And the Winners Are…

Small Bites Short Story Contest – 2026 Winners Announcement

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s Small Bites Short Story Contest. This year’s theme, “What the Light Revealed,” invited writers to explore moments of illumination — truths uncovered, secrets exposed, and transformations sparked by clarity. The stories that rose to the top did exactly that, each offering its own flash of insight, surprise, or revelation. Choosing winners is never easy, but this year’s selections stood out with confidence, craft, and that unmistakable spark of discovery.

Please join us in celebrating the authors whose work stood out in this year’s competition.

🏆 Grand Prize Winner

Exposed by Timothy Baldwin

Domestic Suspense / Institutional Thriller

A late‑night discovery in an empty school office reveals a trail of fraud no one wants uncovered. As warnings escalate and allies vanish, one teacher learns how dangerous “transparency” can be.

✨ Second Place

The Delusion of Anticipation by Ron Schulz

Reflective Nonfiction

A lifetime of chasing the next success gives way to an unexpected revelation: the ship he’d been waiting for arrived decades ago. This intimate narrative explores how anticipation can blind us to the extraordinary life already in our hands.

✨ Third Place

Salvage of a Soul by Scott Meehan

Post‑Apocalyptic Science Fiction

In the aftermath of the Rapture, a synthetic guardian searches for meaning in a world claimed by a machine‑born Choir. A stranger’s unexpected act of mercy forces the synthetic to confront the possibility that a soul can be built — or found.

✨ Honorable Mentions

The Mission by Donna Doty

Allegorical Fantasy

On a world where meteor storms fall like omens and compassion reshapes even the shadows, a lone traveler races to save a dying star — but the truth waiting in the dark may demand more than he ever meant to give.

The Break-In by Ron Schultz

Creative Nonfiction / Personal Narrative

When a stranger in a fugue state shatters the quiet of a family home, the real damage isn’t the broken glass but the fears it awakens. In the aftermath, one man is forced to confront the long‑buried terrors he’s spent a lifetime avoiding.

By the Light of the Fire by JW Bell

Mystical Thriller

A warrior’s brutal last stand in ancient Ireland bleeds into the nightmares of a modern veteran who feels every wound as if it were real. When past and present collide, he discovers some battles never end — and some enemies never die.

Quanah Parker on the Distant Ridge by D. Krauss

Reflective Travel Narrative

On a meandering October road trip, a man visits the sites of famous last stands — only to recognize pieces of his own life in every downfall. Among the ghosts of Fetterman, Black Kettle, and Quanah Parker, he finds a kinship he never expected.

Pears, Honey by Susan April

Literary Historical Fiction

In an empty farmhouse slated for demolition, a forgotten gallery of home‑canned treasures reveals the ghost of a woman’s life. The discovery stirs old memories, reminding the narrator that what we leave behind is never as simple as it seems.

Looking Ahead to Inklight

We’re incredibly proud of all our winners and finalists. Their stories reflect the heart of what Small Bites is meant to celebrate: powerful storytelling delivered with precision, imagination, and emotional truth.

But the celebration doesn’t end here.

As we prepare for the Inklight Festival in June, we’re excited to share that Grand Prize winner Timothy Baldwin will be joining us in person to receive his award and meet readers, authors, and fellow storytellers. We can’t wait to celebrate his achievement — and the vibrant creative community that makes events like this possible.

Congratulations again to all our winners, and thank you to everyone who submitted. Your stories made this year’s contest unforgettable.