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Letters Beneath The Mistletoe
Reading Letters Beneath the Mistletoe felt like untying a bundle of velvet ribbons by a crackling fire. There was an incredible sense of intimacy in these pages; stepping into the world of these letters felt like being trusted with a secret. The emotions here were as varied as snowflakes, some notes were filled with the quiet ache of longing, others with the bright spark of new romance, and some with the enduring warmth of a love that has weathered many winters.
Judging was a delicate challenge, for how does one rank the vulnerability of the heart? To the winners, congratulations on capturing the spirit of the season so profoundly. And to every writer who poured their devotion onto the page, Thank you. You have turned this anthology into a true holiday gift, one that reminds us that love is the greatest tradition of all.
With warmth and gratitude,
Prarthana Binish
Psst… the Mistletoe has delivered its grand winner
We are delighted to unveil the winners and finalists of Letters Beneath the Mistletoe.
This anthology is a hearth built of words, a collection of missives sent across the distance of snow and silence to find a home in the reader's hands. These works explored the magic of the season, not just the lights and the carols, but the quiet moments of reflection and the deep, abiding hope that arrives with the New Year.
Some verses spoke of memories preserved in amber, others of prayers whispered into the cold night air, yet all were bound by the universal language of connection. Congratulations to all our winners and finalists! Your words have captured the warmth of the holidays and preserved it for seasons to come.May you continue to write, to cherish the ones you hold dear, and to fill the coming year with stories of joy and light.
A huge round of applause for our grand winner
THRESHOLDS, UNANSWERED PRAYERS - NAA SHIKA COLEMAN
Naa Shika Coleman is a writer and poet exploring memory, intimacy, and the quiet intersections of love and loss. She believes in telling truths that linger and finding beauty in the ordinary ways people keep going. When she isn't writing, she’s drawing, or dreaming too big. Her work has appeared in the Nenta literary journal. Instagram: coleman_shikaaa
1st Runner Up
CONSTANT CANDLE - GAVIN BOURKE
Gavin Bourke grew up in the suburb of Tallaght in West Dublin and lives in County Meath. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Human Development, and Irish from Dublin City University, a Master of Arts Degree in Modern Drama Studies, and a Higher Diploma in Information Studies from University College Dublin. His work in English, and to a lesser extent in the Irish Language, broadly covers the natural and socially constructed worlds. Gavin has won international competitions for both book-length manuscripts and individual poems and is published widely internationally.
2nd Runner Up
CHRISTMAS - JENNIFER WEIGEL
Multi-disciplinary mixed media conceptual artist Jennifer Weigel lives in Kansas, USA. Weigel was previously a regular contributor to Haunted MTL and is now involved with Nat1 Publishing. She is the author of the Witch Hayzelle’s Recipes for Disaster trilogy and a myriad of short stories, poems, art discourse, and more drifting around the Interwebs.
FINALISTS
These four poets captured the ephemeral magic of the holidays with a steady hand and an open heart. Each voice brought a unique texture to the anthology, grounding us in specific places and feelings from the chill of winter waters to the warmth of a beloved’s address. They beautifully expressed the nostalgia of the Christmas past and the promise of the future. Together, they rounded out Letters Beneath the Mistletoe into a complete meditation on festive love.
CHRISTMAS TIME - LANI T
Lani T is a 23-year-old writer from Sicklerville, NJ. She typically writes poetry, and dystopian, fantasy, and horror fiction. This is her sixth traditional publication, though she has self-published her own zines, and received a First Place Denise Gess Literary Award for Fiction as well. Her Instagram handle is @lanitwriting
ON THE SWIMMING - LINA BUIVIDAVIČIŪTĖ
Lina Buividavičiūtė was born on May 14, 1986. She is a poet and literary critic. Lina is an author of three poetry books in Lithuanian language. Her poetry is published in "Matter", "Masters", “Proverse poetry prize" contest anthologies, "Drunk monkeys", "Beyond words", "The Dewdrop", "The limit experience", "Poets choice", "HOW", "Beyond queer words", "Maudlin House", "Cathexis northwest press", "Poetry online" magazines and "Versopolis" poetry platform. Upcoming publications will appear in “New millennium writings”, "Cathexis northwest press", "Quillkeepers Press", "The Stardust review" and “Beyond words” magazine. This piece is translated from Lithuanian by Ada Valaitis/
A LETTER TO MY BELOVED - HOLLY KEEHN
Holly Keehn is a passionate educator and writer based in Gig Harbor, Washington. She teaches second grade in Tacoma, Wa, where she fosters curiosity, creativity, and connection in her students through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Outside the classroom, Holly is an accomplished poet whose work explores themes of identity, family, and belonging.
MORE THAN A WORD - HOWARD OSBORNE
Howard has written poetry and short stories, also a novel and several scripts. With poems published online and in print, he is a published author of a non-fiction reference book and several scientific papers many years ago. He is a UK citizen, retired, with interests in writing, music and travel.
Beat the drums for our most talented contributors
OUR CACTUS CHRISTMAS - ELEANOR JONES
A LOVE LETTER TO THE INFINITE - ALEXIS ANDRADE
OFF THE CHEST - REEBIE ANN FLOWERS
MY DEAREST SAINT - JENNY KATHERINE HART
WHISPERS THROUG THE SNOW - BAILEE RUDOLPH
A LETTER TO MAKE THE HOLIDAYS BETTER, A HOLIDAY STAR FROM AFAR - ALEX ANDY PHUONG
MAHA MANVANTARA, JOYOUS LITTLE LAUGH - TERRY BRINKMAN
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE WEDDING - GIOANNA ROMANO
I FOLLOWED YOU - JANELLE SEABOCK
“11/11” - FATIMA MENDEZ
THE PHONE DOESN'T RING, THE DAY AFTER YES - MICHAEL DUNAWAY
HOLLIES, WITHIN THE SWEETNESS - MARSHA SOLOMON
A BOX OF OLD BOOKS, I USED TO BE CRAZY WHITE MOUSE - ELIZABETH AGRE
HAUNTED - ALICIA CARA
FOR THE HOLIDAYS - MIA ANDREWS
HEY MOON - KERSTEN CHRISTIANSON
CHRISTMAS WISH - SONIA BHOJANI
THANKYOU, JESUS - A.J. CHILSON
CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS AND TWINKLING EYES - GREYSON FINCH
ETERNAL PASSION - RENO JJ
GASTRITIS - ARDA ÜNAL
WHERE MISTLETOE HANGS, MY HEART STANDS - BRITTIANY LEMA
HBJHC!!! - PETER RUSTIN
SINCE DAY ONE - ALEXANDRA GRANT
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