Don’t you hate it when you’re pumped about, say, a thrilling sporting event—but you can’t see it because your cable carrier isn’t offering it? Or when you’re told about a terrific movie or book ("Oh man, you have GOT to check this out!")—and no local cinema or bookstore stocks it? Or some friend rhapsodizes about the best restaurant he’s ever been to—and the closest franchise is a dozen states away?

Well, here’s one winner you don’t have to miss.

A couple of weeks ago, I reported the impressive literary honor won by Lakeland’s Jeff McCormick. He’s the writer whose “Nothing At All Is More Than Enough” won the prestigious 2007 Writer’s Digest competition in the literary/mainstream short story category. His story beat out thousands of entries from around the world. I teased you with a description of the story: A fugitive hiding out at a trailer park in Tampa warily gets to know some of his neighbors, one of whom seems even more secretive than he is, and one day the cops come a’calling…

It’s a story both quiet and disquieting, a little masterwork of description and mood. Best of all, it’s available.

Writer’s Digest is publishing a booklet with Jeff’s story and the manuscripts of all the contest’s winners. The categories, in addition to Jeff’s, were: Children’s Fiction, Feature Article, Genre Short Story (mystery, science fiction, horror and the like), Inspirational, Non-Rhyming Poetry, Rhyming Poetry, Memoir/Personal Essay, Stageplay and Screenplay.

To get a copy, send a check or money order for $10 to: The 2007 WD Contest Booklet, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

Get it for the literary lover on your Christmas list. Maybe you can even track down Mr. McCormick at the Ledger, where he’s a copy editor, and get him to sign your copy. Awards this illustrious are rare. Support local talent! 

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