The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society Announces Winners, Runners-up, and Others Who Have Placed in the 2025-2026 in the Faulkner – Wisdom Competition
The Faulkner Society is pleased to announce the winners, runners-up, and others who placed in the nine categories of the Faulkner – Wisdom Competition. They are:
Novel
Selected by New York literary agent Michelle Tessler:
Winner
The Wisdom of Water by Laura Lane McNeal of New Orleans, LA
The Wisdom of Water by Laura Lane McNeal of New Orleans, LA
Runner-up:
Why Paris? by Yara Zgheib of Ain Aar, Metn, Lebannon, and Paris, France
Why Paris? by Yara Zgheib of Ain Aar, Metn, Lebannon, and Paris, France
Others on the Short List:
Amateurs, Andrew Cominelli, New Orleans, LA
Amateurs, Andrew Cominelli, New Orleans, LA
Jackson, George Bishop, Jr., New Orleans, LA
Lifeswork, Claudia H. Hoffman, Madison Heights, MI
Not Done Yet, Kathleen George, Pittsburgh, PA
Sea of Beauty, Barbara Burgess, Chicago, IL
Talking in Layers, S. A. Slosberg, New Rochelle, NY
The Darkening, Yoruba Baltrip, New Orleans, LANon-Fiction Book
Selected by New York Literary Agent Jeff Kleinman:
Winner
The Scandalous Mr. Johnson by Charlotte Hays of Washington, DC
Runner-up:
Mermaid in the Window by Elaine Stevens of Biloxi, MS
Others on the Short List:
Dear Ignatius, Dear Blanche: Letters to My Favorite Ghosts, C. W. Cannon, New Orleans, LA
I Saved Lives, Philip Levin, Biloxi, MS
Race, Southern Resistance, and the Expansion of The Federal Government, Michael T. Tusa, Abita Springs, LA
The Frogless Dark, Russell Working, Oak Park, IL
Wounded Songbirds, Barry Fitzsimmons, Rowawayton, CT
Lifeswork, Claudia H. Hoffman, Madison Heights, MI
Not Done Yet, Kathleen George, Pittsburgh, PA
Sea of Beauty, Barbara Burgess, Chicago, IL
Talking in Layers, S. A. Slosberg, New Rochelle, NY
The Darkening, Yoruba Baltrip, New Orleans, LANon-Fiction Book
Selected by New York Literary Agent Jeff Kleinman:
Winner
The Scandalous Mr. Johnson by Charlotte Hays of Washington, DC
Runner-up:
Mermaid in the Window by Elaine Stevens of Biloxi, MS
Others on the Short List:
Dear Ignatius, Dear Blanche: Letters to My Favorite Ghosts, C. W. Cannon, New Orleans, LA
I Saved Lives, Philip Levin, Biloxi, MS
Race, Southern Resistance, and the Expansion of The Federal Government, Michael T. Tusa, Abita Springs, LA
The Frogless Dark, Russell Working, Oak Park, IL
Wounded Songbirds, Barry Fitzsimmons, Rowawayton, CT
Complete Collections
Selected by a judge who wishes to remain Anonymous:
Winner
What Cannot Be Undone by David Martin Anderson of Boerne, TX
Runner-up
Whispers on Hudson by S. A. Slosberg New Rochelle, NY
Others on the Short List
Apéro, European Stories, T. D. Arkenberg, Arlington Heights, IL
The Dance at St. Theresa’s, Kathleen George, Pittsburg, PA
The Exterminator’s Daughter, Fran Schumer, Oak Bluffs, MA
Unusual Poisons, Matthew Pitt, Fort Worth, TX
Short Fiction
Selected by Prize-winning short fiction author Annell Lopez:
Winner
What the River Took by David Martin Anderson of Boerne, TX
Runner-up
Some Things Don’t Change by Alexander Shalom Joseph, Boulder, CO
Others on the Short List:
Illustrated Cyclopedia of Russian Cannibal Soldier Tattoos, Russell Working, Oak Park, IL
