Cedar Key News

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O`Henry Award Winner

Maureen Landress

If you run into local resident Bill Schmidt, take a moment to congratulate him, his daughter Heidi Jon Schmidt has won the prestigious O'Henry Award for a story in her collection titled "Darling?" He is one very proud Dad!

With warmth and uncanny insight, Schmidt's writing captures life in all it's complexity. This collection of witty, romantic, and humorous stories is filled with the kind of characters one meets in everyday life. They are the people next door, the couple down the road, the sister you thought you knew so well. There's the young man who succumbs to his sorrows, but leaves his family with new life. The therapist who's patient becomes a bit more than he can handle. The writers who just can't seem to put any words on the page, but forge ahead with marketing their much hoped for bestseller.

Each story offers a touch of wisdom artfully disguised with humor and poignant detail. This is a skillfully crafted collection of short stories, by a clever storyteller, and they are an absolute delight to read.