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I'm sure everyone is excited to read the results, but first, let me introduce you to the three judges who
put so much of their time and effort into making this competition such a success. Please take a few moments to learn a bit about them.
Preliminary Judge, Louis M. Serra
Louis M. Serra grew up in Chicago Il, entertained both by
stories about gumshoe detectives and tales of werewolves, vampires, ghosts, and other supernatural beings. He began writing short stories at about ten years old, slowly developing a storytelling style that incorporated his favorite subjects.
After years of keeping his family entertained, they convinced him he should write some books.
Louis’ first published work, The Reluctant Vampire, is a story about a vampire who learns some new things about himself and his man-servant, Wilbur.
Louis has since, written seven novels, five of which are in print. These other novels involve visitors from other dimensions, outer-space, and even some from our very own soil. The book, Notes From The Hermit, is a collection of short stories.
To expand his writings, he has taken on a different genre, crime without things that go ‘bump’ in the night. His first crime novel is called, The Hawke’s Lair.
Weird Tales of the Old West
By Louis M. Serra
Whenever we hear of ghosts, spirits, werewolves and vampires, most people think of the concrete jungles of the big cities.
The East Coast isn’t the only part of our vast country that has strange visitors from the other side. This book holds stories of the Mid-West and the West itself, concerning things that go bump in the night.
So, light a candle and sit back. You’re about to go to the Wild West and other places.
You can find Lou's book by going to the
Lou's Top Five (preliminary)Choices for 2011...
In no particular order
1.Old Man Dying (Refreshing take on life.)
2.Buffalo Bones
3.The devil, The Gambler and The Girl
4.Reconciliation
5.Humbug Creek
Preliminary Judge, "Big" Jim Williams
“I love the Old West’s history, people and tales,” said Big Jim Williams.
“What an exciting time it would have been to be in California’s ‘49 Gold Rush, ride the Oregon Trail, or explore with Lewis and Clark. That’s why I love writing westerns.”
Williams is the author of the audio books, THE OLD WEST, and TALL TALES OF THE OLD WEST. His westerns have appeared in Rope And Wire, Western Horseman, The Cardroom Poker News, Livestock (Texas) Weekly, American West, Sniplits, Short-Story.net, and Shoot! Magazine.
He has also contributed stories to Orchard Press Mysteries, Suspense Magazine, and the books, At Home and Abroad: Prize-Winning Stories, and Murder to Mil-Spec. His sci-fi story shares pages with Ray Bradbury and Edgar Allan Poe in the The Last Man Anthology.
Nonfiction credits include Writers’ Journal, Radio World Magazine, and WritersWeekly.
Williams usually begins writing before 6 a.m., a habit acquired during 20 years as a morning radio announcer.
Big Jim and his wife, Joan, also a writer, have two sons, and four grandchildren. Williams writes, reads, haunts bookstores, overeats, watches old Western movies, drinks beer, lunches with friends, naps in California, and welcomes emails at
Murder To Mil-Spec
By "Big" Jim Williams
Western author, Big Jim Williams, also writes other forms of fiction.
His murder mystery, "Tripwire," set during the Korean War, is included in the recent anthology, Murder To Mil-Spec, published by Wolfmont Press, available online from Amazon Books.
You can find this book on Amazon,
Big Jim's Top Five (preliminary)Choices...
In no particular order
STAGECOACH
Well crafted piece. Had a nice unexpected twist ending.
OLD MAN DYING
A good yarn, well done. I liked it. It had good characters and
an ending with a nice twist. I also placed it in the top five.
BUFFALO BONES
“Buffalo Bones” is a nice story with interesting characters. Enjoyed it. However, it could have been “tighter.” It did have a redundancy or two, but was good overall. Would give it fairly high marks. Also contained historical facts on the buffalo, its use by the Indians for survival, and the use of the millions of buffalo bones left on the prairies after the buffalo were slaughtered by white men so their hides could be used in industry.
