"George Garrett has had a varied literary career, publishing in almost every genre. He is best known, however, for his trilogy of historical novels, Death of the Fox (1971), The Succession: A Novel of Elizabeth and James (1983), and Entered from the Sun (1990). His latest short story collection is An Evening Performance: New and Selected Stories (1985). Garrett has also published several collections of poetry and plays, has written screenplays, and has edited a number of books, most recently The Yellow Shoe Poets: Selected Poems, 1964-1999."

The fiction prize in his honor awards $500 and publication in Willow Springs.



"Vachel Lindsay—poet, idealist, troubador—is sometimes called Springfield's 'second most famous' son. He was born in 1879 and always considered the Capitol City his home. Like any youngster growing up in Central Illinois, Lindsay was schooled in the virtues of Abraham Lincoln, Springfield's most famous resident. He, like Lincoln, was fascinated by the common people and much of his poetry reflected that fascination. Lindsay spent much of his life walking across the country, performing and distributing copies of his poetry in exchange for bed and board. His verse is characterized by its lyric quality and its simple, forceful rhythms. Among his volumes of poetry are The Congo and Other Poems (1914) and Every Soul Is a Circus (1929)."

The poetry prize in his honor awards $400 and publication in Willow Springs.




If you would like to submit in fiction, please keep entries to 7,000 words or less. If you would like to submit in poetry, the limit is five poems. If you would like to submit for both prizes, please use two separate envelopes and two entry fees. Other guidelines:

• Include a $15.00 entry fee. Submissions without an entry fee will not be judged.
• Use a check or money order only; cash will not be accepted. Please make the checks and money orders payable to Willow Springs.
• Submissions should be typed. Handwritten submissions will not be judged and the entry fee will not be refunded.
• Your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, as well as a short bio, should appear in a cover letter included with your submission.
• Do not include indentifying information anywhere else in your submission.
• Submit only original, unpublished work. Contest entries may neither be previously published nor simultaneously submitted elsewhere.
• Do not send an SASE.
• Don't send us your only copies—manuscripts will not be returned.
• If you would like confirmation that your work has been received, include a self-adressed, stamped postcard instead.
• Entries for both awards must be postmarked by March 15, 2008.

Please send entries to:

The George Garrett Fiction Prize or The Vachel Lindsay Poetry Prize
Willow Springs
501 N Riverpoint Blvd, Ste 425
Spokane, WA 99202

All contest entrants will recieve the Willow Springs issue containing the award-winning works. We look forward to receiving your entries. Good luck!