Mid South Writers announced this week that four of its members won contests sponsored by Crowder College and have their writings featured in the 2024 Crowder Quill, released this month.
Linda Sartin, of Cassville, won gold in Non Fiction for “Our Comet” and an Honorable Mention in Poetry for “In Memory.”
Kristen Stough, of Cassville, a Crowder student, took gold in the Fiction category for “The Reaper Meets a Frightened Child.”
Prix Gautney, of Cassville, won silver in Fiction for “Big Black Horse and an Apple Tree.”
Susan Eschbach, of Cassville, took bronze in Fiction for “The Traveler.”
“Our members are thrilled to be included in this year’s Crowder Quill,” said Eschbach, president of Mid South Writers. “It is an incredibly beautiful magazine, with artwork interwoven among the stories. It is a true credit to our authors.”
“This is such an honor,” Sartin said.
In addition to publication in the Crowder Quill, Sartin has won national literary contests, including first place in the Golden Quill in 2020 for her novel “Bound By Earth;” third place in the international Kiss of Death competition for mystery and suspense in 2023 for her novel “Heartstone;” and fifth place in the national competition Hooked On A Book for “Heartstone” in 2023.
Sartin has three novels published by Roan and Weatherford (formerly Oghma Press), including “Bound by Honor,” “Bound by Earth” and “Heartstone.” Her books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart online.
Gautney had two novels previously published by Oghma Press in her “Evershade” series, “Season of Crows” and “Season of Madness.” Her novels are no longer available, but she continues to pursue her writing career and plans to publish again in the near future.
Eschbach had two novels published by Oghma Press, “Roan and Weatherford, A Trial By Error,” available online on Barnes and Noble, and “Man On The Fringe,” available online on Amazon.
Mid South Writers is a critique group dedicated to helping writers prepare manuscripts for publication. It is open to anyone wanting to improve their writing skills with a goal of self-publishing or pursuing traditional publishing.
“Four of our current members are traditionally-published authors,” Eschbach said. “But, we also have members who haven’t yet published. We are always willing to mentor beginning writers as long as they are seriously seeking to improve their skills.”
The group meets every Tuesday from 1-3 p.m. in Suite 7 of Show-Me Plaza in Cassville. For more information, people may contact Susan Eschbach at 417-847-3628 or follow Mid South Writers on Facebook.
Copies of the Crowder Quill are available for free at Crowder College’s main office.
