Secret Santa Contest Winner

Congratulations to Lydia Christian, the Secret Santa Contest winner. What an imaginative story! Lydia is a junior at the University of South Alabama, pursing dual majors in foreign language and fine art. She has loved to read and write since she was old enough to string together her first sentence. Lydia is currently working on her first book in the quiet moments she can squeeze into her very hectic life. She hopes to have it completed in 2015. We wish her well.

 All in the Family

Eleven days of anonymous gifts never prepared me for the twelfth day. I still don’t know if I believe it or not. It seems too fabricated to be true. It was uncharacteristic of my mom, although I would definitely believe it of my mother-in-law, Cynthia.

            The pictures clipped to a note demanding $25,000 showed two women kicking a homeless man. The second photo was of them running away with the man’s shopping cart of belongings. It wasn’t unbelievable simply because it was my mother, but also because both women are in their sixties. Two older women shouldn’t be able to overpower a young man––even if he was malnourished from years of living in the streets.

            My mother was a minister’s wife since before I was born. Growing up, I watched her sing and pray in church every Wednesday and twice on Sunday. She’s worn out more Bibles than most people wear out shoes. If she was truly involved in something nefarious, it must be the influence of Cynthia.

            My father died five years ago, and my mom has been living with my husband and me since then. She immediately became best friends with Cynthia, and they’ve been inseparable ever  since. Cynthia and I have never gotten along. She babies my husband as though he was five years old. Our relationship is a stereotypical power struggle between two women for the heart of a man.

            I’m sitting at the table, staring in silence when my husband, Billy, walks in. Billy takes one look at me and knows that I need his attention. Always the one to shirk responsibility, he chooses to pretend he doesn’t notice.

            “Billy. Seriously. I’m sitting right here, and I know you noticed me.” I try not to sound too angry.

            “Long day. Wasn’t ready for whatever this is.” He pops open a soda and begins taking off his police gear.

            I shove the photos in his face and watch confusion flit across his porcelain skin. That man is just as beautiful as the day I first saw him. His beauty enables me to forgive his otherwise Neanderthal ways.

            “What the hell?” He mumbles in his thick Southern accent.

            I explain the situation, and Billy slams his fist into the wall. “This is the fifth time I’ve had to pay for my mother’s obsession! This time, she’s on her own!”

            This is the first time I’ve heard him mention anything like this. Talk about family secrets!

Be sure and let Lydia know what you thought of this short piece by commenting below.

Mahala 

Writing Contest

                            Secret Santa

For the past eleven days, you have received a gift from an anonymous friend. Your ego has celebrated each of the lovely gifts. However, today’s gift – the 12^th - wasn’t like the others. It’s a picture of someone you love (your choice: son, daughter, mother, father, wife, husband, etc.) and they’re clearly doing something they shouldn’t. A note demanding $25,000 in cash is clipped to the photo. It will go live on the Internet if you don’t pay the $25,000 by noon tomorrow.

In 500 words or less, write a scene or flash fiction story explaining how you handle this. Send entries to mahalachurch@gmail.com.  Deadline December 31, 2013.

1^st Place:  Free edit by Mahala of first ten pages of your WIP or short story of 2,500 words or less and a copy of It Takes a Certain Type to be a Writer by Erin Barrett and Jack Mingo.

Mahala

Tracy Hurley Memorial Writing Contest

Mobile Writers Guild is once again honoring my good friend Tracy Hurley. Please spread the word and let's get as many kids as possible involved.

 

Mahala

 The Third Annual Tracy Hurley Memorial Writing Contest

 

• Short story contest open to all students grades 6-12th in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
• Entries must be between 500-2500 words, and will be rated based on plot structure, grammar/spelling, and originality.
• Include your name, grade, school, and story in the body of an e-mail to mwgyoungauthors@gmail.com
• Deadline is midnight, on Saturday, November 16, 2013.
• Winners will be announced and awarded their prizes on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 6pm in the meeting room of the West Regional Library.
• Two categories for judging: Middle School and High School.
• First, second, and third place winners in both categories.
• Prizes include cash ($25 first place, $15 second place, and $10 third place) and on-line publication for winners in both categories.

Contest Winner: MAC for April

Congratulations to Judy Davies, April's first place winner. Her poem captures the essence of both words and is a charming look at Spring.

Residing in Gautier, MS since 1998, Judy writes poetry and prose, performs as a professional musician and manages the music publishing company for her composer husband, Ken Davies. Ken has set some of her poetry to music as art songs and a CD of poetry and music is underway.

Educated at Otterbein College and at the University of Southern Mississippi, she holds degrees in English and in Paralegal Studies. She and her husband enjoy traveling to music conferences across the country as well as performing and staying involved in cultural activities locally. Judy and Ken have four children, six grandchildren and two adorable cats. The cats still live at home.


The Magic of Spring

Like a welcome visit from a long lost friend,
Spring arrives gently at first, ground-warming sun
breathing new life into its surroundings.
Atop a porch overhang, mourning doves
gather twigs to build their nest.
Spring moves forward as two eggs appear,
then two tiny baby birds,
Our yard, too, comes to life. New buds
appear as maple trees reclothe, early
spring flowers peek from within their beds,
last year's tired grass miraculously
sprouts new life. Creeping myrtle, irises,
daffodils materialize in that magical
time period known as Spring.
The scent of dewy rosebushes fills our nostrils,
tiny hummingbirds come to feast,
soft purple and white lilacs break forth in colorful array,
and new grass covers our yard like a fresh green blanket.
Glorious spring has arrived!

MAC May Writing Contest

The MAC writing contest for May is posted at the left. And for those of you complaining about the word length,

it went up again by another whopping 10 words. Have fun.

Mahala

Writing Contest: MAC for April

Guidelines for this month's contest posted to your left. Word count is up to 130 words. Mahala