May 2019's Winner
How It Works
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1. Write a one-sentence story using this month’s story word (found below) in the sentence.
2. Limit it to 40 words (very generous). 3. Post your one-sentence story in the box below. 4. Three finalists will be voted on by attendees of ERB’s Roar Reading Series on the first Monday of every month at the Uconn B&N at 7PM. (You don’t need to attend to participate, but we’d love to see ya.) 5. Prize: a book from the ERB archive and an official contest winner's certificate. Both will be mailed to the winner. This month’s word(s): motel Deadline: November 2, 2019 Ready? Set? Write! |
"John McNally's childhood was the perfect setup for a writer: fat, lonely, poor, reckless, seldom supervised, and filled with the power of his imagination. He writes with warmth and humor about his early years, and not a trace of self-pity or blame. Come for the story, but stay for the prose. The book's structure is remarkable and innovative. John McNally has the rare skill of making difficult work look easy. This book will become a classic of memoir."
--Chris Offutt, author of My Father, the Pornographer and Kentucky Straight |
September 2019's Winner
Christopher Puzak, "Milk Mustache"
The former star of the viral video ”Milk Mustache Kid goes Nuts” sat in a booth at San Diego Comic Con, signing the occasional autograph and thinking once again about throwing himself off the roof of the convention center.
The former star of the viral video ”Milk Mustache Kid goes Nuts” sat in a booth at San Diego Comic Con, signing the occasional autograph and thinking once again about throwing himself off the roof of the convention center.
May 2019's Winner
Therese Ratliff, "Thrift Store"
Desperate for self-validation, she glammed up her memories, a thrift store of treasures: worn, dusty castoffs yanked from musty corners and draped with gaudy bling-jewelry, hoping the tired wear and tear of her life might seem old Hollywood once more.
Desperate for self-validation, she glammed up her memories, a thrift store of treasures: worn, dusty castoffs yanked from musty corners and draped with gaudy bling-jewelry, hoping the tired wear and tear of her life might seem old Hollywood once more.
April 2019's Winner
Torché Johnson, "Dog Paddle"
She was a dog paddle kind of person; everything she did was small and made little to no waves until she drowned in the community pool, and all she'd ever done suddenly "mattered."
She was a dog paddle kind of person; everything she did was small and made little to no waves until she drowned in the community pool, and all she'd ever done suddenly "mattered."
March 2019's Winner
Lauren Hodgkins, "Ozark Bandits"
We rummaged through old boxes in the attic, looking for costumes for a game of Cowboys vs. Indians - though we hadn't expected our game to take such a turn: Ozark Bandits vs. Taney County, all thanks to Dad's old mask.
We rummaged through old boxes in the attic, looking for costumes for a game of Cowboys vs. Indians - though we hadn't expected our game to take such a turn: Ozark Bandits vs. Taney County, all thanks to Dad's old mask.
February 2019's Winner
Grace Kaercher, "Dental Floss"
I could tell that Grandma went to get her dentures near Christmas this year; to save money so she could have new teeth, she knit me a sweater out of dental floss (I hope it wasn't used).
I could tell that Grandma went to get her dentures near Christmas this year; to save money so she could have new teeth, she knit me a sweater out of dental floss (I hope it wasn't used).
December 2018's Winner
Amber Raymond, "Bible"
Alien Xyqip picked up the small, bound black book with letters B-I-B-L-E engraved across the front, and as he began to scour the book, a paper slid free, revealing a naked human; the Bible was left behind.
Alien Xyqip picked up the small, bound black book with letters B-I-B-L-E engraved across the front, and as he began to scour the book, a paper slid free, revealing a naked human; the Bible was left behind.
November 2018's Winner
Maheen Ibrahim, "Hummingbird"
The loud cries of his two-year-old daughter pierced the air as he smoothed down her hair, kissed her brow, and whispered to her, "Stay strong, little hummingbird" - before the immigration officers took her away.
The loud cries of his two-year-old daughter pierced the air as he smoothed down her hair, kissed her brow, and whispered to her, "Stay strong, little hummingbird" - before the immigration officers took her away.
October 2018's Winner
Sadie Fridley, "Jumbotron"
K78F1 sighed and looked away from the words "Small Robots Only" plastered above the audition list, realizing with a heavy heart that he would never become the first jumbotron ballerina.
K78F1 sighed and looked away from the words "Small Robots Only" plastered above the audition list, realizing with a heavy heart that he would never become the first jumbotron ballerina.
September 2018's Winner
Michelle McEwen, "Dahlia"
Dahlia (my big sister) has a ring in her nose and likes bikinis as clothes and Daddy's cigarettes and Mama's fishnets and driving fast, and that's why Daddy's mama always says, "Dahlia was raised wrong and won't live long."
