I’m so excited to have won first place in the inaugural Pearl S. Buck Short Story Contest. It’s such an honor to be associated with such a wonderful organization as the Pearl S. Buck International Foundation.
Yesterday, my husband and I traveled to Perkasie, Pa., to receive the award, given as part of their 55th annual International Festival. Janet Mintzer, President and CEO, presented the awards. Later I'll post more pictures on my Facebook fan page.
The most gratifying part of the award was hearing the judges selected writing which most resembled that of Pearl S. Buck herself. The winning story, Christmas Eve at the Diner on Rathole Street, is on my web site.
Congrats to the other winners:
Adult, second place: Elizabeth McLees
High School, first place: Melanie Abeygunawardana
High School, second place: Meghan O’Grady
Middle School, first place: Alexa Doran
Middle School, second place: L.A. Hall
I’m so glad the foundation included younger writers too. I hope these awards encourage them to continue writing.
If you live anywhere near Dublin/Perkasie/Doylestown, you’ll want to check into their new “Writing at a Writer’s House” programs as well as the other community events.
Before this contest, I never realized how amazing Pearl S. Buck truly was. Yes, she’d won the Pulitzer for The Good Earth. But I had no idea her writing encompassed short stories, essays, YA works and more. Check out the full list here.
In addition to her one biological child, Pearl adopted seven others, and fostered several others. The Pearl S. Buck International Foundation continues her amazing work.
Thanks again to the Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association for hosting this contest. The award means so much to me.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from Pearl S. Buck:
Growth itself contains the germ of happiness.
All things are possible until they are proved impossible - and even the impossible may only be so, as of now.
Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment.
The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.
To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth.
