Congratulations 2026 Cascade Award Winners!
We congratulate the following winners and 2nd-place runners-up of the 2026 Cascade Writing Contest!
Article, column, nonfiction short story
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! “Speedboats and Suffering”—Laurie McDowell
2nd Place “What the Marigolds Knew Before I Did”—Melissa Mayfair
Contemporary Fiction Book
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! Dead Files Whispers—Carrie Stuart Parks
2nd Place Deadly Commission—Carrie Stuart Parks
Devotion
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! “Forgetfulness”—Lorna Filotei
2nd Place “He Surrounds Us”—Karen Kristine
Historical Fiction Book
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! The Guardian’s Vow—Jenelle M. Hovde
2nd Place Light Behind the Clouds—Savannah Jane McCrary
Memoir Book
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! The Empty Wheat Field—Patti Marie Tasa
2ND Place Enduring Forgiveness—K.T. Lee
Middle Grade Book (ages 8–12), Fiction or Nonfiction
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! Carousel Trail—Kathleen R. Ruckman
2nd Place Phooey Kerflooey vs The Mountain of Yum—Kristen Joy Wilks
Children’s Picture Book (ages 2–10+), Fiction or Nonfiction
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! Let There Be!—Christin Hunt
2nd Place Come Walk With Me—Kylie A. Durham
Fiction Short Story
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! “Sunrise over the Sea of Tiberias”—Tess R. Martinus
2nd Place “The Rope”—Richard Nicholas Strack
Nonfiction Book
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! Still Walking—Edward Dean Rinehart
2nd Place Eat, Poop, Sleep, Grow—Christin Hunt
Poetry
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! “Anticipation”—Allison J. Glock
2nd Place “Christmas Cards”—Marjory D. Williams
Speculative Fiction Book
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! Clandestine—Jil Koller
2nd Place The Good Palestinian—Jim Corley
Young Adult (ages 12–18+), Fiction or Nonfiction
CASCADE AWARD WINNER! How to Handle Your Emojis—Mark Wainwright
2nd Place Gems of My Father—Allison Cook