Confessions from a Close Encounter, Petra Perkins, Highlands Ranch, CO
da-Dum, Robin Luce Martin, New York, NY
Erased, Stan Kempton, New Orleans, LA
Heat, Mathew Minson, Las Vegas, NV
Misadventures, David Kennedy, Bronx, NY
Stockholm, David Galef, Montclair, NJ
Symphony #40 in the Publix Parking Lot, Patricia Warren, Sandy Springs, GA
The Croquet Stick, Rosemary Daniell, Savannah, GA
What a Day to Play Hooky, Benjamin Duffy, Montgomery, AL
Book-in-Progress
Selected by a duo of judges working together—marketing consultant and interior designer Kathleen Waring and Jamie Harpootlian, attorney, former U. S. Ambassador to Slovenia, and experienced non-fiction writer:
Winner
Boom by Lawrence Coates of Port Angeles, WA
Runner-Up
Dolly Mamma by Cassandra Delaney of New Orleans, La
Selected by Prize-winning short fiction author Annell Lopez:
Winner
What the River Took by David Martin Anderson of Boerne, TX
Runner-up
Some Things Don’t Change by Alexander Shalom Joseph, Boulder, CO
Others on the Short List:
Illustrated Cyclopedia of Russian Cannibal Soldier Tattoos, Russell Working, Oak Park, IL
Confessions from a Close Encounter, Petra Perkins, Highlands Ranch, CO
da-Dum, Robin Luce Martin, New York, NY
Erased, Stan Kempton, New Orleans, LA
Heat, Mathew Minson, Las Vegas, NV
Misadventures, David Kennedy, Bronx, NY
Stockholm, David Galef, Montclair, NJ
Symphony #40 in the Publix Parking Lot, Patricia Warren, Sandy Springs, GA
The Croquet Stick, Rosemary Daniell, Savannah, GA
What a Day to Play Hooky, Benjamin Duffy, Montgomery, AL
Book-in-Progress
Selected by a duo of judges working together—marketing consultant and interior designer Kathleen Waring and Jamie Harpootlian, attorney, former U. S. Ambassador to Slovenia, and experienced non-fiction writer:
Winner
Boom by Lawrence Coates of Port Angeles, WA
Runner-Up
Dolly Mamma by Cassandra Delaney of New Orleans, La
Others on the Short List
Adverse Possession, Kate Bullard Adams of Durham, NC
A.L.E.X., Jay Gauldoni, Naples, FL
A Mortal Sin, Michael Ditchfield, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ancient Fires Blazing Away, David Kennedy, Bronx, NY
Antikles, Timothy Jay Smith, Nice, France
Baby, He’s a Wolf, Russell Working,
Egret, Marguerite Sheffer, New Orleans, LA
Long Hot Summers, Barnes Carr, Houston, TX
Root, Stacey Balkun, New Orleans, LA
The Radical, Addison Griffis, Philadelphia, MS
There is a House, Dave Barnette, Fairhope, A
A.L.E.X., Jay Gauldoni, Naples, FL
A Mortal Sin, Michael Ditchfield, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Ancient Fires Blazing Away, David Kennedy, Bronx, NY
Antikles, Timothy Jay Smith, Nice, France
Baby, He’s a Wolf, Russell Working,
Egret, Marguerite Sheffer, New Orleans, LA
Long Hot Summers, Barnes Carr, Houston, TX
Root, Stacey Balkun, New Orleans, LA
The Radical, Addison Griffis, Philadelphia, MS
There is a House, Dave Barnette, Fairhope, A
Essay
Selected by Journalist and Publisher Jack Davis:
Winner
The Backward Book By Rodger Kamenetz of New Orleans, LA
Runner-up
Angels Landing By Petra Perkins of Highlands Ranch, Co
Others on the Short List
I Remember, Fran Schumer, Oak Bluffs, MA
Rammed in the Rear, Janet Taylor-Perry, Ridgeland, MS
Trust Love, Barbara Y. Phillips, Oxford, MS
Wait Till The Black, Elaine Stevens, Biloxi, MS