Dahlia (my big sister) has a ring in her nose and likes bikinis as clothes and Daddy's cigarettes and Mama's fishnets and driving fast, and that's why Daddy's mama always says, "Dahlia was raised wrong and won't live long."
May 2018's Winner
Ron Farina, "Seaweed"
At low tide, when the ocean pulled its blanket away from the shore, leaving behind rotting kelp and seaweed, the musky smell would remind him of Hue and the Perfume River: dotted with floating bodies of dead North Vietnamese soldiers.
At low tide, when the ocean pulled its blanket away from the shore, leaving behind rotting kelp and seaweed, the musky smell would remind him of Hue and the Perfume River: dotted with floating bodies of dead North Vietnamese soldiers.
April 2018's Winner
Katie Cole, "Pure Protein"
The pump sloshed Pure Protein into each bottle, occasionally spraying the conveyor belt; working the night shift was a mindless job, but Rebecca completed her hours willingly, knowing tonight's batch was a little less pure and a little more cyanide.
The pump sloshed Pure Protein into each bottle, occasionally spraying the conveyor belt; working the night shift was a mindless job, but Rebecca completed her hours willingly, knowing tonight's batch was a little less pure and a little more cyanide.
March 2018's Winner
Kathryn Fitzpatrick, "Hayloft"
Jimmy had thought his parents had invited the Dowells over for old-school disco parties in the hayloft - the strange lights and laughter - but when he heard grunting, shifting beams, and creaking floorboards, he laughed; the gathering was obviously a seance.
Jimmy had thought his parents had invited the Dowells over for old-school disco parties in the hayloft - the strange lights and laughter - but when he heard grunting, shifting beams, and creaking floorboards, he laughed; the gathering was obviously a seance.
February 2018's Winner
Becky Schnur, "Turquoise"
As soon as she saw the turquoise and silver thunderbird belt buckle lying across the skeleton's hips, Amy knew the body in the cellar was her missing father and that he wasn't sipping mojitos in Cuba after all.
As soon as she saw the turquoise and silver thunderbird belt buckle lying across the skeleton's hips, Amy knew the body in the cellar was her missing father and that he wasn't sipping mojitos in Cuba after all.
December 2017's Co-Winners
Alixandrea Tremont, "Meatloaf"
The woman watched as her family enjoyed the meal she'd prepared, unaware that the meatloaf they devoured so eagerly actually contained their dear father and his cute young secretary.
The woman watched as her family enjoyed the meal she'd prepared, unaware that the meatloaf they devoured so eagerly actually contained their dear father and his cute young secretary.
Jessica Ferrato, "Meatloaf"
Amid the mess of towering eggshells and earlier mistakes dug out of the trash by the cat, Jo tasted his mother-in-law's horseradish meatloaf recipe and realized that she no longer loved Paul.
Amid the mess of towering eggshells and earlier mistakes dug out of the trash by the cat, Jo tasted his mother-in-law's horseradish meatloaf recipe and realized that she no longer loved Paul.
November 2017's Winner
Steve Kalpin, "Time travel"
The reanimation had failed, cloning had failed; Keith used his sleeve to wipe the sweat and whiskey pooling under his lip and decided he would have to accomplish the impossible: time travel to before she died.
The reanimation had failed, cloning had failed; Keith used his sleeve to wipe the sweat and whiskey pooling under his lip and decided he would have to accomplish the impossible: time travel to before she died.
October 2017's Winner
Akanksha Singh, "Brain glue"
It isn't like the Old Days, when you could just walk into a repair shop and ask for Brain Glue—nowadays, 'bots upgrade their brains when they bust, and if you wait too long (like me), you risk reaching a post-Glue state, where it's all goop and nothing to glue, y' feel me?
It isn't like the Old Days, when you could just walk into a repair shop and ask for Brain Glue—nowadays, 'bots upgrade their brains when they bust, and if you wait too long (like me), you risk reaching a post-Glue state, where it's all goop and nothing to glue, y' feel me?
September 2017's Winner
Darwyn Jones, "Chiffon"
The Easter Sunday heat caused the shed at the back of the Callahan property to swelter but couldn't keep Katie and Gerald from hiding inside, trading clothes - his denim and bowtie for her chiffon and ribbons - and giggling with delight as they witnessed their true selves.
The Easter Sunday heat caused the shed at the back of the Callahan property to swelter but couldn't keep Katie and Gerald from hiding inside, trading clothes - his denim and bowtie for her chiffon and ribbons - and giggling with delight as they witnessed their true selves.
May 2017's Winner
Rebecca Friedman, "Airplane glue"
Does he remember her name, Stacy wonders, or perhaps just her face - a fuzzy image from their garage groping sessions, fueled by airplane glue and Pepsi-Cola, the summer an inauspicious draft number called the boy to the jungle.
