The Gulf Coast Writers Association Inc., Southwest Florida’s 28-year-old meeting ground for writers, editors and their associates, announced Saturday the winners of its annual writing contest for adults and youth.

Awards in the adult section were made to persons 18 years and older in three categories: nonfiction, poetry and fiction. Awards were made in the youth section (ages 11-17) in one all-inclusive category.

Of the 12 winners, nine live in Florida; one lives in Ontario, Canada, but winters in Fort Myers; one lives in Vermont but also winters in Fort Myers and one lives in Boston (Roxbury). The Florida winners reside in Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lake Placid and Lake Mary.

The winners’ names, home towns and titles of their work are:

Adult Section

Non Fiction

1st Place — Pamela Pohlman, Fort Myers, “A Picture of Hell”

2nd Place — Patricia Sheehy, Estero, “Searching for Me”

3rd Place — MaryLou Williams, Fort Myers, “Audrey Hepburn and Me”

Poetry

1st Place — Sandy Dahlhofer, Lake Placid, Fla., “Snowflake”

2nd Place — Amy Pontius, Fort Myers & East Fairfield, Vt., “Moon Dance”

3rd Place — Grace Brendel, Cape Coral, “The Land Before This”

Fiction

1st Place — Brad Burt, Fort Myers & Oakville, Ontario, Canada, “But He Didn’t”

2nd Place — Patti M. Marsh, Fort Myers, “Ghosts of Clothesline Past”

3rd Place — Pauline Hayton, Naples, Fla., “Somewhere in England”

Youth Section

1st Place — Eric Zhu-West, Roxbury, Mass., “Right Hand Raised”

2nd Place — Kurukulasuriya Fernando, Fort Myers, “Perfect Little Things”

3rd Place — Stormi Thomas, Lake Mary, Fla., “Secret Miracles”

The announcement was made by Christie Zarria at GCWA’s monthly meeting at the Word of Life Church, 6111 South Pointe Blvd., in south Fort Myers.

“This contest advances our organization’s goal of stimulating writing –and recognizing outstanding writing–at all levels,” said Zarria, contest coordinator.

Winners will receive their prizes and selected winners will read from their prize-winning work at GCWA’s regular August monthly meeting at the Word of Life Church on Aug. 19. The meeting, open to the public, takes place from 10 a.m. to noon. All of the 12 winners, their families and their guests have been invited to attend. The meeting will be available via Zoom. For information about attending via Zoom, go to gulfwriters.org.

About GCWA

Founded in 1995, the Gulf Coast Writers Association Inc. provides a forum for fellowship, education, and information for writers, editors and associates. Based in Fort Myers, the organization attracts members from throughout Southwest Florida, including Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Punta Gorda. At monthly meetings, speakers and workshops offer expert advice on such topics as writing techniques, publishing, and marketing.

Participants at GCWA meetings also have the opportunity to read their works. The literary genres run the gamut from poetry, adult fiction and nonfiction to children’s and young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery/thriller, memoir, essay and screenplay. Members include full-time writers as well as corporate professionals, teachers, and business owners, working or retired.

GCWA monthly meetings are open to the public. There is no cost to attend GCWA monthly meetings for members and first-time guests; subsequent visitors pay $5.

GCWA’s website is gulfwriters.org/.