I will post awards, review excerpts, contest results, and other “odds and ends” on this page.
Awards, Honors, etc.
Writer of the Month (coming May, 2021) at EMC Writes Poetry (includes a video reading)
Santa Abella and Other Stories – recipient of the B.R.A.G Medallion – Book Readers Appreciation Group
Praise for Santa Abella and Other Stories
“The stories in the new collection, Santa Abella and Other Stories by Ken Wetherington, range from introspective, soul-searching adventures to tragic romance to suspense, all tinged with a touch of darkness.” – North Carolina Writers Network
“This probing collection of short stories is perfect for readers seeking to delve into the complexities of human nature.” – BookLife
“The writing is top notch. Each story flows well. He creates believable characters and provides good descriptions of people and places to ground the reader. His use of dialogue is really strong. It reads conversational, and he sprinkles in just enough dialogue tags and action beats so as not to disrupt the flow. It advances the plot and fleshes out the characters. He writes with a close POV that connects the reader to the stories.” – Writer’s Digest Self-Published Ebook Contest
“… provides deep enjoyment and surprising revelations about the human condition.” – Richard H. Smith, author of The Joy of Pain
“… a wonderful kaleidoscope of thought-provoking tales that linger beyond the page. Well-written and carefully crafted, this collection is a worthy investment for readers who are tired of formulaic fiction.“ – Phillip M. Locey, author of The Chain of Living Fire series
Praise for Individual Stories
On “Inheriting Dad”
“… a page turner.” – Neal Bell, Edgar Award winner, Obie Award winner
On “Starstruck”
“… very nicely done.” – Pete Barber, author of MAYA
On “Black Bear Lake”
“… very engrossing.” – Martin Miller, Professor of History, Duke University
On “Santa Abella”
“… effective use of sustainable tension and a mystery to be solved.“ – Susan Kirby-Smith, associate editor, UNCG Research
On “The Last Grave”
“I loved this! Great opening sentence, and I’m in awe at how much information is relayed in this very short story.” – Diane Strauss, Associate University Librarian, University of North Carolina
On “In the Eye of the Beholder”
“… this piece blew my mind. I had to reread it to wrap my head around it.” – Elizabeth M. Castillo, British-Mauritian poet, writer, and artist
On “One Night in Las Vegas”
“A welcome twist to the standard Vegas tale.” – Michael Foldes, managing editor, Ragazine
On “Lydia”
“Love the story.” – Monique Berry, editor, Founder’s Favorites
On “Thanatopsis”
“… a strange, interesting story about death and love.” – The Fable Online
Contest Results
The Revivalists Quarterfinalist – Screencraft’s 2019 Cinematic Short Story Contest
Starstruck Quarterfinalist – Screencraft’s 2019 Cinematic Short Story Contest
Santa Abella and Other Stories – 4.3 (out of 5) rating from the 2020 Writer’s Digest Self-Published Ebook Contest
Odds and Ends for Santa Abella and Other Stories
Book Buzz Feature (North Carolina Writers Network)
Library of Congress Record