Does he remember her name, Stacy wonders, or perhaps just her face - a fuzzy image from their garage groping sessions, fueled by airplane glue and Pepsi-Cola, the summer an inauspicious draft number called the boy to the jungle.
April 2017's Winner
Felix Caraballo, "Cherry blossom"
A tear rolled down the samurai's cheek as she sheathed her katana, the leaves from the cherry blossom tree softening the thud of her father's head as it hit the ground.
A tear rolled down the samurai's cheek as she sheathed her katana, the leaves from the cherry blossom tree softening the thud of her father's head as it hit the ground.
March 2017's Winner
Carolyn Rogers, "Fruit palace"
Bouazizi had envisioned his cart a fruit palace, claiming to his mother that the oranges, dates, and apples were his best ever, but when the bureaucrat snatched away his scales again, he doused himself with kerosene and lit the match.
Bouazizi had envisioned his cart a fruit palace, claiming to his mother that the oranges, dates, and apples were his best ever, but when the bureaucrat snatched away his scales again, he doused himself with kerosene and lit the match.
February 2017's Winner
Ken Morton, "Dynamite"
The investor held a glass of champagne as he watched the dynamite carve out the canal, unaware of the Panamanian pulling her child closer, trembling in her hut, terrified of the explosions.
The investor held a glass of champagne as he watched the dynamite carve out the canal, unaware of the Panamanian pulling her child closer, trembling in her hut, terrified of the explosions.
December 2016's Winner
Yesenia Karas, "Townie"
Avoiding making eye contact with townies on the train, Frederick Douglas knew that, if someone asked for his free papers, he would be done for.
Avoiding making eye contact with townies on the train, Frederick Douglas knew that, if someone asked for his free papers, he would be done for.
November 2016's Winner
Kathryn Fitzpatrick, "Swagalicious"
Day 14: Still unsure if Natasha from Philosophy 110 is hipster or Russian spy; likes borscht, advocates Communism, used swagalicious in conversation yesterday—ironic/unironic—TBD.
Day 14: Still unsure if Natasha from Philosophy 110 is hipster or Russian spy; likes borscht, advocates Communism, used swagalicious in conversation yesterday—ironic/unironic—TBD.
October 2016's Co-Winners
Caitlin Briody, "Aqueduct"
She thought hard: waterfalls, leaky pipes, aqueducts, roaring oceans--but none of these provoked her frightened bladder as she watched his pacing feet cast shadows underneath the crack of the door.
She thought hard: waterfalls, leaky pipes, aqueducts, roaring oceans--but none of these provoked her frightened bladder as she watched his pacing feet cast shadows underneath the crack of the door.
Diane Vivona, "Aqueduct"
Of the gollums who lived in the aqueduct, Merryweather—too slow to ask riddles and too clumsy to throw rocks—took pride in emitting great gaseous storms that felled dragons and knights, his silent but deadly success as a sentry.
Of the gollums who lived in the aqueduct, Merryweather—too slow to ask riddles and too clumsy to throw rocks—took pride in emitting great gaseous storms that felled dragons and knights, his silent but deadly success as a sentry.
September 2016's Winner
Matt Ezrin, "Saturday-sex"
During our last weekly Saturday-sex session, I told her how much I respected her profession - the world's oldest - and she responded by looking me deeply in the eyes with a slightly clenched jaw and saying, "Stop patronizing me."
During our last weekly Saturday-sex session, I told her how much I respected her profession - the world's oldest - and she responded by looking me deeply in the eyes with a slightly clenched jaw and saying, "Stop patronizing me."
June 2016's Winner
Heather Varner, "1926"
Elizabeth surveyed Anna's transition from critical to braindead unfold in an interminable 32 minutes - 1,926 seconds to be exact, turning what should have been a giggle-inducing tale of recklessness between friends into an irreparable chasm in her life story.
Elizabeth surveyed Anna's transition from critical to braindead unfold in an interminable 32 minutes - 1,926 seconds to be exact, turning what should have been a giggle-inducing tale of recklessness between friends into an irreparable chasm in her life story.
May 2016's Winner
Elizabeth Buzay, "Blueberries"
Rebecca’s beautiful, long hair shifted in the wind to reveal her scarred face; but the real surprise, sweet and awakening as the tang of blueberries when you bite into a muffin, was when she sang with her Billie Holiday voice.
Rebecca’s beautiful, long hair shifted in the wind to reveal her scarred face; but the real surprise, sweet and awakening as the tang of blueberries when you bite into a muffin, was when she sang with her Billie Holiday voice.
