We Have a Winner!

I came home from doing a reading at the California Writers' Club open mike to find two envelopes that had my address label on them - obvious SASEs from previous submissions.

"Ah, well," I thought. "Another couple of rejections."

The first one was exactly what I expected - the cover letter I had sent along with a rejection printed on something larger than a business card, but smaller than an index card. Not the worst thing I've gotten.

The second envelope had the word "yes" stamped in green ink on the front. I looked at it and thought "Wouldn't it be cool if that meant an acceptance," but dismissed the thought because acceptances are in thicker envelopes. Or something.

I opened the envelope and pulled out a pink photocopy, trifolded, called "List of Winners for the 2005 Soul-Making Literary Competition." I started looking at the categories, because I didn't remember off the top of my head what I submitted to them. Under "Sheila K. Smith Short Story Prize" was my name under second prize. Yup, I won second prize.

On the back of the pamphlet was this notice:

"In keeping with our ongoing tradition, every prize winner and honorable mention is invited to read from his or her winning works at the

Soul-Making Literary Competition Awards Reading
Sunday Afternoon (1:00 pm)
March 12, 2006
Koret Auditorium
San Francisco Main Library, Civic Center
Program includes dance and music performances and art exhibit and will be televised for future viewing on Access San Francisco Channel 29.
Event includes a reception and is free and open to the public."

Hint. Hint.