Room Magazine is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Room Magazine Annual Poetry and Fiction Contest as chosen by our judges Jen Currin, and Shani Mootoo.
Room Magazine is pleased to announce the winners of the 2015 Room Magazine Annual Poetry and Fiction Contest as chosen by our judges Jen Currin, and Shani Mootoo. Room would like to extend our gratitude to our every writer who shared with us their work, and to our judges for contributing their time to judge the annual contest. The winning first and second place entries will be published in Room 39.2 (published in June 2016) along with the judges’ insight on their top picks.
FICTION
First Place: “They Come Crying” by Sarah Kabamba
Sarah Kabamba is a word obsessed, tea loving, fourth year Law student with an English Minor. She believes in the power of words in constructing identity and recognizing the importance of family, beliefs, and culture. Sarah currently resides in Ottawa, where she writes and read as much as she can.
Second place: “Whale Song” by Rowan Smith-McCandless
Teacher, storyteller, thrift-store junkie and chai tea lover, Rowan Smith-McCandless writes and lives in Winnipeg. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Winnipeg. “Whale Song” is her first piece of published fiction.
Honourable Mention: “Vagina Dentata” by Karen Hofmann
Karen Hofmann teaches at Thompson Rivers University and has published fiction and poetry in several magazines, including A Room of One’s Own. A poetry collection, Water Strider, was published in 2008 and shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay prize. Her first novel, After Alice, was published by NeWest Press in 2014.
POETRY
First Place: “Cut from Guyana Journals” by Stephanie McKenzie
Stephanie McKenzie is the author of three books of poetry all published by Salmon Poetry (Cliffs of Moher, Ireland). McKenzie’s current poetry focuses on the West Indies. In 2014, McKenzie lived in Guyana writing with the support of a Canada Council Grant for Professional Writers.
Second place: “Self-discovery” by Kyeren Regehr
Kyeren Regehr’s poetry has been published in journals and anthologies in Canada, Australia and America. She has twice received a grant from Canada Council for the Arts. Her first manuscript, Cult Life, is as yet unpublished. Kyeren lives with her family in Victoria, BC.
Honourable Mention: “Sometimes We Sing Soft Kitty” by Sylvia Adams
Sylvia Adams is the author of two poetry collections, a novel and a children’s book. Workshop instructor, editor, book reviewer. Founding member, Ottawa’s Field Stone Poets. Introvert, synaesthete, Luddite. Winner, 2013 and 2014, Aesthetica’s Internationa
We will be announcing our 2016 judges for CNF, Poetry, and Fiction very soon and our CNF contest opens on Oct 15!
