Art Affair/Shade Tree Creations is a private organization sponsored by Barbara Shepherd for art and writing. For more than a decade, Barbara encouraged writers of Poetry, Short Stories, and especially, Western Short Stories, to work at their trade and be recognized and rewarded for their efforts. To accomplish that goal, Art Affair held three annual contests, paid cash awards, awarded certificates, and garnered entries from across the nation and beyond.

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As founder/sponsor of Art Affair Literary Contests through Shade Tree Creations, I appreciate all the kind words from writers who entered their poems and short stories over the years. They shared how much competing, whether winning or not, helped them further their writing careers. Talk about music to my soul!

I encourage everyone to keep writing, entering contests, and sending your work out for publication. I love seeing your name on book covers and listed in the table of contents inside anthologies and literary journals.

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Happy writing to you,

Barbara Shepherd