Western Short Story Winners

View the list of 2003-2016 winning writers: 

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Art Affair 2016 Western Short Story Contest Winners

• First Place - Leora Bridgewater, Beaver, Oklahoma – “Buford’s Revolt”

• Second Place - Olivia Neville, Beaver, Oklahoma – “Surprise Package”

• Third Place - Terry Alexander, Porum, Oklahoma – “The Act of God Mule”

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Honorable Mention - in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Terry Alexander, Porum, Oklahoma – “Preacher Joe and Salty Neil”

•  Honorable Mention – Robert E. Boertien, Welches, Oregon – “A Horse of a Different Color”

•  Honorable Mention – Sara Gipson, Scott, Arkansas – “Smokey Joe”

•  Honorable Mention – Venetia Hobson Lewis, Tucson, Arizona – “The Devil, As a Roaring Lion”

•  Honorable Mention – Mary Ellen Main, Beaver, Oklahoma – “The Messenger”

 

Art Affair 2015 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Sara Gipson, Scott, Arkansas – “A Christmas Visit from Santa”

• Second Place – Barbara Arent, Laird Hill, Texas – “The Falling X”

• Third Place (Tie) - Robert E. Boertien, Welches, Oregon – “Coin Flip”

• Third Place (Tie) – Doug Moring, Lees Summit, Missouri – “A Desperate Boy Takes Up the Gun” 

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Bruce Graham, Winter Park, Florida  – “Paladin”

• Honorable Mention – Mary Ellen Main, Beaver, Oklahoma – “Dusty Trails”

• Honorable Mention – Lisbeth L. McCarty, Norman, Oklahoma  – “Blinded by Love”

• Honorable Mention – Jameson Parker, Tehachapi, California – “The Virtues of Tobacco”

 

Art Affair 2014 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Charles R. Vassel, Midwest City, Oklahoma – “The Teacher and the Liar”

• Second Place – Robert E. Boertien, Welches, Oregon – “Tinkerbell”

• Third Place – W.D. West, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – “Salazar Comes” 

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Drew Davis, Martinez, Georgia – “Lindy Rose”

• Honorable Mention – Mike Koch, Coweta, Oklahoma – “The Legend of Shorty Mack”

• Honorable Mention – Doug Moring, Lees Summit, Missouri – “Outlaws in Hell”

 

Art Affair 2013 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – John V. Breen, Lymm, Cheshire, United Kingdom – “The Long Hate”

• Second Place – Terry Alexander, Porum, Oklahoma – “The Turd Wagon”

• Third Place (Tie) – Robert Goyette, Lansing, Michigan – “In the Valley Below”

• Third Place (Tie) – William S. Hubbartt, St. Charles, Illinois – “Kokopelli's Serenade”

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Paul Conn, Vinemont, Alabama – “I Knew They Would Come”

• Honorable Mention – Mike Koch, Coweta, Oklahoma – “Hot Iron”

• Honorable Mention – Venetia Lewis, Tucson, Arizona – “The Laundress”

• Honorable Mention – Jeffrey L. Moore, Lancaster, Ohio – “The Legend of Lightnin' Jack Bishop”

• Honorable Mention – Doug Moring, Lees Summit, Missouri – “A Damn Fool”

• Honorable Mention – M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa, Oklahoma – “Soul of the Departed”

• Honorable Mention – Charles R. Vassel, Midwest City, Oklahoma – “The Attorney, The Doctor, and The Lady”

• Honorable Mention – W. D. West, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – “The Law in Salty Flat”

 

Art Affair 2012 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – W. D. West, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – “Apache Justice”

• Second Place – J. E. S. Hays, Greenville, South Carolina – “Red”

• Third Place – Charles R. Vassel, Midwest City, Oklahoma – “Sadler and the Spitfire”

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Honorable Mentions listed in alphabetic order

• Honorable Mention – Mary Bollman, Kennedale, Texas – “Timeless”

• Honorable Mention – Michael D. Crumbaugh, Grubville, Missouri – “Guns of Sorrow”

• Honorable Mention – Francisco Rey Davila, Buffalo, New York – “The Last Mountain Man”

• Honorable Mention – Jake Teeny, Portland, Oregon – “So Burn the Coals”

 

Art Affair 2011 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Charles R. Vassel, Midwest City, Oklahoma – “The Boston Kid”

• Second Place – Brian Muir, Portland, Oregon – “Old Jack Lightning”

• Third Place – Robert E. Boertien, Welches, Oregon – “Crossing the Columbia”

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Honorable Mention

• First Honorable Mention – Dennis D. Wilson, Palm Desert, California – “A Hole in the Ace”

• Second Honorable Mention – L. J. Reed, Port Aransas, Texas – “A Summer Hunt”

