True Story of Young Soldier Saved by Bible in His Pocket Short Fiction Contest Winner

June 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Raleigh, North Carolina: A moving tale of how a local Wilmington, NC man was saved from certain death in World War I, won Jon Batson third place the 21st Annual Short Fiction Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Historical Society of the Lower Cape Fear and Encore magazine, a weekly publication in Wilmington, NC.

Jon Batson’s story, "Keep This in Your Pocket,” focuses on Robert “Bobby” Batson, Jon’s Great Uncle, who is saved by the Bible in his pocket.  The Bible, with the bullet still inside, is a featured item on the family’s mantel in Hampstead, NC.

“As a boy I spent many a summer as a tow-headed kid running barefoot around the family homestead in Wilmington.  Somehow the conversation seemed to drift to the telling of how Bobby was shot his first week in battle and ‘that the Bible there on the mantle saved him,’” said Batson. “To me it seemed a story worth sharing and a way to honor him and his service.”

The contest encourages writers to submit works of fiction based upon the rich historical lore of the Cape Fear Region. Stories must be based on historical events or regional lore, and reflect the character, culture and history of the Cape Fear area (Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover Counties).  Top entries are published in the Encore magazine.

This is the fourth time Batson has a prize-winning story in the contest. He won second place in 2005, with the “Powder Monkey of Cape Fear,” first place in 2006, with “Gaston’s Last Run” and first place again in 2007, with “Love at the Lumina Pavilion.” All four tales were published in Encore.

Batson is the author of six novels in a variety of genres.  His most recent, Terminal Research, is the third in the series of fact-based-fiction conspiracy novels that feature investigative journalist Jack Richmond.

For more information about Jon Batson and his published works visit http://www.TheRealJonBatson.com



About Jon Batson:
Award winning songwriter and author, Jon Batson is a storyteller at heart with books, CDs and five Hollywood produced musicals to his credit. Jon has performed before the Kennedy family in his hometown of Washington, DC, and the Vice-Premier of China while touring in Beijing. Batson’s writings range from micro fiction, flash fiction, and short fiction to novellas, novels and sagas.  Favoring fact-based-fiction, "The Rands Conspiracy", "Deadly Research", "Research Triangle" and the third in the series, "Terminal Research" get readers thinking with new eyes about current situations they see and hear in the news. His stories have won him prizes in the Lower Cape Fear Historical Society's Short Fiction Contest and Writers of the Future sci-fi contest. His sci-fi saga "Fade to Black" and three anthologies of his short stories are popular reads.  His works are available on Amazon and local bookstores. His independent publishing company, Midnight Whistler Publishers, offers book publishing services focusing on non-fiction manuscripts and helping writers make the transition to eBooks.  He currently lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife, Eileen. Visit Jon on the web: http://www.MidnightWhistlerPublishers.com/   http://www.TheRealJonBatson.com

Media Contact:
Eileen Batson
Batson Group Marketing and PR
Eileen@BGMPR.com
919.413.2318

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