Ember and Vine Fiction

From a single spark, a story takes hold. 

This short story collection gathers award-winning fiction shaped around the quiet longing, courage, defiance, or hope that begins small but eventually takes hold of a heart. Penned by cross-generational and cross-cultural writers, each selection explores what happens when that inner whisper grows and transforms the lives it touches. 

Edited by Julie Cantrell and Janyre Tromp, these stories reflect a wide range of voices and settings, united by their attention to the craft of fiction and their belief in the power of narrative to reveal deep truth. Together they form a tapestry of tales, proving that even the smallest calling can give rise to something meaningful and enduring. 

Stories Written By: 

Julie Cantrell

Angie Dicken 

Andy Edge (Judges' Choice) 

Kathryn Ellesworth 

C. I. Jerez (Judges' Runner-Up) 

Denée King 

Linnae Klutchko 

Lina Lambert 

Tiffany Link 

Alva Moore 

Lyssa Reese 

J. R. Scalf 

Lauren J. Schafer 

Janyre Tromp

Kailey Veenstra