Literary LEO is a long-running annual contest in which the newspaper invites the public to submit works of poetry, fiction and photography, which are blindly judged by accomplished people from within the respective field. The contest has grown and changed over the years, but one thing remains constant: There is significant talent in our community.
In the following pages you’ll find poetry and “eccentric” poetry (so bad, it’s good); flash fiction (300 words or less) and short stories (2,500 words or less). Interspersed are images — color and black-and-white photography (yes, there are still practitioners). This year’s photo judge deemed that some black-and-white entries worked particularly well when companion photos from the same entry were placed next to one another, and so a couple of the winning entries actually consist of two related photos.
LEO thanks our participants and judges for making this issue special. Every year we also conduct a live reading; this year’s event is Thursday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Jazz Factory, 815 W. Market St. There’s no cover, and the public is welcome. Call 992-3242 for more information. —Cary Stemle
LITERARY LEO 2008: The Winners
SHORT STORY: Honorable Mention 1