Hummingbird's Emerging Writer Contest 4 Semi-Finalists
THANK YOU to the incredible writers that submitted entries for Hummingbird's Emerging Writer Contest 4. Submissions were unique and each was creative in its own way. We were impressed that authors experimented with literary devices which differentiated the work further.
Congratulations to our semi-finalists! If you or someone you know is an emerging writer, we invite you to enter our next contest!!
Now it is up to Hummingbird Readers to cast their votes for their favorite story.
The semi-finalist stories are below. Both stories are presented anonymously for the Hummingbird Reader vote. Each reader may cast only one vote. To vote, click the link below, insert the title of your favorite entry in the message space, and send.
Click here to vote.
Hummingbird voting commences on Saturday, September 14, 2024 and ends Wednesday, September 25, 2024. To be counted votes must be received by midnight on September 25, 2024 Your vote will be acknowledged when received.
The winner will be announced, and authors will be revealed on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The winner will have the opportunity to publish another original story at a later date. Good luck to the semi-finalists!
When reading, please note that entries had to meet the following guidelines.
Your story (or essay) must incorporate an attribute of "summer" in the manner of your choosing—thematic, subject, literary device, setting, etc. Example: “Tiny droplets hung in the still night air making it hard to breathe. ‘Close,’ as my proper Southern Granny used to say.”
Up to 350 words.
Must have a title.
The top 2 entries were chosen by a panel of Hummingbird authors. The stories were read “blind,” in that the author is not divulged to the judges.
The winning author, based on Hummingbird audience vote, will be invited to submit an original story of their choosing for future publication on Hummingbird on an agreed upon date. The short story or essay can have up to 450 words. The story or essay must be approved for publication by the publisher.
SEMI-FINALIST STORY 1
Cherry Eyes
"Try that one on the left; it's a juicy bunch." Annie guided her husband from the ground. If she wasn't in the final stretch of her pregnancy, she would have climbed herself. The old cherry tree was at its peak that year, its branches weighed down by plump, red fruit.
Annie sat in a rocking chair on a porch and picked one juicy fruit after another. With each fruit, a wave of different emotions and images occupied her body and mind. Long summer days at her grandparents' farm filled with joy and playfulness. A deep, dark sky full of stars and the giggles of her friends. The warm and hard hands of her grandfather, who smelled of hay. Delicious cherry pies cooling before supper. First lipstick and kiss. Late-night swims in the lake. Every year, that old tree and its fruits were a beacon of summer and leisure for Annie.
Annie was far away when her husband tapped her on the shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw his deep cherry eyes, which she had fallen for.
"Annie, are you O.K? I called several times, but you did not respond."
"I am O.K. The first pick of cherries always brings old memories."
"The cherries are fantastic. Let's make some liqueur."
"Good idea, but do we have schnapps?"
"I think we do." He leaned in to kiss her lips, which were smudged with cherries when her water broke.
"Nick, my water broke. The liqueur will have to wait."
Several hours later, Annie held a baby girl in her arms, and the first time she looked at her, she fell in love with her deep, dark cherry eyes.
SEMI-FINALIST STORY 2
The Other Side of the Counter
July 5th, 1996
A man and a woman came today. The woman bought the tomato for $1.25 and complained that the price was too high. Meanwhile, her husband’s eye was glued to the honey. He grabbed it. They paid for the stuff and headed for the car, the man had the jar of honey opened even before he got into it. Then Lauren waited on the woman behind them. The couple sat in the car, the woman looking undecided out of the window. I then commented that the lady probably wanted to bring the tomato back. The woman Lauren waited on laughed along with us, then she walked away and got into the same car.
Lauren and Brooke
July 19th, 1996
Customer: “What is the difference between these two bags of beans?” Answer: “One is 1 lb. And one is 3 lbs.”
Michelle
July 25th, 1996
A regular customer says he's a talent scout and he has discovered this and that star. He usually plays on our newest and prettiest girl, trying to make her a model. He picked Patty since three or four years. She hid when she saw him coming. Now he's financing a casino in New Mexico for the Indians.
Mrs. K.
July 17th, 2000
Well, today is Mike and my 45th anniversary. It certainly didn't start off too well… I got a call from Laura, she said she's quitting because I have to take taxes out of her paycheck. She wants to work only for cash. I can't operate that way because if any of the kids gets hurt, I'm in trouble. They all have to be on the books.
Mrs. K.
August 2nd, 2000
Today a very old man said he thought the corn husk was extra heavy. I think he was just too weak to take it off, so I offered to shuck it for him.
Mrs. K.