Third Place: A Flight of Faith and Fury by Lady Scarlett
The Lady Scarlett of Wintershill (@.lady.scarlett) is a fantasy and science fiction author whose prose bridges poetry and myth. Her stories follow the ember-trails of resilience, asking what remains after the fire fades.
“And yet time didn’t heal my wounds! All time did was move the injury a few inches to right, so that it no longer hurt to breathe.”
Lady Scarlett, A Flight of Faith and Fury
Judge Feedback:
“This writer took a well-worn saying and transformed it into something clever and new. To me, writing is often about taking what we know and saying it in new ways, and these sentences demonstrate that ability succinctly and delightfully."
A Chat with the Author:
Tell us a little about your writing background. How long have you been writing? What inspired you to start?
I think every writer can relate to saying that they've been writing as far back as they can remember. I finished my first novel at 15; unfortunately, the manuscript is now lost to me. In high school, I won several poetry and short story contests, but at the time, my passion for storytelling was more centered on acting. I graduated from high school as valedictorian and went to university for a degree in theatre. I quickly realized the cutthroat lifestyle of an actor wasn't for me, so I built a career in the food service industry. I had worked my way up to a traveling manager, visiting all over the country to train staff for new restaurants and launching grand openings. My travel lifestyle ended during the pandemic, so in 2020, I returned to writing as a freelancer online. With a desire to improve my craft and credibility as a writer and author, I returned to school and will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing with a focus in Fiction at the end of 2025.
Tell us about the larger work where these sentences are from.
A Flight of Faith and Fury has been my pet project for 2 decades. After I wrote my first manuscript, Future's Sight. I had created the characters for my current work in progress. The story has always been on my mind, and I've rewritten many scenes over the years. Now that I'm nearing completion of my degree, I plan to dedicate myself fully to completing this project. The protagonist is a Fallen Angel named Mika. She was the guardian angel of King Evander and failed to keep him alive during the war. As punishment, she was no longer allowed to return to the celestial realm. The story follows her journey of overcoming loss and deciding for herself the difference between good and evil.
Where can readers find more of your work?
Currently, I can only be found on TikTok (@.lady.scarlett). I do plan to launch my own website and expand my platform once I've completed my degree.
What advice would you give writers on writing a great sentence?
Fall in love with revision. I used to think writing one or two drafts was enough, but then I realized how much beauty hides in the later layers. The work doesn’t become sublime until you’re willing to reshape it again and again. When seeking feedback, reach out to fellow writers who understand the craft; they’ll ask the kinds of questions that make your work grow in ways casual readers can’t.