Gary V. Powell, Author

Writers, for the most part, don't get too many opportunities to celebrate. Even when you do, the cause for celebration is often so long delayed that celebration seems anti-climactic.

In the last two weeks I've had three reasons for celebration. The third arrived just this morning.

The week before last, I received notification that a story I recently wrote for a theme contest will be featured on the publisher's website for two months later this year. That story, which is a little edgier than my mainstream fiction, will appear under a psuedonym.

A few days ago, Ann Zahlan, editor of The Thomas Wolfe Review  wrote to tell me that my story, "Miller's Deer," which was selected as runner up for the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize, will be published in the Review's fall edition.

This morning Anne Hicks of the Moonshine Review sent an e-mail confirming acceptance of my story, "On Horicon Marsh" for publication there later this year.

I'm really proud of all of these stories. I'm probably happiest about "On Horicon Marsh." I first wrote this story about twenty years ago. An early version was workshopped in author Ellen Hunnicutt's class at UMW. Ellen is a great writer and teacher and she loved the story and encouraged me to submit it for publication. At over 4,500 words it made the rounds. When, after a hiatus, I resumed writing again in earnest a few years ago, I went back to the story. In the last two years, I trimmed it to about 2,800 words. I'm happy that "On Horicon Marsh" has finally found a home and that that home is with Moonshine. I know that I'll be in the company of other respected writers there.

So, now, after a moment's pause, I'm back at it. At present I've got upwards to twenty writing projects in progress and that next novel, "Lucky Bastard," is out there, almost ready to be plucked. I expect to begin it this summer.