Young Writers Advance to Short Story Contest Final

Twelve high-school students made it to the list of finalists for the Gaithersburg Book Festival’s third annual High School Student Short Story Contest, according to a news release from the festival's organization.

More than 200 entries were received from public school, private school and home-schooled students in DC, Maryland and Virginia, the release stated.

"The first-, second- and third-place winners, along with a fan favorite, will be announced at the festival on May 18 at 12:30 p.m. in the Ogden Nash tent. Winners will receive $100, $50 and $25 gift certificates, respectively. The prizes are provided by the Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus," the release stated.

New York Times best-selling author Caroline Leavitt (Pictures of You and Is It Tomorrow) will select the winners. 

Short story contestants had to pick from three possible opening lines—provided by Leavitt—for their stories.

"It’s exciting to see the short story contest remain a vibrant and growing aspect of our festival," Jud Ashman, festival chair and City of Gaithersburg council member, said. "We love being able to engage with and encourage tomorrow’s authors."

The 12 finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

• Jennifer Baik of Ellicott City, MD (Centennial High School, grade 12, Howard County)
• Megan Baldwin of Rockville, MD (Walter Johnson High School, grade 11, Montgomery County)
• Rebecca Danaceau of Gaithersburg, MD (Northwest High School, grade 12, Montgomery County)
• Casey Early of Fairfax, VA (Robinson Secondary School, grade 11, Fairfax County)
• Mia Harris of Annandale, VA (Washington Waldorf School, grade 9, Fairfax County)
• Rachel Page of Washington, DC (Woodrow Wilson High School, grade 9)
• Nur Simsek of Fairfax, VA (Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, grade 10, Fairfax County)
• Cary Spector of Chevy Chase, MD (Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, grade 12, Montgomery County)
• Caroline E. Steel of Kensington, MD (Walter Johnson High School, grade 11, Montgomery County)
• Becky Sutherland of Manassas, VA (Osbourn Park High School, grade 11, Prince William County)
• Devin Taylor of Silver Spring, MD (Northwood High School, grade 12, Montgomery County)
• Joey Vaughan of Vienna, VA (Oakton High School, grade 10, Fairfax County)

Baik and Spector were finalists in the 2012 contest.

The finalists’ stories have been posted to the Gaithersburg Book Festival website at gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/short-story-entries.

"Visitors are encouraged to go read the stories and give a 'thumbs up' to those stories they like best to determine the 'Fan Favorite' entry," the news release stated.