First Place:

Cobwebs, opens a new window

by Suhaa Sheikh

Suhaa Sheikh is a writer of short stories, a fervent fan of insects, and a collector of shiny things. They primarily write in the surrealist, New Weird, and horror genres, with an emphasis on the natural world and environmental anxieties. At any given moment, you can probably find them on their 3rd cup of coffee.

Second Place:

The Silk-Cotton-Tree, opens a new window

by Khadijah Jabari

Khadijah Jabari is a writer who claims Toronto origins despite spending the last 18 years of her life living as North as Barrie & as East as Kingston. She is a U of T alum studying English literature with an Afro-centric focus and French. When she isn’t at the computer behind the fluffy behind of her orange cat Tanji she can be found at anime conventions or in pottery studios. She is a middle school teacher who enjoys getting her students to let their creativity blossom while exploring social justice issues. Her work brings fantasy to life for the readers who have typically been left behind.

Third Place:

Little Boy in a Dress, opens a new window

by Nathan Stevenson

Nathan is just starting a journey in the writing community. Nathan is also an artist and has been for a while, and can be found drawing, reading, listening to music or working on a personal writing project.

First Place:

Black Paws , opens a new window

by Khadijah Jabari

Khadijah Jabari is a writer who claims Toronto origins despite spending the last 18 years of her life living as North as Barrie & as East as Kingston. She is a U of T alumni studying English literature with an Afro-centric focus and French. When she isn’t at the computer behind the fluffy behind of her orange cat Tanji she can be found at anime conventions or in pottery studios. She is a middle school teacher who enjoys getting her students to let their creativity blossom while exploring social justice issues. Her work brings fantasy to life for the readers who have typically been left behind.

Second Place:

Dead Canary, opens a new window

by Samantha Woods

Sam is a full time janitor, perpetual student, lifelong writer, avid reader and lover of all things creative.

Third Place:

And This is the End, opens a new window

by Sara Ghasemi

Sara has always loved writing, but would not consider themself a writer. This particular piece is a story of an older sibling who wished to disappear, but when time comes to collect their bet, they realize that this was not what they wanted.

Honourable Mentions

Live in Concert

by N.E. Rule

N.E. Rule attended Metropolitan Toronto University for both creative writing and business communications. Her writing portfolio includes software specs, marketing copy, and training materials; however, her passion is fiction. Readers Digest, Black Hare Press, Blank Spaces, and Off Topic Publishing are some publishers who have kindly accepted her work for inclusion in their anthologies. To access her work visit nerule.com

Alone No More, opens a new window

by Purabi Sinha Das

Purabi Sinha Das is the author of three books. What Will It Be This Time, a collection of personal essays, explores an immigrant’s life unfolding in a new country that can be daunting yet exhilarating. Her early nineteenth century set in India debut novel Moonlight-The Journey Begins shines a light on female bravery amidst heavy odds. Twenty Two For 22, a collection of stories, poetry, magical travel vignettes upholds hope through adversity. Purabi earned her Honours BA in English literature from Ranchi University, India. Connect with Purabi at www.purabisinhadas.com

Grief, Hope and Negligence, opens a new window

by Bithiah Simon

Bithiah Simon is your local wandering artist figuring things out one day at a time. She enjoys painting, writing poetry, and learning other avenues of creativity. If interested, here is her Substack where she posts other pieces of her work: https://substack.com/@bithiahwrites?r=4p7qnn

Silly Romance, opens a new window

by Wayne Wong

Wayne Wong was an orphan, has been married for close to 40 years & has two of the best daughters you could ask for. Wayne considers himself to be a very lucky man, to have been adopted when he was 4 years old to a wonderful mother & father that he had until he was 19 & 20 when he lost both to cancer. He also saw the Leafs win 4 Stanley cups!