tuscany Prize Committee notifying me that my short story, "The Judas Goat," has been selected as a top-20 finalists for the 2015 Tuscany Prize for Short Story.

According to the e-mail, the prize committee will select ten stories from the twenty finalists. The top ten will receive cash awards and their stories be published in an anthology from Tuscany Press.

Thanks to All Saints Catholic Writers and members of Coffee and Critique, who read an early draft of the story and offered comments and suggestions.

Even if my story doesn't make the top ten, it's an honor to be among the finalists.

Submission Opportunity from Tuscany Press

The 2013 Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction is now accepting manuscripts in the following categories: Novel, Novella, Short Story, and Young Adult Novel.

* What is the Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction?

It is a literary prize to promote writers and great undiscovered stories of Catholic fiction.

* What is Catholic fiction?

According to the Tuscany Press website, Catholic fiction is defined as "stories infused with the presence of God and faith — subtly, symbolically or deliberately.Think of Flannery O’Connor, Graham Greene, J.R.R. Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton and many others whose writings reflected the thoughts of the great writer Gerard Manley Hopkins: 'The world is charged with the grandeur of God.' This is the 'stuff' of literature that wins the Tuscany Prize.'"

There is an entry fee, but prize amounts have increased this year.

Deadline is June 30, 2013.

For complete submission guidelines, visit the Tuscany Press site.