BLOODY CIRCUMSTANCES AND TWISTED TRUTH
A well written historical-fiction piece on the Cypress Hills Massacre of 1873, told by a mythical character, a crippled Indian boy. It is well structured and carries the reader forward in a very logical manner. Contains information on the daily life of American Indians, their history, and their spiritual beliefs and needs. Well done. Only a couple of typos, but such typing errors are common to us all. It seems based on historical fact. I would place it very, very high in this writing contest.
HUMBUG CREEK
A very interesting yarn with a nice twist ending. The author did a good job establishing the background for the story. He took the reader into a deep canyon looking for gold and into a serious life-threatening situation that was ultimately resolved during an Indian attack and a terrible storm. The author placed a good twist to wrap up the story. I liked the piece. Contain one or two typos, but nothing series.
Final Judge, James J. Griffin
While a native New Englander, Jim has been a student of the frontier West from a very young age. He has traveled extensively throughout the western United States, and has visited many of the famous Western frontier towns, such as Tombstone, Pecos, Deadwood, Cheyenne, and numerous others.
Jim became particularly interested in the Texas Rangers from the television series Tales of the Texas Rangers. His deep interest in the Texas Rangers led him to amass an extensive collection of Texas Ranger artifacts, which is now in the permanent collections of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco.
Jim has also been an avid horseman all of his life. He bought his first horse, a pinto, while he was a junior in college, and has owned several American Paint Horses, including his current mount, Yankee.
Jim's books are traditional Westerns in the best sense of the term, with strong heroes who have good moral values. Highly reminiscent of the pulp westerns of yesterday, the heroes and villains are clearly separated with few shades of gray. No anti-heroes to be found here.
Jim is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University. When not traveling out West, he currently divides his time between Branford, Connecticut and Keene, New Hampshire.
Fight For Freedom
By James j. Griffin
Fight for Freedom is the latest action-packed Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk adventure. Jim and several of his Ranger partners are assigned to protect a wagon train of freemen and ex-slaves traveling to west Texas to start a new settlement. Not only will they have to face the dangers of the Texas wilderness, but also the men determined to stop the emigrants, at any cost. Only one spark will be needed to ignite this powder keg.
To learn more about James J. Griffin,
A word from Jim...
Congratulations to the seven finalists in the Second Annual Rope and Wire Western Short Story Contest. All seven stories are excellent works, and choosing the top five was an extremely difficult task. The final placement was very close, so close, in fact, the determination of the last couple of winning entries was made on the basis of which had the fewest grammatical and typographical errors, since based on their merits, the stories themselves were basically equal. Because publishers look for proper style, grammar, and punctuation when considering whether or not to accept a manuscript, I applied those same standards to determine the final standings.
James J. Griffin
And now what you've all been waiting for...
THE WINNERS of the 2nd annual Rope and Wire Short Story Competition, along with comments from our final judge, James J. Griffin, are...
1st Place, and the winner of the competitions top prize of $150.
Bloody Circumstances and Twisted Truth
Writing in the first person is difficult; however, the author of this story does it extremely well. He or she shows a thorough grasp of their subject, and appears to have done considerable research. This is also a deft use of historical events to write an excellent piece of fiction. The unexpected shift of viewpoint toward the end, which is usually frowned upon in literature, in this case adds to the appeal of the story. The piece itself is technically a Northern, a sub-genre of the Western story.
James J. Griffin
Bloody Circumstances and Twisted Truth
Raymond W. Maher
That very year, 1873, the trader at the Hudson Bay trading post had written in his journal, “The way of life built on the fur trade and the herds of buffalo is slipping away in front of us, like a falling plate you cannot catch as it tumbles to the floor before you.”
I know little of 1873 as the white call seasons of life. I know only of life as I live it as a Nakoda boy. I live as one of dishonor and weakness among my people. I stay mostly hidden. Yet, it is I who knows all that is said and whispered among us. Our own elders are saying that the Spirits are against us, as the winds have said so in this last summer. All can see for themselves that too many south winds were cool and the west wind far too dry. The east wind carried only clouds and the north wind brought early, deep snow in a killing blizzard. My people live with hidden unease. Even I, a mere crippled boy of twelve seasons, know it is so.
Read it Here>>
2nd Place, and the winner of the competitions prize of $45.
Old Man Dying
Several of the entries had themes of reconciliation or unexpected rewards, including this heart-warming story of a crusty old physician who was not what he appeared to be. Nicely written, with appealing characters all around.
James J. Griffin
OLD MAN DYING
Charlie Steel
Doc Evans cared about four things in this life; sitting in the hot sun and warming his old bones, smoking a pipe stuffed with Gallaher Irish Tobacco, a good cup of hot coffee, and paying patients. In that order.
A rider approached on a dusty mustang. He was hunched over and swaying in the saddle. Doc Evans’s keen eyes saw the drifter was badly hurt. He also noted the scarred saddle, the run down boots, and ragged dress. Here was a broken down cowboy with no money. Doc firmed his lips around his smoking pipe. Under no circumstances would he work a charity case.
Read it Here>>
3rd Place, and the winner of the competitions prize of $30.
The Devil, the Gambler, and the Girl
A well-written tale of a man who has sunk as low as he possibly can, and unexpectedly finds redemption at the last possible moment. The touch of the supernatural adds to the story's appeal and tension. Minor quibble over the use of a couple of terms which were not in use at the time the story is set, but otherwise a fine effort.
James J. Griffin
THE DEVIL, THE GAMBLER, AND THE GIRL
Charlie Steel
Jack Diamond had gambled in nearly every smoke-filled, liquor soaked saloon in the west. Jack was born an intelligent and handsome boy, and with his quick mind he could have become anything he desired---a teacher, a college professor, a doctor, an engineer, or any other desirable profession. As a child his instructors, as well as his parents had high hopes for the bright-eyed lad. But a darker side took over the youth’s God-given talents and by the time he was eighteen he had spent many a lantern lit night holding cards around crowded tables.
Read it Here>>
Honorable Mentions were, in effect, a tie, so the two chosen stories are listed alphabetically.
4th Place, Honorable Mention.
Buffalo Bones
Another story of a misfit man, drifting aimlessly, who finally finds his place in the world through an unexpected twist of fate. Besides, it's always hard to resist, at least for me, a story with nuns. Almost as well written as Old Man Dying. Typographical errors did detract somewhat from the overall style.
James J. Griffin
BUFFALO BONES
Charlie Steel
Standing on the porch, Frank Grimes looked over the land one last time. Now it belonged to the bank. He had worked hard all his life and with one cruel act of nature, the crops failed and income was gone. With no money, he couldn’t buy seed, he had no credit at the store, and couldn’t pay the mortgage. The farm was lost, a farm he had worked with his father before he passed on. It was hard to walk away from a lifetime of work and not one penny to show for it.
Read it Here>>
5th Place, Honorable Mention.
Humbug Creek
The double-surprise ending to this otherwise typical trapped by Indians tale was what especially appealed to me, and what earned this story an honorable mention.
James J. Griffin
Humbug Creek
Bill Henderson
1
They had me in a fare-thee-well pickle, that’s for sure!
Pa always said a man should look to his defenses first, and I had spotted that cave right off. Of course it wasn’t really a cave at all. It was where an ancient stream had hollowed out a deep depression in the granite millions of years ago. That same stream now ran some twenty five feet below the cave.
It was a shallow cut weathered in the face of the stone that was only about fifteen feet deep and six feet high at the entry, sloping to the back, so that I had to walk hunched over inside it. There was evidence of old fires and the ceiling was blackened from ancient smoke. There were still a few pieces of mesquite near the back wall.
I’d climbed all over these hills prospecting for the last six months before I found this spot on the Humbug. It was a place where the stream leveled out and made a smooth bend in the narrow canyon. On the inside of that bend was a likely place for gold to deposit, so I ran myself a couple of sample pans.
Read it Here>>
I would like to say a final Thank You to everyone who submitted an entry to this years competition.
THANK YOU...let's do it again next year.
Scott
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