After a period of reflection and repair in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the judges have reached their decision on our 2012 Scary Dairy Contest.

First prize goes to Erin Thorne's gooey tale of cheese voodoo

Dave Goudsward:

Erin Thorne's story "I'm Melting" starts strong, establishes characterization right off the bad and ends with the perfect blend of horror and dairy. The cheese is integral to the plot without being obvious.

Amanda Affrunti:

Erin Thorne, with her tale of scorned love and Voodoo dolls of cheddar, wins first place. Her original idea and clever execution (of the words and of the antagonist) made the perfect Scary Dairy tale.

Kristi Petersen Schoonover:

It’s difficult to get a sense of back story and character and come around full circle in 500 words, but “I’m Melting” did it beautifully; in addition, it was one of the most unique, fresh and creative revenge pieces I’ve read in a long time. Well done.

For her efforts, Erin wins a bag of cheesy tricks and treats selected by the staff.

Runner-up prize to Mary Russell for her puntastic tale of a cheese mummy who stalks the dairy section

Amanda:

Mary Russell's wordsmithing was nothing short of delightful - terrifically humorous and definitely deserving recognition!

Dave:

Mary Russell has the best opening line a/k/a the most painful pun I've ever read.

Mary also gets a little something for her efforts, as well as a noogie for that opening pun.

Special thanks goes to everyone who sent in a story this year, and to our very distinguished panel of judges:

David Goudsward is a native New Englander who now lives (albeit under protest) in South Florida. He dabbles in horror both in fiction, and in non-fiction with regional guides to horror such as Shadows Over New England. His next book is H.P. Lovecraft in the Merrimack Valley, due out in 2013. His most recent horror fiction, under the name David Bernard, include short stories in the Stoker Award finalist Epitaphs with the New England Horror Writers, Rymfire Books’ State Of Horror: Florida and the Pill Hill Press anthology BUGS! His next story will answer the burning question of what do you get when you mix Lovecraft and Hans Christian Andersen in the upcoming anthology Once Upon an Apocalypse from Chaosium Publishing.

A ghost story writer who still sleeps with the lights on, Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s fiction has appeared in countless magazines and anthologies. She holds an MFA from Goddard College, has received three Norman Mailer Writers Colony Residencies, is editor for Read Short Fiction, and hosts the Scary Scribes podcast for Paranormal, Eh? Radio Network in Canada. Her horror novel, Bad Apple, is now available from Vagabondage Press Books, and 50% of her royalties are being donated to the American Association of Caregiving Youth. She’s also a member of the New England Horror Writers Association. More info: www.kristipetersenschoonover.com.

Amanda Affrunti got her start at Wally's Wine and Spirits in west Los Angeles. While there, she got into wine sales and then became one of three cheesemongers at their adjoining cheese shop, the Wally's Cheese Box. Since then she's relocated to Napa, where she's working for and winery and a wine bar where she's in charge of the cheese and charcuterie programs. She loves wine, loves food, and loves cheese, and I hopes to open her own cheese shop by the time she's thirty.