• Third Honorable Mention – Robert Goyette, Lansing, Michigan – “The Buffalo Hunters”

• Fourth Honorable Mention – Gary R. Hoffman, Okeechobee, Florida – “Incident at Shadow Creek”

• Fifth Honorable Mention – Dave P. Fisher, SeaTac, Washington – “Old Nate’s Farewell”

• Sixth Honorable Mention – Dave P. Fisher, SeaTac, Washington – “The Blood Oath”

• Seventh Honorable Mention – Dave P. Fisher, SeaTac, Washington – “The Shooting of Rebel Tanner”

• Eighth Honorable Mention – Frank Carden, Las Cruces, New Mexico – “Billy Bonney aka The Kid”

• Ninth Honorable Mention – Kathleen Ewing, Prescott Valley, Arizona – “The Best for Last”

 

Art Affair 2010 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Robert Walton, King City, California – “Joaquin’s Gold”

• Second Place – Allen Russell, Hartford, Kentucky – “Do Unto Others”

• Third Place – Dave P. Fisher, Sparks, Nevada – “There Stands a Man”

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Honorable Mentions listed in alphabetic order

• Honorable Mention – Lee Baldwin, Gilroy, California – “Unfinished Business and Burning Greed”

• Honorable Mention – Lee Ann Russell, Springfield, Missouri – “Three At the Fence”

• Honorable Mention – M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa, Oklahoma – “Waitin’ For a Friend”

• Honorable Mention – Gary W. Szelc, Fanwood, New Jersey – “The Thundering Herd”

• Honorable Mention – Charles R. Vassel, Midwest City, Oklahoma – “The Fastest Gun Alive”

 

Art Affair 2009 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Linda Sherlock, Wallasey-Wirral, United Kingdom – “Ridin' On Ahead”

• Second Place – Dave P. Fisher, Sparks, Nevada – "Crow Scout"

• Third Place – Dave P. Fisher, Sparks, Nevada – "Mrs. Reynolds"

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Robert Boertien, Gresham, Oregon – "Customer Service"

• Honorable Mention – Dave P. Fisher, Sparks, Nevada – "Montana Jack"

• Honorable Mention – Gary R. Hoffman, Okeechobee, Florida – "Bad Blood"

• Honorable Mention – Lin Johns, Calgary-Alberta, Canada – "The Dude"

• Honorable Mention – Judy Magnuson Lilly, Salina, Kansas – "Honeymoon Train"

• Honorable Mention – M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa, Oklahoma – "Keeper of the Fire"

• Honorable Mention – Robert Walton, King City, California – "Black Maggie's Secret"

 

Art Affair 2008 Western Short Story Winners 

• First Place – W. D. West, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – “A Legend of the North”

• Second Place – W. D. West, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL – “Beartooth Pass”

• Third Place – Dave P. Fisher, Sparks, NV – “The Lone Rider”

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Terry Alexander, Porum, OK – “Double Event”

• Honorable Mention – Terry Alexander, Porum, OK – “The Last Ride Home”

• Honorable Mention – Karen Coody Cooper, Tahlequah, OK – “The Worst Day”

• Honorable Mention – Beth Henderson, Englewood, OH – “The Game at Eden's Hill”

• Honorable Mention – Judy Magnuson Lilly, Salina, KS – “Chills and Fever”

 

Art Affair 2006 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Susan K. Salzer, Columbia, MO – “Cornflower Blue”

• Second Place – Gerald Eisman, Sarasota, FL – “Duel on Dunphy's Mesa”

• Third Place – Vivian Gilbert Zabel, Edmond, OK – “Never Leave Me”

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Honorable Mentions – in alphabetical order

• Honorable Mention – Stoney Hardcastle, Wilburton, OK – “She/Devil On the Range”

• Honorable Mention – Betty Powers, Yukon, OK – “The Dreamer”

• Honorable Mention – Danny Wright, China Spring, TX – “Mulling a Texas Problem”

 

Art Affair 2004 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place – Robert Edward Harper, Bull Shoals, AR – “Cherokee Raid”

• Second Place – Jerry Craven, Canyon, TX – “Runaways”

• Third Place – Gerald Eisman, Sarasota, FL – “Trueblood”

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Honorable Mention

• First Honorable Mention – N. E. Chapman, Oklahoma City, OK – “A Memorable Time”

• Second Honorable Mention – M. Carolyn Steele, Tulsa, OK – “The Pity of It All”

 

Art Affair 2003 Western Short Story Winners

• First Place - Peggy Bechko, Santa Fe, NM - "Skykicker"

• Second Place - Gerald Eisman, Sarasota, FL - "Carmody"

• Third Place - Lori Van Pelt, Saratoga, WY - "Death Track"

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Honorable Mention

• Honorable Mention - Susan K. Salzer, Columbia, MO - "Captives"