A story about an adolescent girl and her relationship with her father... "Shane Lives in Allouez Now" won 3rd Place in our Second Playground Challenge. Michael J. Vowles is a talented writer who lives in London, UK and works as a copywriter in financial services. You can follow Michael on his website, tumbleweedwrites.com/ and check out his book of short stories, Fractured Threads, which you can find on Amazon. Read more of the winning stories from our competitions at writersplaygroundllc.com

Tired of waiting for God's justice, a priest is compelled to take action in this classic tale of revenge... "The Tragedy of Montague Bellot" won 1st Place, out of 553 entries, in our One Year Anniversary (Fourth) Challenge. Ryan Fleming is a Hospital Administrator from Birmingham, Alabama. He is a talented writer and frequent guest on the writing podcast "Writing in Progress" hosted by Justin Creps and Jon Woolley. Ryan also won Honorable Mention in our Seventh Playground Challenge, and that story, along with all the other winning stories, can be found on our website, writersplaygroundllc.com. Follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.david.fleming

A colourful journey on a train for a young girl... "A Suitcase of Colours" won 6th Place, out of 606 entries, in our Seventh Playground Challenge. Anne Wilkins is a sleep-deprived primary school teacher from Auckland, New Zealand, and she is a talented short fiction writer who, one day, hopes to actually get around to publishing some books and longer work… Check out her website, annewilkinsauthor.com and follow her on Facebook or Instagram @annewilkinsauthor, or on Bluesky @annewilkins.bsky.social... Read more of the winning stories from our writing competitions at writersplaygroundllc.com

An ancient shape-changing being haunts a pool of water, feeding on passersby. Can it change its nature for a man who refuses to fear it? "Time Like Water" won 5th Place, out of 570 entries, in our Sixth Playground Challenge. Ashley Evans lives in Bethlehem, New Hampshire with her husband and one very spoiled dog. She enjoys working from home as a graphic designer by day, and dabbling in making art and writing by night. Check out her website, aevanswrites.carrd.co/ and read more of the winning stories from our challenges at writersplaygroundllc.com

When 14-year-old Ivy learns she’s moving, she retreats to her childhood treehouse to work through her complicated feelings about her mom, her dad, and what it means to let go... "Holding Pattern" won 2nd Place, out of 697 entries, in our Eleventh Playground Challenge: A Fiction Short Story Competition. Corrie Haldane is an award-winning short fiction writer whose work appears in numerous online and print publications, including anthologies "Forgetting Something?" and the upcoming Fraidy Cat Quarterly, Vol. 7, as well as online with Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores, The Quiet Ones, Short Edition, and others. She lives in Ontario, Canada, and finds inspiration in nature, bubble baths, and carefully curated playlists. Check out her website, corriehaldane.com and you can read more of the winning stories from our challenges at writersplaygroundllc.com

A frustrated teen spends summer holidays at his grandparents' vineyard while his parents try to work on their marriage. Personalities clash in this Australian coming of age tale... "The Whole Mosquito" won 1st Place, out of 697 entries, in the Eleventh Playground Challenge: A Fiction Short Story Competition. Louise Walton lives in Australia on NSW's mid-north coast with her husband and three children (and chickens, rabbits and a dog). She loves word play, comedy and Aussie dramedy, and is especially drawn to finding the sweet moments of function within dysfunction. She has also won the 2024 New York City Midnight Rhyming Story contest, 2025 Spring Writing Battle, and 2025 Not Quite Write Prize, and is published, or soon to be, in the 2025 Furphy Literary Prize and 2024 Best Australian Yarn. You can also read more of the winning stories from our competitions on our website, writersplaygroundllc.com

In the winter of 1937, a young girl and her parents seek safety in the prelude to one of the greatest tragedies of World War II... "The Snow Shrine" won 3rd Place, out of 606 entries, in our Seventh Playground Challenge. George Cooksey is an officer in the US Air Force who likes to write in his spare time. He is a part of the "Suggestion Mode" writing group alongside lifelong friends and fellow writers Miguel Flores and Sami Teeny. You can follow George and find more of his work on their new blog, Suggestionmode.com. You can also read more of the winning stories from our challenges on our website, writersplaygroundllc.com

When Nora's older sister speaks of the creatures she sees, Nora almost sees them as well, but as their parents understand the extent of her beliefs, they react differently. Set in 1920s Denmark... "The Mare in Me" won 5th Place, out of 606 entries, in our Seventh Playground Challenge. Liv Strom is a writer from Zurich, Switzerland and you can follow Liv on Instagram @authorlivstrom and you can check out more of her work on her website livstromwrites.com... Liv is also the author of a high fantasy, lowish spice romantasy series called the Tales of Bones and Roses, where each installment is a reimagined fairy tale set in the City of the Dead... Taking Red, the latest freestanding, Little Red Riding Hood inspired novel comes out September 26th. All of her books are available on Kindle Unlimited, and on Amazon, and you can find out more about them on her website. You can also read more of the winning stories from our challenges on our website, writersplaygroundllc.com

Ben is trying to build a new life, but is haunted by a past he can’t escape... "Splitsville" won 5th Place in our Eighth Playground Challenge. Stephen James is a writer from Calgary, Canada and you can follow him on Instagram @the.short.word and keep your eyes out for an upcoming collection of his short stories. You can also read more of the winning short stories from our challenges at www.writersplaygroundllc.com

A pregnant, sarcastic teen is sent away to St. Bernadette’s Maternity Home in 1966, where she’ll have her baby in secret and get on with her life... "Unidentified Flying Objects" won 1st Place in our Ninth Playground Challenge. Read more of Mandy's work on her website www.mandylange.com and follow her on Instagram @m.m.lange. You can also read more of the winning stories from our challenges at www.writersplaygroundllc.com

Ada is dead and wants nothing to do with the afterlife. Charley is alive and is desperate to contact someone on the other side... "When the Soul Catcher Knocks" won 3rd Place in our Tenth Playground Challenge. Read more of MM Schreier's work at mmschreier.com or check out her collections: Monstrosity, Humanity, a monster horror collection, and, Bruised, Resilient , a speculative & litfic feminist collection. You can find both anywhere you buy your books. You can also read more of the winning stories from our challenges at writersplaygroundllc.com

In a dystopian future, a man must race against time on a desperate hunting trip. At stake are the lives of his wife and daughter... "The (Farmer) Hunter" won Honorable Mention in our Tenth Playground Challenge. Drew M is a talented writer from Tampa, Florida. To read this piece along with other winning stories, visit writersplaygroundllc.com

Cas is reeling after the death of her marriage. And now, a snowstorm has stranded her at her childhood home with her siblings, who don’t handle painful topics well... The Vocabulary of Love won 1st Place in our Tenth Playground Challenge. Read more of Alyssa's work at, alyssabeattywrites.com and visit our website at, writersplaygroundllc.com