April 2016's Winner
Becky Schnur, "Gondola"
Not everyone is conceived in the bottom of a Venetian gondola, my globetrotting mother reminded me whenever she thought I was being too conventional—like when I did my homework, went to school or wore shoes.
Not everyone is conceived in the bottom of a Venetian gondola, my globetrotting mother reminded me whenever she thought I was being too conventional—like when I did my homework, went to school or wore shoes.
March 2016's Winner
Jack Schlottman, "Bob Dylan"
She signed the papers because she thought she had married Bob Dylan, but he just carried a battered Martin, mumbled in 50-cent words and needed a shower.
She signed the papers because she thought she had married Bob Dylan, but he just carried a battered Martin, mumbled in 50-cent words and needed a shower.
December 2015's Winner
Jessica Sweeney, "Confession"
She no longer attended confession for she learned to love her sin.
She no longer attended confession for she learned to love her sin.
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Student Honorable Mention: Mark, The Rectory School
Mr. Winkler's confession: he loves the blonde girl with blue eyes, red lips, and yellow skin, who wears the white dress and wanders the castle where she died four hundred years ago. |
November 2015's Co-Winners
Matthew Winkler, "Handlebars"
He’d trimmed them all – the Fu Manchu, the waxed handlebars, the mutton chops – but when the ZZ Top guitarist walked into his barber shop, Lyle mopped his brow and winked at Doris in her chipped frame, sure that he’d be joining her soon.
He’d trimmed them all – the Fu Manchu, the waxed handlebars, the mutton chops – but when the ZZ Top guitarist walked into his barber shop, Lyle mopped his brow and winked at Doris in her chipped frame, sure that he’d be joining her soon.
Carol Dowd-Forte, "Handlebars"
The relationship was like a bicycle, trust reduced to a kickstand on an incline, me either pedaling like hell to get somewhere or precarious on the handlebars, bracing for the moment he'd slam on the brakes behind my back.
The relationship was like a bicycle, trust reduced to a kickstand on an incline, me either pedaling like hell to get somewhere or precarious on the handlebars, bracing for the moment he'd slam on the brakes behind my back.
October 2015's Winner
Brittany Mishra, "Commode"
I pulled back the hospital curtain and found grandma sitting bare butt on her commode; the nurse was next to her staring in horror as Gran said, “If I pretend it’s your grandfather’s face, everything comes out so much easier.”
I pulled back the hospital curtain and found grandma sitting bare butt on her commode; the nurse was next to her staring in horror as Gran said, “If I pretend it’s your grandfather’s face, everything comes out so much easier.”
September 2015's Winner
Jim Boring, "Burrito"
In the short fall to the end of the rope, in the instant the noose tightened, Jose managed to raise his children with kindness, receive forgiveness from his wife, and imagine heaven as a place where his mother made burritos.
In the short fall to the end of the rope, in the instant the noose tightened, Jose managed to raise his children with kindness, receive forgiveness from his wife, and imagine heaven as a place where his mother made burritos.
June 2015's Winner
Jim Metzner, "Chaff"
The men from the boys, the coarse from the fine, the wheat from the chaff, all fragments of wisdom from my father; now the old man's lying eyes closed, and I'm wondering what separates the living from the dying.
The men from the boys, the coarse from the fine, the wheat from the chaff, all fragments of wisdom from my father; now the old man's lying eyes closed, and I'm wondering what separates the living from the dying.
May 2015's Winner
Joseph Giasullo, "Presto"
My daughter’s love for magic compels her to gallivant around the house performing her silly tricks. Though I always tell her she didn’t survive the crash, she seems happiest when she appears and whispers "presto” to me every night.
My daughter’s love for magic compels her to gallivant around the house performing her silly tricks. Though I always tell her she didn’t survive the crash, she seems happiest when she appears and whispers "presto” to me every night.
April 2015's Winner
Diane Vivona, "Rain-slicker"
Yellow Rain-Slicker was very fond of Pink Umbrella and, though they had yet to be paired together, imagined that his shine and her bloom would rescue their young mistress from great drenching misfortunes during her first school year.
Yellow Rain-Slicker was very fond of Pink Umbrella and, though they had yet to be paired together, imagined that his shine and her bloom would rescue their young mistress from great drenching misfortunes during her first school year.
March 2015's Winner
Sean Crawford, "Bodega"
Outside the bodega, the green neon of the Heineken sign creating a nimbus around his head, Myles took a drag of his first cigarette in eighteen months and decided nicotine never breaks your heart.
Outside the bodega, the green neon of the Heineken sign creating a nimbus around his head, Myles took a drag of his first cigarette in eighteen months and decided nicotine never breaks your heart.
Elephant Rock Books: Stories You Won't Forget
Contact us if you're interested in scheduling a reading.
Contact us if you're interested in scheduling a reading.
