Author Loren Leith wins Royal Palm Literary Award for Unpublished Nonfiction Short Story Genre

LOCAL WRITER LOREN LEITH WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, ANNOUNCED AT
2018 FLORIDA WRITERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.  October 26, 2018.  The Florida Writers Association, Inc., (FWA) has announced that Loren Leith of Andrews, North Carolina won a prestigious Royal Palm Literary Award (RPLA). Leith’s winning entry, Basement Level, won First Place for Unpublished Nonfiction Short Story Genre.

The award was announced at FWA’s recent four-day annual conference in Altamonte Springs, Florida. This annual competition, which received 420 qualified submissions, was RPLA’s seventeenth.

“This is the most competitive RPLA we’ve ever had,” said Chris Coward, RPLA chairperson. “The RPLA administrative team, judges, and entrants did an amazing job.”

In all, the competition covered 26 adult genres and 5 Youth genres, with published and unpublished entries considered separately. There were five grand awards, as well.

·         Published Book of the Year: Beached, Mystery OR Crime, by Micki Browning

·         Unpublished Book of the Year: Downhill Fast, Thriller OR Suspense, by Dana J. Summers

·         Best Children’s Book: Citrus Green, Middle-Grade Fiction, by Annette Masters

·         The Dahris Clair Memorial Award for Plays: Hamlet, Reimagined, by Walter Joseph Schenck, Jr.

·         The Candice Coghill Memorial Award for the best youth entry: “Michael,” Poetry, by Samantha Leslie in the 12-15 age category

“A win at any level can help any writer market their manuscript or published book, and the detailed feedback from the judges is invaluable for all entrants,” Ms. Coward said.

The Florida Writers Association, 1,500 members strong and growing, is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization that supports the state’s established and emerging writers. Membership is open to the public.

The Royal Palm Literary Awards competition is a service of the Florida Writers Association established to recognize excellence in members’ published and unpublished works while providing objective and constructive written assessments for all entrants.

For additional information, visit the FWA website: floridawriters.net, where you’ll also find more about RPLA and the complete list of 2018 winners.

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