At the 2017 Royal Palm Literary Award Banquet, author Kim Hackett won First Place for her unpublished short story, Without Witness. Each year at the RPLA Banquet, authors experience the joy of earning accolades for all the hard work that is often done in the privacy of the home with little to no recognition. We’re showcasing the best of the best with our First Place winners spotlight. Not only does RPLA recognize extraordinary talent, but we’re giving readers an opportunity to sample excerpts from the winning stories.
Unpublished Short Story: Without Witness
A woman doubts her husband’s loyalty when they have unexpected visitors in the middle of the night.
Kim Hackett’s short stories have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Florida Writers Association anthologies. Her first novel won first place in the 2015 RPLA for suspense.
Kim Hackett
Click here to read Without Witness.
An interview with Kim Hackett:
Q: Where do you get your story ideas?
A: Most of my stories come from a small seed of truth—an event or person or even a place I’d like to know more about. Sometimes, by the time the story is finished, that small piece of reality is secondary to the story or has even been edited out entirely, but it was enough to get my imagination going.
Q: Anything in particular about your award-winning RPLA entry that you’d like to share?
A: The small seed of truth that inspired this story was that I was awakened one night by two (real) police officers who knocked on the door after receiving a call that prowlers were reported in the neighborhood. I stuck my head out the door and said I was fine, but they insisted on coming inside to be sure I wasn’t being coerced. I did and all was fine, but that is what bloomed into a short story.
Q: Who do you credit with inspiring your writing?
A: Many people influence my writing, including favorite best-selling authors who inspire me, family and friends who encourage me, and fellow writers who teach me a great deal.
Q: Any tips for new writers?
A: Find a group of writers you can trust and feel comfortable with. I think it’s invaluable to have friends in the writing world to bounce ideas off, help with critiques, and pick you up when you’re feeling discouraged.
Thank you, Kim.
