'The Austin Chronicle' Short Story Contest Update

From more than 560 submissions to our 20th annual Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest, the field has narrowed to 10. This year's finalists are Steven Blaisdell ("Stones"), Dana De Greff ("The Butcher's Hands"), Nancy Lili Gonzalez ("The Empanada Break"), Joseph Hill ("Sitting High"), Jason Lee ("dress him neat"), P. Tyson Midkiff ("This Drought's Come Undone"), David Norman ("Color Jesus"), Rob Reynolds ("Sing to Me When I'm Dying"), Mary Terrier ("To Need, the Women Say"), and Melanie Westerberg ("Sheds").

The winners will be revealed at a reception open to the public next Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7pm, at BookPeople (603 N. Lamar), with the first-place story appearing in next week's issue.