The Quills

I would like to make the following nominations:

"Invalid Item"  by Mandy for Best Raffle/Auction
~This raffle is consistently the most well-managed, lucrative, creative, and active of any other raffles on the site.

"Fishbones"  by Jellyfish is in Mauritius 🌞 for Best Medium-Length Poem, Free Verse
~There is quite a pulse of quiet desperation in this poem, a wish for others to suffer after the narrator is gone. While it doesn't mention suicide specifically, it paints the concept in absentia. The tone is the feature of this poem that I enjoyed the most, a matter-of-fact and calm determination to vanish into the traces of bitter memories.

"Invalid Item"  by ShelleyA~16 years at WDC for Best Medium-Length Poem, Structured
~ This is an excellent example of the form, one that shows exactly what can be done with it by a skilled poet.

"Sophie's Father"  by Osirantinous for Best Short Story (2)
~This was a charming story with an excellent build-up, great pace, and a feel-good happy ending. The situation is absolutely realistic, but at the same time, unbelievable in its details. It reads like real-life and brings to mind the old saying: "truth is stranger than fiction."

"The Folktale of Al Basti"  by WyrdNaos Trippin' on Yello for Best Flash Fiction
~This is an incredible short piece of writing with instances of brilliant, poetic language. The entire scene was very memorable. I had never heard of this legend, but Al Basti is thoroughly repugnant.

"Binary Blindfold"  by Liam for Best Medium-Length Poem, Structured
~This member's pro-Luddite assault on the technological innerverse would be incredible if it were not a superb Trijan Refrain!

"Invalid Entry"  by gardengirl for Best Short Poem, Structured
~With multiple instances of assonance and alliteration, this excellent haiku packs a poetic punch into every syllable.

"Invalid Item"  by Solivagus for Best Blog
~Drenched in blood, sweat, and tears ... coated with TMI ... jointed with silly putty ... scented with sardonic condescension ... and decorated with a big, red heart on the world's most flamboyant sleeve, this member's blog is truly like no other ... and thank God for that!

I have never done this, and probably never will again, but I would also like to nominate "Invalid Item"  by PatrickB for Best New Group This nomination is for the 100+ active members that make this new gathering so special.