Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Winning Entries

Photo of Erma Bombeck
"Hook 'em with the lead. Hold 'em with laughter. Exit with a quip they won't forget." ˜ Erma Bombeck
The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is now open!
Competition closes Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 8 P.M. (EST)

Winning Entries By Year


Congratulations winners, honorable mentions and entrants of the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. Enjoy reading the entries below and be inspired!


Winning Entries - 2024
Humor Category - Local Area
First Place:  Aline Pusecker Taylor -  Powell, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Julie Cole -  Cincinnati, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Jessica Miller -  Springboro, OH, United States
Finalist:  Joan Harris -  Huron, OH, United States
Finalist:  Nancy Mink -  Loveland, OH, United States
Humor Category - Global
First Place:  Charla Schafer -  Muscatine, IA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Jennifer Ammoscato -  Windsor, Canada
Honorable Mention:  Matt Landig -  Los Angeles, CA, United States
Finalist:  Annette Goggin -  Cambridge City, IN, United States
Finalist:  Karen Iseminger -  Everett, PA, United States
Human Interest Category - Local Area
First Place:  Lindsey Roth -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Margie Carroll Wehner -  Yellow Springs, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Bev Potter -  Seville, OH, United States
Finalist:  Vincent O'Keefe -  Lakewood, OH, United States
Finalist:  Mary Sullivan -  Bay Village, OH, United States
Human Interest Category - Global
First Place:  Marcy O'Brien -  Warren, PA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Cara McDonough -  Hamden, CT, United States
Honorable Mention:  Susan Ross -  Morganville, NJ, United States
Finalist:  Ruth Supko Owens -  Jonesboro, AR, United States
Finalist:  Jillian Van Hefty -  Bella Vista, AR, United States
Winning Entries - 2022
Humor Category - Local Area
First Place:  Rachel Grise -  Piqua, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Elizabeth Trende -  Delaware, OH, United States
Humor Category - Global
First Place:  Dorothy Rosby -  Rapid City, SD, United States
Honorable Mention:  Suzy Girard-Ruttenberg -  Boca Raton, FL, United States
Honorable Mention:  January Ornellas -  Moorpark, CA, United States
Human Interest Category - Local Area
First Place:  Lindsey Roth -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Patricia Washington -  Euclid, OH, United States
Human Interest Category - Global
First Place:  Rita Lussier -  Jamestown, RI, United States
Honorable Mention:  Elizabeth Baldwin -  Hookwood, United Kingdom
Honorable Mention:  Kathryn Leehane -  San Jose, CA, United States
Winning Entries - 2020
Humor Category - Local Area
First Place:  Joan Harris -  Huron, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Barbara David -  Cincinnati, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Tami Himmelfarb Wolf -  Beachwood, OH, United States
Humor Category - Global
First Place:  DeAnne Spicer Todd -  Altadena, CA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Elaine Ambrose -  Meridian, ID, United States
Honorable Mention:  Meredith Besser -  Los Angeles, CA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Tara Powers -  Stuart, FL, United States
Human Interest Category - Local Area
First Place:  Gwen Rosenberg -  Kent, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Rebecca Koop -  Dayton, OH, United States
Human Interest Category - Global
First Place:  Kathy Shiels Tully -  Melrose, MA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Susan Konig -  Bronx, NY, United States
Honorable Mention:  Robb Lightfoot -  Chico, CA, United States
Winning Entries - 2018
Humor Category - Local Area
First Place:  Jeff Kennedy -  Columbus, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Donna Boen -  Oxford, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Stephanie Fellenstein -  Aurora, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Katlyn Stechschulte -  Dayton, OH, United States
Humor Category - Global
First Place:  Susan Keller -  Dingmans Ferry, PA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Kathleen Bouvier -  Saint Lambert QC, Canada
Honorable Mention:  LouAnn Edwards -  Beaverton, OR, United States
Honorable Mention:  Missy Nicholson -  Greer, SC, United States
Honorable Mention:  Pamela Wright -  Clarkdale, GA, United States
Human Interest Category - Local Area
First Place:  Sarah Hunt -  Cincinnati, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Rosalie Bernard -  Miamisburg, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Vicki Edwards -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Dale Ehrlich -  Oxford, OH, United States
Human Interest Category - Global
First Place:  Julie Watson -  Wildwood, MO, United States
Honorable Mention:  Aussa Lorens -  Denver, CO, United States
Honorable Mention:  Holly Rutchik -  Appleton, WI, United States
Honorable Mention:  Dana Starr -  Ransom Canyon, TX, United States
Honorable Mention:  Jillian Van Hefty -  Waconia, MN, United States
Winning Entries - 2016
Humor Category - Local Area
First Place:  Kevin Tucker -  Vandalia, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Darlene Sunshine -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Timothy Walker -  Dayton, OH, United States
Humor Category - Global
First Place:  Mary Kay Fleming -  Crescent Springs, KY, United States
Honorable Mention:  Karen Hamilton -  Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Honorable Mention:  Sharon Kramer -  Wheaton, IL, United States
Honorable Mention:  Laurie O'Connor Stephans -  Plano, IL, United States
Honorable Mention:  Nancy Roman -  Litchfield, CT, United States
Honorable Mention:  Marcia Smart -  Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Human Interest Category - Local Area
First Place:  Becky Koop -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Wendy Gilmore -  Centerville, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Allison Mundy -  Dayton, OH, United States
Honorable Mention:  Lindsey Roth -  Dayton, OH, United States
Human Interest Category - Global
First Place:  Vikki Reich -  Minneapolis, MN, United States
Honorable Mention:  Maia Aziz -  Lasalle, Canada
Honorable Mention:  Marti Benson Smith -  Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Honorable Mention:  Andrea Darvill -  Christina Lake, Canada
Honorable Mention:  Janie Emaus -  Winnetka, CA, United States
Honorable Mention:  Mona Shand -  Brighton, MI, United States