The 2011 Thurber Treat Writing Contest
2011 Thurber Treat Winners!
Local authors, of any age, were invited to submit entries to the 2011 Thurber Treat writing contest. For this year’s contest, they chose one of the following cartoons, created a caption for that particular cartoon and then elaborated on the caption with a fun story (limited to 1000 words).
The four winning authors delighted the audience with their stories at the Literary Picnic on Wednesday, June 8. Just in case you missed it, the stories are listed below for your enjoyment! (The files are rather large, so it may take a minute to load.)
Winning Entry by Katherine Leisering, Ph.D
Vile M! It’s ‘urder
Katherine came to the Thurber Treat all the way from Parkersburg, West Virginia. She is a retired college speech and English professor who founded and coached competitive speech teams at three separate colleges that cumulatively won well over 300 awards. Since retirement, she has concentrated on her first love, writing, especially humor writing, which she’s had an affinity for since high school when her father handed her a copy of the Benchley Round-Up and told her to acquaint herself with Robert Benchley. She has won numerous awards for her writing including the 2010 Humor Award from the Robert Benchley Society and a 2010 award in the Lyttle Lytton Contest, among many others. Her first book, Life’s a Hoot, Man, published in 2005, features her own two Scottish terriers, Maggie and Lorna, and their zany take on life. Her Scotties also tie her in a special way to fellow Scottie owner, James Thurber.
Winning Entry by Larry O’Connor
Thank God, you’re here. The lamp and I need a break!
Mr. O’Connor is a 72-year-old United States Navy veteran and retired ad agency executive, and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with degrees in Art and History. He and his wife, Mary, have been married for nearly 49 years with whom he has four children, seven grandchildren with another one on the way!
Winning Entry by Megan Real
The Age of Discovery
Megan has lived in Columbus for thirty years and works for the Information Technology Division at the Supreme Court of Ohio. She is a graduate of Columbus Alternative High School and The Ohio State University. This is her very first time entering a writing contest - or, in fact, writing something that wasn't a report for school or meeting minutes at work.
Winning Entry by Elaine Taylor
Deadly Nightshade
Elaine was born a bookworm. Librarians throughout her school years gave her special privileges, and her pocket money was usually spent on comics and books from Scott’s Five and Dime. Her insatiable appetite for reading and love for words eventually led to her strong desire to write. She has been writing for over thirty years, whether it be poetry, short stories, skits, plays, or her personal journal. In 2007, her short story “ Red Carpet Treatment” was published in Faith Writer’s Challenge Volume 11, Hidden in the Hymns, and her entry “ Book Worm” won first place for Level 3 Advanced Challenge the same year. Due to being a busy housewife, baker, gardener, golfer, and actress (among other things), Elaine has just recently taken up the pen once again. Born in Bitburg, Germany, she grew up in Gahanna, Ohio and currently resides on the West Side with her handsome husband Wally, their two dogs (JoBu, Teddy), two cats (Symphony, Cello) and of course, lots and lots of books.
