Dear Writers, After reviewing over 200 entries, we've named one winner and two runner-ups for the 2012 Best Opening Contest.

First Place: Melanie Thorne

We compare scars like war veterans, replay our history by the marks in our skin. At night, quietly so Mom can't hear, we trace the raised flesh road maps of our lives and whisper our stories into the dark.

Runner-ups: Christina Gessler & Chris Westphal

Christina Gessler: "Of course the average man doesn't take his dead lover for a spin in a hot-wired hearse," Sheila Miller told the district attorney, "but I did not raise my Robert to be average."

Chris Westphal: Destiny approached Tom Huttle like a door-to-door salesman: furtive, eager, a little rumpled. It had something special for Tom, yes indeed; something that he really needed, something just perfect for him, if only he would take a look.

First place will receive a tuition scholarship to the 2012 SBWC and a signed copy of Dorothy Allison's Bastard Out of Carolina. The two runner-ups will receive partial scholarships to this year's conference.

We'd also like to name several honorable mentions, listed in alphabetical order: