“My initial reaction is disbelief,” said Newman when notified her story “Shanda” had won first place, print and online publication, and a prize of $1,000. “It's so strange to send a story out into the world, after working on it for so long in isolation, and hoping but not really knowing if it will connect with anyone on the other side. And to have the story connect strongly , where so many writers I admire have been published over the years, is truly exciting. I'm touched.”
