Whitefish Review awards “Emerald Casino” fiction prize

Whitefish Review has announced that Jeff Guay has been awarded the 2024 Montana Prize for Fiction for his short story “Emerald Casino.”  

He will receive a $1000 prize and publication in the Whitefish Review’s music issue, slated for release on Sept. 13.

The competition was judged by author and Whitefish Review editor-at-large, Rick Bass. 

“Winning this prize has been both exciting and humbling,” said Guay, a writer and musician living in Boulder, Montana. “Rick has a great sense for what is ‘real’ in a story, the beating heart that makes it resonate. He challenged me to make a smarter, more tangible, and honest version of the story. Going through the editorial process with Rick reminded me why I write, which is to learn, grow, and improve at my craft.”   

Guay has taught English and writing in the Boulder area for six years and has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Montana. He will read from his prize-winning story at the music issue launch party Sept. 13, at the Lakeside Pavilion at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.  

Bass is the author of over 30 books and winner of the Story Prize, the James Jones First Novel Fellowship, a PEN/Nelson Algren Award Special Citation for fiction, and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.  

Whitefish Review is currently accepting submissions for The Montana Prize for Humor, which also awards a $1000 prize. Submissions are accepted through the online submission portal through September 30. 

Molly McNearney, co-head writer and executive producer of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and the executive producer and writer of the 2024 Oscars, judges the contest.   

The journal is accepting regular submissions through October 31.   

For more information, visit www.whitefishreview.org.