Winners from April 30, 2010

1st Place: First Love
by Keayva Mitchell
Short, to the point, yet no less developed, "First Love" explores the complexity of mother-daughter relationships and how they intersect with men. Mitchell's craft is superb: engaging sentences highlighted by varied structure and length. "First Love" may not be a long read, but it's a good one.
Download and read First Love.
2nd Place: Mercy
by Brea Creel
Creel tackles troubling racial and social themes in this narrative of a young woman's first pregnancy. Contrasting structural grace with startling imagery, "Mercy" explores the deeper ramifications of deception in all forms. Do not expect a light or easy read here; settle in and expect to read "Mercy" twice.
Download and read Mercy.
Editor's Choice: Chinkara
by Brayden Hirsch
Hirsch places for the second week in a row, but with a piece far different from his first. "Chinkara" offers unsettling commentary on a major social issue currently spotlighted for discussion by the international community. Set within the starkness of a desert, this piece forces the reader to address its message head-on. Despite its serious tone, "Chinkara" is beautiful, and well worth reading to the end.
Download and read Chinkara.

Featured Publication

A Pilot's Guide to Washington

This book is a guidebook for private aviators in Washington State, or folks visiting the State. Washington State is among the most beautiful and diverse states in the Union. There are flat and dry desserts, stunning basalt formations, towering mountains, rolling grass hills, thick rain forests, island archipelagos, and lakes and rivers and straits and sounds. Well, one sound. And we have roughly a billion airports to visit. (I'm exaggerating slightly.) It would be shame to be a pilot living in or visiting Washington State and not deeply partake of the richness of this opportunity.

Order the book from: Amazon.