Beginning-Endings Unofficial Challenge WINNERS

Well, this is embarrassing.

I promised to announce the winners for this unofficial challenge nearly two full weeks ago - and here we are, winners unnanounced, zero updates from me, and a near total absence from the writing, reading, challenge-submitting, and commenting scenes on Vocal. OUCH.

I present here my formal, itemized list of excuses:

1) I am getting married in six weeks.

2) See excuse #1.

All jesting aside, I most definitely made a strategic error in the timing of this unofficial challenge. The business of an elementary school schedule (my relatively recent place of new employment) paired up with all of the planning and preparations for upcoming nuptials has made for a significant dearth of my time and energy. I absolutely should have seen this coming - and even barring that, should have mustered the will to post some updates for the wonderful people who participated in this challenge. Having failed to do that, I just want to extend a genuine apology. For anyone who was excitedly waiting for the results - I am truly sorry, friends!

But I won't waste any more time blathering on about me; let's talk about the brilliance that people came out to play with in this challenge! All told, there were thirteen fantastic entries received in the submission window. Thirteen Beginning-Endings - all of which conjured up uniquely inspiring imagery, stories, and question. The themes ranged from hidden grief to twisted revenge to the nature of time and reality; the tones spanned musing narrations, cosmic dramas, and spine-tingling horrors; the settings included quiet luncheons, fire-struck marshlands, and deep outer space!

I'll probably say this every time that I host an unofficial challenge (and I have ideas for a few more!), but I had such a difficult time selecting winners. I can honestly say that it was a genuine pleasure reading each piece, and I am proud and grateful that these creative souls took to my strange prompt. You are truly each winners in my book, however corny that sounds. :)

But without further ado, I'll at last announce the winners I've selected for this unofficial challenge!

FIRST PLACE WINNER: "Hunger" by Matthew Fromm

Matthew Fromm's entry portrays two scenes, literally near the beginning and ending of the protagonist's story - but which to me could both readily appear as prologue and epilogue to a rich tale. The tenderness of warm family history and subtle depth of unspoken tragedy blend into a thought-provoking and powerfully feeling piece - one which makes me want so much to hear the story behind and beyond this Beginning-Ending.

SECOND PLACE WINNER: "Of Chaos and Consequence" by Paul Stewart

Paul Stewart conjures up a twisted Beginning-Ending from the mind of a brilliantly demented narrator. I could see this particular entry sandwiching the saga of a protagonist's dark descent into villainy; the complexity and conviction of this particular brand of evil is so strikingly crafted, and sticks with you. Don't read this one before bed, kids!!

THIRD PLACE WINNER: "Meteor Birthed Barbarian" by K.B. Silver

K.B. Silver delves into a dimension of cosmic wonder in her out-of-this-world entry. The wordsmithing, grand scale, and terrifying characterization of a dark, hungry being work together to forge an incredibly compelling window into what feels like a true epic!

*

*

*

I'll include here the link back to the original challenge, for those who want to find all of the entries! Thanks for reading, friends; stay posted for future challenges, and for more of my own creative endeavors!