Meet the notable writers of the 2026 First Chapter Challenge Writing Contest!
First Place: Leaf Peepers
Maggie Kavanaugh (@maggiekavanaughwrites), part-time writer and full-time over-thinker, pens the modern rom-coms she wants to read. She works in finance by day, which is a strange outcome for someone who regularly cried over her algebra homework. Maggie writes from her home in Arkansas where she lives with her husband, who has read and loved every word she has ever written, even truly terrible ones. You can find her on Substack @maggiekavanaughwrites.
Read Maggie’s first chapter of Leaf Peepers, and learn more about her writing process & journey.
Second Place: The Haze Between Us
Beth D. Bates (@openlybeth) is a planning consultant and mum of three who began writing fiction six months ago as a way to capture the daydreams to help her unwind. She loves deep character dives and taking up her characters’ hobbies to get in their head which feeds her ADHD need for novelty and adrenaline. Over on her Instagram, she shares her hobbies and writing journey.
Read Beth’s first chapter of The Haze Between Us, and learn more about her writing process & journey.
Third Place: Better Late Than Never
Lindsey Marks (@bylindseymarks) teaches neurodivergent learners by day and writes novels that combine her special interests by night. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband along with a morally gray beagle and a cinnamon roll pit bull.
Read Lindsey’s first chapter of Better Late Than Never, and learn more about her writing process & journey.
Honorable Mentions:
Goddesses and Doormats by Elena Miceli (@elena.miceli19)
Skullscape by Gabriella Nowak (@gabriellanowakwrites)
The Dead and Divine by Caitlyn Shepherd (@cm_shepherd)
