Congratulations to the 2026 winners.
Last updated Friday, February 27, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Officials at Bucks County Community College have announced the winners of the Bucks County Short Fiction Contest.
Marc Elias Keller of Yardley won first place for his story, “The Sweet Drop.” Bob McCrillis of Doylestown placed second for “Holding Ground.” And Susan Lederhouse of Yardley captured third place for “Dear Adrienne.”
There were also two honorable mentions. Tom Casola of Pipersville received first runner-up for “Home by the Lake,” and Lee Davis of Doylestown was named second runner-up for “Free Ride.”
The final judge was John Phillips, whose debut short-story collection, Dress Whites, was published last fall.
A celebration will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, in Tyler Hall, room 142, on the Newtown Campus. During the event, the top three winners will read from their stories. Phillips will join us to discuss his writing life. The event is free and open to the public.
Of Keller’s first-place story, Phillips wrote that is “a well-done story that is a parable for our times. Sugar works very well as a metaphor for all kinds of addiction - power, fame, dominance - and the costs to civilizations in deaths and a way of life. ‘The Sweet Drop’ deftly depicts how quickly long-established rules of behavior can change when there is ‘sugar’ in the air. The descriptions of the ant colony are intriguing, and the author has maintained nice tension throughout the story.”
“Holding Ground” by McCrillis was cited because “there are excellent details of the fishing life and good dialogue throughout that make this story standout. Particularly nice dialogue is when the granddaughter is telling her grandfather about one-night stands. It’s funny and at the same time reveals differences between generations. Nicely done.”
Of Lederhouse’s story, “Dear Adrienne,” Phillips commented: “This story defines melancholia. The writing – through the beat of its sentences and gentle recollections of people, places and their histories with the family – leaves us dripping with melancholy. Even the discovery that the couple had been murdered seems just an inevitable part of life to endure.”
The contest is open to adults who are residents of Bucks County. The winners receive honoraria of $200, $100, and $50, respectively. The contest is funded by Bucks County Community College and receives support from the School of Language and Literature. Professor Elizabeth Luciano is the contest administrator. A short-fiction contest for high-school students is taking place this spring. For more information, contact Professor Luciano at elizabeth.luciano@bucks.edu or visit the Bucks County Short Fiction Contest web page.