With Nerve and Verve
That’s how final judge Bob Thurber described the ten shortlisted stories for the 2022 Hummingbird Prize for Flash Fiction! And we couldn’t agree more.
Here’s what Bob had to say about this year’s top contenders:
“A fine batch of stories [with] a variety of themes with boldness and energy. Fun to read. Engaging. Fun to consider. It was truly a delight to be absorbed by so much good writing, and to become immersed in a flood of fresh, lively prose.”
And there’s more:
“All of the 2022 finalists are to be congratulated for a job well done, which makes my job harder — but I was happy to oblige. Like a good poem, a good story offers rewards in subsequent readings. … I wish each of these writers the very best as they move forward. I enjoyed embracing their stories.”
So, without further ado, congratulations to:
Winner: Alan Sincic with ‘Not What You Think’
“Daring and evocative. I found the piece, quite frankly, uncomfortably absorbing.”
Runner-up: MJ Malleck with ‘The Dog I Loved’
“A neat, clean, nostalgic delight. A brief reminiscence delivered with a modest reflective voice. Though subtle, the emotive movement reverberated like a chime with each subsequent reading. It repeatedly left me smiling.”
Notable Mentions: Kelli Allen with ‘When A Man Knows Much More Than We Ever Did’, Elizabeth Nash with ‘Aria of the Birds’, and Alan Sincic with ‘The Painting’
“All solid contenders [with] admirable qualities.”
Our thanks once again to Bob Thurber, and to all submitting authors for sharing your words and supporting Pulp Literature!
‘Not What You Think’ by Alan Sincic will appear in Issue 37, Winter 2023. And look for the runner-up and notable mentions in future issues of Pulp.
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So thrilled to have placed as runner up. Congratulations to Alan, and thank you to Bob Thurber for his wonderful comments.