| Published May 24th, 2023 | 2023 Poul Anderson Creative Writing Contest winners announced | | By Sora O'Doherty | | | The Friends of the Orinda Library has announced the winners of the 2023 Poul Anderson Creative Writing Contest, which was open to all students who reside or attend high school in Orinda. The contest is named in honor of the late Poul Anderson, a popular science-fiction writer and longtime Orinda resident.
From dozens of outstanding entries, winners were selected in the following
categories: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Poetry and Essay. The winners are: Olivia Falk, 10th grade, College Prep High School, for her poem entitled "The Memory Box," Emma Wong, 10th grade Miramonte High School, for her poem "Breaking Up with Beautiful," Tatiana Gupta, 10th grade Miramonte, for her short story "Box," and Nina Segall, 9th grade Miramonte, for her essay "Intertwined Fingers." Each will receive a $500 award from The Friends of the Orinda Library. Wong was also the winner of two awards in the contest last year.
Five Honorable Mentions were awarded to Liesel Yun, 9th grade, Miramonte for "The Shared String Phone," Antong Cao, 11th grade, Miramonte for "Seven Minutes," Mathew Bakonyvari, 11th grade, Miramone for "Rip Van Winkle Returns," Kaia Bonham, 9th grade, Miramonte for "Blood Red Love Red," and Josslyn Grover, 10th grade, Bentley School, for "Trail Mix."
The Friends of the Orinda Library congratulated the winners and all the talented entrants and offered thanks to this year's judges, who donated their time and literary expertise. The judges included this reporter; Susan Williams, librarian at Miramonte High School; and Anne Lowell, librarian at Glorietta Elementary School. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |