The latest issue of SmokeLong Quarterly has gone live, featuring the top 5 picks of the 30-word contest. Over 1,400 stories were submitted; out of those stories about 50 was sent to me, and from those I choose the winners. Congrats to Ted Chiles, Sion Dayson, Kevin O'Cuinn, Jan Ellison, and Patricia Anderson (who, if I had to pick just one winner, would have won for her really great story "Still Life"). Thanks to Tara Laskowski and everyone else at SmokeLong for asking me to judge (plus narrowing down those 1,400-some stories!), and to everyone who submitted. Be sure to check out the rest of the issue, especially Ravi Mangla's awesome piece.