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Library NewsWriting Contest

2018 Writing Contest Winners Announced

The Friends of the Orinda Library is excited to announce the winners of the 2018 Poul Anderson Creative Writing Contest.

The writing contest is named in memory of Orinda resident Poul Anderson, a popular science fiction writer of over eighty books. Open to all Orinda high school students, winning entries are selected by a panel of judges who are involved professionally in reading, writing, or publishing.

The writing contest features four genres: Short Story, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Poetry, and Essay/Memoir/Biography. This year’s winners—selected from a record number of entries—each received prizes of $500, along with certificates of recognition from the Friends of the Orinda Library.

Read the winning entries.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Short Story, Winner

Her or Me?
Dara Kazmierowski
Miramonte High School, Grade 11

Short Story, Honorable Mention

Throught the Window, 1919, New York
Molly Clemons
Orinda Academy, Grade 11

Sink or Swim
Madison Lehman
Miramonte High School, Grade 10

Science Fiction/Fantasy, Winner

Somewhere, Anywhere
Isabella Bianchi
Miramonte High School, Grade 11

Science Fiction/Fantasy, Honorable Mention

Now Requesting for Relocation
Molly Clemons
Orinda Academy, Grade 11

Poetry, Winners

Racehorses
Sara Aoki
Miramonte High School, Grade 11

America’s Dreams
Zahra Hasanain
Miramonte High School, Grade 12

Poetry, Honorable Mention

All I Ever Do Is Grow Up
Dara Kazmierowski
Miramonte High School, Grade 11

The Boat Rocks On
Ella Nelson
Miramonte High School, Grade 12

Ouroboros
Alison Gan
Miramonte High School, Grade 10

Essay/Memoir/Biography, Honorable Mention

One Thousand Cranes
Sara Aoki
Miramonte High School, Grade 11

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