RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth wants your stories — specifically, your short stories. The bookstore is sponsoring a short story contest and is looking for previously unpublished stories under 5,000 words. The contest runs until May 25, and winners will be announced on June 15.
“Two years ago we had a novel contest, and it was great fun,” said RiverRun manager and co-owner Tom Holbrook. “And before that we did a local poetry anthology. We love short stories, and this is a chance for everyone, young and old, to sit down and polish up a piece of work, or start a new one. We can’t wait to see what we get.”
The contest features two categories, one for authors under age 17 and one for those 18 and over. First-, second-, and third-place winners in each category will receive RiverRun gift certificates, and the winners will read their stories at an event at the bookstore on June 28. Holbrook said that if more than 60 entries are received, a collection of chosen stories will be printed through the bookstore’s publishing business, Piscataqua Press.
To submit an entry, or for more information, email info@riverrunbookstore.com. — Larry Clow