NSW-based writer Jo Riccioni has been announced as the winner of the 2016 Margaret River Press Short Story Competition for her story ‘Shibboleth’:

‘A delicate and deliberate evocation of love, identity, and segregation set against the backdrop of Doris Salcedo's polarising art exhibition.’

The Runner-up was Magdalena McGuire for her story, ‘It Used To Be A Boyd’.

Australian author, Laurie Steed was the final judge and editor of the collection of 24 shortlisted stories:

‘Selecting the stories for inclusion in this year's Margaret River Press short story collection was challenging but deeply enjoyable. There were many great stories, and so it was tough to select the final shortlist from what was one of the best assortments of stories I've come across. Those stories selected almost uniformly took risks, presenting new scenarios, vulnerable protagonists, and a willingness to think outside of the box.’

The collection will be named after the winning story: Shibboleth & other stories.

Shortlisted authors to appear in the collection are: Mikaela Castledine, Melanie Cheng, Cassie Hamer, Leslie Thiele, Magdalena McGuire, Penny Gibson, Kathy George, Julie Bowen Kearney, Helen Renwick, Susan McCreery, Sue Robertson, Kate Glenister, Rachelle Rechichi, Michelle Wright, Phil Sparrow, Catherine Moffat, Laura Elvery, Emily Paull, Catherine Noske, Jo Riccioni, Chloe Wilson, Mirandi Riwoe, Vahri McKenzie, and New Zealand writer Wes Lee.

The annual competition is run in partnership with Arts Margaret River.

Shibboleth & other stories will be launched in August 2016 by Margaret River Press.