Blue Earth Review is the literary magazine of Minnesota State University, Mankato. Before being wholly revamped and renamed in 2003, BER was published under such titles as Medicine Jug, The Muse, and Minnesota River Review.

The Blue Earth Review's Ninth Annual Flash Fiction Contest is now open for submissions! Stories may be up to 600 words and there is a $5 entry fee for up to three entries. The judge for this year's contest will be announced shortly.

Due to our submission manager being down at the moment, we can only accept paper submissions at this time. Send your flash stories and entry fee to:

Blue Earth Review
230 Armstrong Hall
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001

The deadline for the contest is December 1, 2011. All submissions received after this date will be read as standard fiction submissions, but will not be considered for the contest. All entries will also be considered for general publication unless otherwise marked.

Three winners will be chosen and awarded $100, $75, and $25. The winners will be announced in February and published in the next issue of Blue Earth Review.

The editors are proud to unveil the latest issue of Blue Earth Review. Volume IX features the winners of the flash fiction contest and the photography contest.

Here are the winners of the Blue Earth Review's Eighth Annual Flash Fiction Contest, judged by Roger Sheffer.

1. "Autobiography, Autobiography." - Michael Schmeltzer
From its clever title, to the ingenious parallels that play out between the narratives of the twins Jacob and Esau, this is a brilliant work of compression. As one hopes to see in flash fiction, every sentence rewards the attention paid—details that convey meaning, beyond mere decoration. The work is grounded, amusing, and original.

2. "Trenches" - William Taft
A taut piece of narrative, covering much ground, without ever being sketchy. The author’s style is graceful and efficient. Not one word out of place.

3. "Mosaic" - Donna Trump
This reads like a full-length story, and surprises us by its brevity. It manages to build a complete scene with a convincing landscape and real characters, in very little space.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who submitted work.