Fish Short Memoir Prize: Results.

Fish Short Memoir Prize: Results.

Competition judge Dermot Healy has chosen the ten memoirs for inclusion in the 2014 Fish Anthology.




See Long and Short Lists



Overall Winner: Kirstin Zhang: In the Dark Garden

Second: Mary Fitzpatrick: Plasticine Flowers

Third: Bonnie K. Kidd: Chestnuts, 1955

Honorary Mentions:Linda Norton: Pearl Paint

Aubrey Malone: The Past

D. B. Donahoe: Alabama 1966

Deb McCutchen: The Zen Of Kakapo Poo, redux

Nell McGrath: Reproduction

Betty Weiner: Of Exodus

Tom Billings: Pass With Care​

Dermot Healy's comments on the winning memoirs:

In the Dark Garden..........the writer leaves the reader haunted

Plasticine Flowers..........Contains one of the best lies I've ever read

Chestnuts, 1955.............A fearful family memory that still hurts

Pearl Paint.....................lovely honest little piece

The Past.......................Full of personal integrity

Alabama 1966..............The story goes straight through the readers head

The Zen Of Kakapo Poo, redux..........the first time I've encountered poo as the hero of a memoir

Reproduction...............Wonderful sad tales of Christmas

Of Exodus..................Remarkable historic journey

Pass With Care..........A grave memorial