Four winners of the NolaVie Creative Writing Competition will read their works to the public on Thursday, April 14, at 6 p.m. at Octavia Books, 513 Octavia Street. The public is invited to attend free of charge; wine and cheese will be served.
Participants include Erik Vande Stouwe, who won in the poetry category for his poem “Hapax Legomena”; runner-up Megan Burns, who was tapped for her poem “Hurricane Alter/Altar”; non-fiction winner Christopher Thomas for a piece titled “Son of a Nun”; and Mark Folse, non-fiction runner-up for the essay “The Slow Noon Burn of June.”
The NolaVie Creative Writing Contest drew more than 150 entries. Submissions were judged on their ability to convey a unique aspect of New Orleans life. Competition supervisor and head judge was Tulane University creative writing professor Melissa Dickey.
With this contest, NolaVie continues its policy of publishing high-caliber original works – including essays, fiction, poetry, short film and photo galleries – representing the unique life and community in New Orleans. NolaVie Director of Content Blake Bertuccelli said that the contest, which will be held again next year, aims to encourage local writers to express their thoughts creatively about their environments.
The NolaVie Creative Writing Contest was underwritten by a grant from Fortier Financial.
Winners and runners-up also will be published online at NOLA.com/nolavie.
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