We’re pleased to announce the winners in our Weird West Quick Draw flash fiction contest which was open for submissions during the first two weeks of July.
Our guest judge was none other than award-winning weird west author, KC Grifant, who had this to say about her experience:
“Over 200 submissions showed an impressive range of fantastical takes on the Old West, making the selection of the finalists extremely difficult. From delightful heists and fantastic worldbuilding to heartbreaking encounters and fast-paced gunslinging action, these stories packed powerful punches in limited space. I hope you enjoy the finalists’ stories as much as I did. Saddle up and get ready to ride into the heart of the Weird West!”
We were all blown away by the talent out there and thank you sincerely for honoring us with your submissions. Now, for the winners.
Third Prize (3)
Three third prize winners were selected and will each be awarded $25 U.S. and have their story published on the Reach Your Apex website this month. The third prize winning stories are (in alphabetical order by title):
“The Cons of Counting Eggs” by Matthew C. Brown.
Two would-be robbers attempt to recoup their loses and then some.
“Scar Tissue” by Elijah J. Mears.
Whiskey and solitude on the West Texas plains bring out more than just old wounds for cowboys Miguel and John.
“Suck the Marrow Clean” by J. Needham.
When Danny agrees to a shootout in a corrupt cowtown, he knows death ain’t the end. It’s only the beginning.
Second Prize (1)
The second prize winner will be awarded $50 U.S. and have their story published on the Reach Your Apex website this month.
“White Tree” by Jacob Seinemeier.
The town of White Tree has only one law- and he just broke it.
First Prize (1)
The first prize winner will be awarded $100 U.S. and have their story published in Apex Magazine issue 151, coming out in October 2025.
“Horse And Rider” by Christine Beres.
In the shadows of a burning homestead, a rider looks for a horse.
We’ll publishing the second and third prize winning stories this month, one per week. Stay tuned!
Thank you to all who participated and made the contest a success. We’re excited to run more contests in the very near future. If you have suggestions about what kind of contest you’d like us to run, send a note to contests@reachyourapex.com.
