DRABBLE WRITING CONTEST

WINNER NAMED!

To celebrate the publication of Kissing Frogs and Other Quirky Fairy Tales, Hawaii Fiction Writers announces the winner and runner-up in the Super Bowl Drabble Contest.  The challenge was to write the opening of a familiar fairy tale as told by a famous writer.  The two finalists were asked to write one more drabble (exactly 100 words), the opening of a familiar fairy tale as told by a famous writer.  The winner, in advance of Super Bowl Sunday, will receive (1) a copy of Fractured Fairy Tales, by A.J. Jacobs, as featured on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show; and (2) bragging rights.

Congratulations to our winner, Laureen Kwock!  Laureen warmed up for the Super Bowl with her earlier entry of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears, as told by Mickey Spillane.''  Her overtime-winning drabble, which appears below, is "Little Red Riding Hood, as told by Agatha Christie."

Congratulations also to our Super Bowl runner-up, J.T. Page Jr., who qualified for the contest final with his "Hansel and Gretel, as told by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."  His Super Bowl overtime entry, which appears below, is "Little Red Riding Hood, as told by Edgar Allen Poe." 

Laureen Kwock:  "Little Red Riding Hood, as told by Agatha Christie"

Clients call me old, mon cher Hastings, but the little grey cells continue their work.
You ask about this last case, the missing child. The mother herself came to my office in tears, asking for help. Such a foolish tale she told.

What kind of woman sends a child out in a forest to deliver food to her grand-mère? Why did the mother not go herself? And dressing la petite in red. Was she trying to attract wolves?

My advice was clear. Cherchez le woodsman. He and his ax know what happened to the old woman and the little girl. 

J.T. Page Jr.:  "Little Red Riding Hood, as told by Edgar Allen Poe"

Once upon a dreary time, lived Wolfie the wolf who planned a crime.

The deed involved a maid in red and a grandma in her bed.

Before the maid could do some good, Wolfie slunk into the wood.

Suddenly there came a tapping as grandma was gently napping, napping in her forest home.

Heartless Wolfie broke the door and then grandma was no more.

Once the maid arrived, so did a woodsman to Wolfie’s surprise.

Ghastly was the scene as that creature lost spine and spleen.

Horrified, the maid implored “Can Wolfie ever darken my door?”

Quote the woodsman, “Nevermore!”