Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Poul Anderson Writing Contest. The contest is an annual event, sponsored by the Friends of the Orinda Library. Entries are submitted online in any of four categories: science fiction, essay, short story, or poetry. Named after the late Poul Anderson, a well-known Orinda science fiction writer, this contest is intended to foster the talents of young creative writers who live in or go to school in Orinda. Each award winner receives a $500 award, and each honorable mention entry receives a $200 award.
This year’s talented winners are as follows: Josslyn Grover, a senior at Bentley for the science fiction story Bilious Blue, and the essay My Cousin’s Cousin’s Cousin; Emma Wong, a senior at Miramonte, for the poem Letters to Home; and Adria Esopa, a senior at Miramonte for the poem, Life Goes On.
Honorable mentions were awarded to these talented writers: Liesel Yun a junior at Miramonte for the poem LIttle Things; Livia Segall, a junior at Miramonte, for the essay The Music of the Spheres; Rory Gaarder-Wang, a sophomore at Miramonte for the poem, Anatomy of an Airplane; and Tatiana Gupta, a senior at Miramonte for the science fiction story, Journeys.
The Friends of the Library also extend our sincere thanks to the judges for the contest: Susan Williams, librarian at Miramonte; Anne Lowell, librarian at Glorietta School; Sora O’Doherty, staff writer for the Lamorinda Weekly; and Sally Hogarty, editor and writer for many Bay Area publications.