I just received an e-mail telling me one of my short stories made the shortlist for finalists in the short-story category of the Faulkner Wisdom Competition (run by Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society down in New Orleans).
Then, immediately after that, I received another e-mail that I made the semi-finals for the novella category of the same competition.
This is fantastic news! Not an outright win, per se, but both results place me fairly high up the totem pole. Some great, positive results for two stories I’ve long had a soft spot for.
Persistence pays, people. 🙂
Samuel Snoek-Brown 
That’s great news! With all the people you are up against, that is huge! Congrats.
Thanks! Missed out on the third contest I was in, but two out of three is a win for me. Now to get someone interesting in publishing these things…. 🙂