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Celebrating the life and legacy of Cai Emmons

The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest honors the legacy of Cai Emmons, a celebrated author and teacher who passed away in 2023 from ALS.

Throughout her life, Cai championed the power of storytelling to inspire, connect, and transform.

Cai's writing captivated readers through imaginative stories that explored deeply human themes and complex characters.

This anthology honors Cai's legacy by recognizing new voices in fiction from Oregon and Washington writers who engage with these themes in fresh and innovative ways.

This year's anthology presents:

Grand Prize Winner: The Bechtel Protocol by Scott Colley of Oakland, Oregon Female Protagonist Award: A White Cat by Elizabeth Danek of Milwaukie, Oregon Aftermath of Loss Award: The Last Apple Tree by Justine Norton-Kertson of Lowell, Oregon Aftermath of Loss Honorable Mention: Gas Station Witch by Laura Grange of Seattle, Washington Magical Realism Award: The Memory Eater by Angela Ostley of Vancouver, Washington Magical Realism Honorable Mention: Bonfire of the Insanities by Jill Betterton of Eugene, Oregon Family Dynamics Award: Fragile by Erin Radniecki of Corvallis, Oregon

The Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest is presented by Wordcrafters in Eugene, a nonprofit literary arts organization that empowers writers and readers by increasing access to community, craft, and inspiration. The organization offers classes, workshops, and community gatherings for adults and youth, including creative writing summer camps, monthly youth workshops, the annual Fiction Fantastic short story contest, and Writers in the Schools residencies for underserved schools in Lane County.

A heartfelt thank you to the generous supporters of the Cai Emmons Short Fiction Contest: The Emmons-Calandrino Family Fund, Oregon Arts Commission, and ChillSubs.