My story “Pergelation” was selected by contest judge Leslie Jamison as the winner of the Blue Mesa Review Fall 2018 Nonfiction Contest.

I worked on “Pergelation” off and on for years, initially trying to fictionalize it. After reading Jamison’s book of essays, The Empathy Exams, I sat down and rewrote “Pergelation” as pure nonfiction. I submitted it for the first time when I saw Jamison was judging the Blue Mesa Review contest. And it won! I’m so glad and terrified and elated.

Many thanks to the Blue Mesa Review, Leslie Jamison, and all of the friends who read this story before I sent it out. It will be published in Issue 38, forthcoming in early December 2018.