The word is out! The Shuswap Association of Writers is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Askew’s Word on the Lake Writing Contest!

In the fiction category, judged by Richard Kelly Kemick:

• First Place: “Pomodoro Vesuvio” by D K Eve

• Second Place: “Who Was That Masked Man?” by Shawn L. Bird

• Honourable Mention: “Oops” — by Finnian Burnett

In the nonfiction category, judged by Linda Rogers:

• First Place: “Out of Place” by Chester Ferris

• Second Place: “Crossroads” by Oliver Butterfield

• Honourable Mention: “Shooting the Midnight Ship” by S. Maggie Ricciardi

In the poetry category, judged by Sylvia Taylor:

• First Place: “Where I’m From” by Charlene Coles

• Second Place: “Make Poems For You” by Karen Bissenden

• Honourable Mention: “A Lament for Hunter S. Thompson” by Simone Blais

All three of this year’s judges were uniformly enthusiastic in their reactions to the entries and the difficulty of choosing just three winners in each category. Nonfiction judge Linda Rogers observed an interesting overarching theme to many of this year’s entries, noting that: “The entries in nonfiction form a COVID gathering that actually fits the arc of the pandemic. We are in the final phase, we hope, and the reflection and almost anachronistic tone of these pieces speaks not to the external conflict we are witnessing as much as to kindness — a desire to connect generational past and present, and make something better out of all we have experienced and learned.” 

The Askew’s Word on the Lake Anthology 2021 is in production. Featuring the nine winning contest entries plus a selection of works from some of this year’s festival presenters, the anthology will be available in ebook form for sale festival weekend, with print copies available for order shortly thereafter.

The online awards ceremony celebrating both this year’s and last year’s winners will be held via Zoom on Saturday evening, May 8, from 5:15 - 6:30. If you’re registered for this year’s festival, your registration includes (virtual) admission to the ceremony, and we hope you’ll join us.

To all those who entered the 2021 writing contest, thank you again for your hard work and for your continuing support of Word on the Lake. We look forward to seeing your work again for next year’s contest, and to seeing you — very hopefully in person — at Word on the Lake 2022!

Preparations for the 2021 virtual Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival are in full swing.

To register for the festival or for more information on presenters, workshops, entertainment, mentoring opportunities and more, go to www.wordonthelakewritersfestival.com or check us out on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WordontheLake.