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If your story is listed in the top 5 below, congratulations, you are among the 125 writers moving on to the 2nd Round kicking off at 11:59PM EDT this Thursday, April 11th!   Congratulations to everyone that submitted a story, narrowing down a top 5 in each heat was incredibly difficult and everyone should be proud for rising to the challenge and creating a story outside your comfort zone from scratch in 8 days.  We hope the challenge was inspiring and hope to see you in our next challenge!

#1 'Island Nights' by Patricia Mueller SYNOPSIS - On a tiny speck of an island deep in the Caribbean, architect Maggie Dodd gives us a peek at her coming to terms with the fact that her life, so far, hasn’t been perfect, but, having gotten a second chance, she falls in love with the rhythm of the people and the island’s culinary experience, never believing steak, past and present, would become the core of her new life. Enter sizzling, sexy Ty Bennet, who awakens a sensual consciousness in Maggie she had long written off before leaving, Texas, her job, and the family steak business.

#2 'Looking For Mr. Wright' by Randall Berger SYNOPSIS - "Two zombies address the challenges of finding love after the Apocalypse, ie. a ZomRomCom."

#3 'Extra Medium' by Martie Gigantone SYNOPSIS - A shy, uptight architect takes personal enrichment classes at the local community college and redeems himself from an embarrassing incident in college 10 years earlier.

#4 'Extremely Rare' by Eva Langston SYNOPSIS - Eccentric artist, Kate, goes on a blind date to a steakhouse with Rich, a handsome architect.

#5 'Lights Out' by Jennifer Gladden SYNOPSIS - A father-daughter's dinner date is rudely interrupted by a rainstorm and a down-on-her-luck waitress is there to share in the misery.

 
#Honorable Mention 'Complicated Games' by Alan Macfarlane SYNOPSIS - Tanner, a game developer, has made a unique a bond with a girl he met online. Things get complicated when they meet in person.

#Honorable Mention 'Nice Day for a Q' by Jill Raftery SYNOPSIS - Josh is a lonely transplant from San Francisco celebrating completing his first house. Susan is the real estate agent surprised to find drunk in the backyard of the home she's supposed to be selling. Together they bond over a love of good wine, and the possibility of good things in the future.

#Honorable Mention 'That Loving Vealing' by Adam Wagner SYNOPSIS - A hopelessly contrived love letter to jazz-fusion ending in a three way.

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