The Crux, by Michael Richardson

The skin of my fingertips is tender from the long climb the day before, stripped down to the thinnest of layers; pink and newborn. I touch the cool morning rock. An ocean breeze blows in past the knuckled headland, curling down the inlet and up the brushy slope to the...

The Most Important Thing in the World, conclusion, by Adam Sturtevant

Adam Sturtevant is the third place winner in the 2009 SFWP Literary Awards program. We’re excerpting a story from his winning collection, Ease Chest Tuck Hid Debt Art. Our new existence took on a life of its own after that first week. Matthew called and said he...

This One Last Thing, part two of two, by Nicole Louise Reid

Nicole Reid is the second place winner in the 2009 Literary Awards Program. Below is the first section of her entry, This One Last Thing. Phenomenology of a Braid Enid I’m her girl, the second. The baby. Or third, if you count my brother who is dead. We live in...

This One Last Thing, part one of two, by Nicole Louise Reid

Nicole Reid is the second place winner in the 2009 Literary Awards Program. This week, we’ll be excerpting from the prologue and the first section of her entry, This One Last Thing. PROLOGUE Francie This was my boy. These are my girls. He, that man, is my...

Listening for Life, part two of two, by Matthew Pitt

Matthew Pitt was the the 2009 Literary Awards Program Grand Prize-winner, selected by judge Pagan Kennedy. This is the second half of Chapter Three from his winning entry, Listening for Life. Catch the first part right here. ——— Cut to: Training by...