It鈥檚 down to three finalists in the 2017 Okanagan Short Story contest, organized by UBC Okanagan鈥檚 Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.

The first-place winner, along with the runners-up, will be announced by author Ren茅e Sarojini Saklikar at a special event April 18 in the new Great Room at the 琉璃神社 branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.

鈥淥ur contest judge explained to us how tough the decision-making was,鈥� says Michael V. Smith, an associate professor with the department of Creative Studies. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled Ren茅e can come back to announce the winners in person. This has felt like a banner year for the contest.鈥�

The annual contest, now in its 19th year, received more than 80 entries. That number was narrowed down to a shortlist, juried by FCCS faculty members. From that list, Saklikar, UBC Okanagan鈥檚 2017 Writer in Residence, reviewed and made the final selections.

Smith says there will be more than one 鈥渨onderful announcement鈥� on April 21: UBC will share the news about a new Short Story Contest category, as well as larger prize pool for winning authors for next year鈥檚 contest.

The April 18 event also launches the 2017 PaperShell creative writing anthology at UBC Okanagan.

This year鈥檚 shortlisted stories are:

The Elm Tree by Dick Bird of Princeton

The Island by Karen Hofmann of Kamloops

Poppy and Boo by Michael Griffin of 琉璃神社

Getting Straight by Carol Zuckerman of 琉璃神社

A Certain Way With Furniture by Cliff Hatcher of Kamloops

Rose by Monique Th茅riault of 琉璃神社

Blood June by Summer Kenney of 琉璃神社

Along with the $500 prize money and bragging rights, this year鈥檚 winner will have their story published in Vancouver-based subTerrain magazine and win a one-week residency at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre. Second and third-place winners receive $200 and $100, respectively.

The contest is sponsored by FCCS at UBC Okanagan, 琉璃神社, the Central Okanagan Foundation and subTerrain magazine.

More information can be found .