By Meghan E. Gattignolo
Clarksville, Tennessee, has its own prestigious award for creative writing. Thomas Dabney Mabry, Jr. was a published short story author from Clarksville who won the O. Henry Award in 1954 for his story “The Indian Feather”. He graduated from Harvard in 1925, and was an editor for Time magazine. Rightfully so, the Clarksville Writers’ Conference has chosen to name their newest short story contest after this accomplished local writer.
As the first-ever winner of the Thomas Dabney Mabry Award, Chrissy Hicks talks about her experience with the contest, her love of writing, and why writers at any stage of their writing journey need to enter the contest, too.
Thomas Dabney Mabry, Jr. by Carl Van Vechten. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Carl Van Vechten Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USZ62-54231]
Lifetime Storyteller
Chrissy Hicks is an author and freelance editor, as well as a self-described logophile–lover of words. As Hicks describes the genesis of her writing journey, “there isn’t a starting point, it just always was.” Growing up in her hometown of Hanover, Massachusetts, stories were always a big part of Hicks’ life. Since early childhood, she’s loved making up stories, imagining plots, and devouring books.
By her teenage years, Hicks was interested in writing as a profession. She persistently submitted her work to magazines until they begged her to stop. But it wasn’t until her freshman year at Bridgewater State College that Hicks thought maybe writing for a living could actually be a reality when her work was chosen for a college publication. The recognition was a source of encouragement that kept her going.
Chrissy Hicks reading from her novel-in-progress at the Clarksville Writers Conference, June 2024.
The Write Life
Fast forward to 2015, the growing Hicks family decided to make the move down to Clarksville, Tennessee. They were searching for a more wholesome place to grow a family, and Clarksville checked all their boxes.
Among raising a family and working, Hicks found time to continue her writing and keep her skills sharp. She submitted short stories to publications like Reedsy, the Broadkill Review, and Killer Nashville Magazine, along with short articles about the writing craft. Hicks’ author website outlines many of her published stories and accomplishments.
Hicks has always wanted to be part of a writing group, and she eventually found a good one as she cozied up to Clarksville. During one of the meetings, local writer and publisher Shana Thornton introduced the group to a new contest, hosted by the Clarksville Writers Conference. Always up for a challenge, Hicks entered.
The Inaugural Winner!
Chrissy Hicks was excited to enter the contest, but she didn’t expect to win. “Whenever I enter a contest, I just hope to make finalist,” Hicks said. “When they told me I was one of the three winners, I was shocked.”
The top winner announcement was made during the Clarksville Writers’ Conference this past summer, which she attended. Hicks brought her young daughter along with her to share in the experience. Thankfully she did, because Hicks was the first-place winner–her first big win as a writer–and won the added joy of sharing the moment with her child. “I was so excited to have her there,” Hicks said. “When they read from the winning entry, I was in disbelief. We both looked at each other in shock.”
A little recognition goes a long way for writers, who often work alone. “Winning the award was extremely validating,” said Hicks. “The Mabry gave me my first check I’ve ever received for my writing.”
Chrissy Hicks accepts her First Place award from Sharon Barnes, Creative Writing Award Chair, for the Thomas Dabney Mabry Creative Writing Award, 2024.
Advice to Writers
Hicks highly recommends the contest for writers of all kinds: “The Thomas Mabry is great because it’s local. [If you win] it’s a neat thing to have, to say that you’ve done.”
Whether this contest or not, Hicks encourages aspiring authors to enter any contest, and don’t be discouraged when you don’t find success at first: “Put your work out there to as many as you can. Eventually you’re going to start winning. When you start finding those successes, you can add those to your portfolio.”
Confidence as a writer will soon follow. “The awards provide social proof that you are a good writer, plus winning awards show agents that you’re serious when you start querying your manuscripts,” Hicks said.
A Bright Future for a Dark Story
Chrissy Hicks plans to highlight the Thomas Mabry Award win in her next query letter. The short story she submitted to the contest is actually an excerpt from her book, Overshadowed, a dark academia mystery thriller. The fact that a portion of the story has already received local accolades will go a long way to get her book agented, so stay on the lookout for Hicks’ debut novel!
If you’d like to submit a story to the Thomas Dabney Mabry Creative Writing Contest, hosted by the Clarksville Writers Conference, take a look at the website for details and how to submit. Maybe you’ll be the second-ever writer to win the award next year! The contest is open to submissions now until February 15, 2025.
Meghan E. Gattignolo is a freelance writer and longtime Clarksville, TN resident. She loves to obsess about historical subjects and annoy her family daily with unsolicited random facts. Meghan holds a History B.A. from Austin Peay State University and lives in town with her husband and two children.