...a writer named John Englehardt. His story won't appear until a week from now, in the winter issue of our arts quarterly A&P, and I don't want to give anything away. But what can I tell you that won't spoil it? Let's see. I can tell you it is titled "Gingrich," that part of it is set in Pioneer Square, and that this is the art that will accompany it, by the illustrator Jungyeon Roh.

JRoh_boots_final.jpg

There's no way you'll be able to figure out what the story is about from those clues.

Thank you to all the writers who sent us stories (so many stories!), and to judges Rebecca Brown and Sherman Alexie for donating their expertise. As you know if you read the rules, the contest was judged blind. No one in the office had ever heard of John Englehardt before his story was selected for publication. Later we found out he has a degree in creative writing from Seattle University and he's currently pursuing an MFA at the University of Arkansas.