What Is Was Not, David Martin Anderson, Boerne, TX
Selected by Journalist and Publisher Jack Davis:
Winner
The Backward Book By Rodger Kamenetz of New Orleans, LA
Runner-up
Angels Landing By Petra Perkins of Highlands Ranch, Co
Others on the Short List
I Remember, Fran Schumer, Oak Bluffs, MA
Rammed in the Rear, Janet Taylor-Perry, Ridgeland, MS
Trust Love, Barbara Y. Phillips, Oxford, MS
Wait Till The Black, Elaine Stevens, Biloxi, MS
What Is Was Not, David Martin Anderson, Boerne, TX
Poetry Collection
Selected by Bill Lavender, Master Poet and Publisher:
Winner
Poems for Bystanders, Benjamin Aleshire of Cuttingsville, VT
Poems for Bystanders, Benjamin Aleshire of Cuttingsville, VT
Runner-up
Phoenix by Cassandra Delaney of New Orleans, LA
Others on the Short List
In Praise, Alexander Shalom Joseph, Boulder, CO
Ode to My Yo-Yo, Holly Hunt, Hot Springs, AR
Passages from Bucksnort to Bhagu, Christine Poythress, Madison, TN.
Phoenix by Cassandra Delaney of New Orleans, LA
Others on the Short List
In Praise, Alexander Shalom Joseph, Boulder, CO
Ode to My Yo-Yo, Holly Hunt, Hot Springs, AR
Passages from Bucksnort to Bhagu, Christine Poythress, Madison, TN.
Individual Poem
Selected by Louisiana Poet Laureate Gina Ferrera:
Winner
The Golden Raintree by Rodger Kamenetz of New Orleans, LA
Runner Up
This is the Life By Rodger Kamenetz of New Orleans, LA
Others on the Short List
In Praise of Typos, Alexander Shalom Joseph, Boulder, CO
Refrain, Patrick Reardon, Chicago, IL
Searching for Shirly Ann Grau at Galatoire’s, Margaret Gilbert, New York, NY
Sista’s Blues, Yoruba Baltrip, New Orleans, LA
Spectrum, S. T. Eleu, Westmont, IL
The Reference Room, Fran Schumer, Oak Bluffs, MA
High School Short Story
Selected by a Judge who wishes to remain Anonymous:
Winner
The Jellyfish Splits Next to a Relic of a Bygone Dominant Species by Nicholas Lavender, New Orleans, LA and Boston, MA
Runner-up
Snake Bites by Maryanne Middleton, Marlborough, UK
Selected by a Judge who wishes to remain Anonymous:
Winner
The Jellyfish Splits Next to a Relic of a Bygone Dominant Species by Nicholas Lavender, New Orleans, LA and Boston, MA
Runner-up
Snake Bites by Maryanne Middleton, Marlborough, UK
Congratulations to all of you. The level of work submitted this year was generally accomplished and there was a great deal of imagination on display in all of the categories. We will be posting photos, bios, and comments from judges for winners and runners-up during the next few days.
To review those who placed as finalists but were not selected for the short lists CLICK HERE!
We hope to see all of you in New Orleans for Faulkner for All, 2026.
If you are planning to come and wish to have your manuscripts critiqued
by professional literary agents and editors, you must get your material for
critique in this coming week, not later. Review the critique guidelines prior
to submitting. Review Critique guidelines HERE!
We hope to see all of you in New Orleans for Faulkner for All, 2026.
If you are planning to come and wish to have your manuscripts critiqued
by professional literary agents and editors, you must get your material for
critique in this coming week, not later. Review the critique guidelines prior
to submitting. Review Critique guidelines HERE!