A creative outpouring from around the world 

This year’s Last House Writing Contest was remarkable with submissions from around the world and writings that covered a range of creative styles. The contest drew entries from Singapore, Sweden, France, UK, and Thailand to name a few, as well as from across the nation and closer to home in the Bay Area. The evocative subject of water attracted a wealth of writing approaches, such as science fiction, memoir, poetic reflection, climate fiction, and other styles.   

An element with thoughts and feelings

Among the finalists, there were notable similarities in characterizing water — with water personified as a presence that not only sustains life but has a memory and provides solace to humans.  

The grand prize-winning story called on these universal themes. “I Am the Sea, and I Remember,” from 11-year-old Vittoria Molinari from Levallois-Perret, France, is a short and poetic work about primordial sea reaching out to console a child.  

Molinari’s piece begins: 

“People often think of me as merely water — waves that move, salt that stings, and blue that goes on and on. But I am much more than that. I have lived longer than anyone, seeing what others overlook and hearing the unspoken.”

Inspired by Japanese magical realism and fantasy 

When asked what inspired this story, Molinari cited the Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, the award-winning filmmakers that produced animated classics such as Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron. 

Molinari shared, “When I saw the word ‘water,’ I immediately thought of the sea. Right after that, the movie Ponyo by Studio Ghibli came to mind, along with the DVD cover of When Marnie Was There. These were my main sources of inspiration. In Ponyo, the sea is a helpful and magical force. And on the cover of When Marnie Was There, there’s a little girl standing with her feet in the water, looking rather melancholic. That image really stuck with me.” 

One of the judges, Michael Sutton, Executive Director of The Goldman Environmental Prize, commented about Molinari’s story, “I felt that it captured a poignant, personal sentiment of not belonging that I’m sure all of us have felt at some point in time, and it was so creative in its personification of water.”

Molinari was beaming when she received notice that she was awarded both children’s first place and the grand prize. “I’m so honored to have won the prize — thanks to that, my class won the interclass competition this school year! I’m so happy,” she said.  

Acknowledging the global significance and enduring contribution of M.F.K. Fisher  

The Last House Writing Contest honors author M.F.K. Fisher, whose “Last House” is at Audubon Canyon Ranch on Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen. Her grandson, Alex Wright, was one of the esteemed judges of the contest. Wright shared this comment about choosing Molinari’s piece above the others, “Honestly, of my three top choices, the one that spoke to me the most was Vittoria Molinari. Perhaps because of the grace coming from such a young person.” 

Read the winning stories

Children:  
*First place and grand prize: Vittoria Molinari (Levallois-Perret, France), “I Am the Sea, and I Remember” 
*Second place: Audrey Chen (Oakville, Ontario, Canada), “The Liquid Revolution” 
*Third place: Keziah Khoo (Singapore), “How Can Water” 

Youth:  
*First place: Afina Chenmei Liang (Encinitas, CA), “How to Become a River” 

*Second place: Rebecca Liu (Queens, NY), “Memories Water Holds” 
*Third place: Nicole Um (North Hollywood, CA), “Weight of Empty Cup” 

Adults:  
*First place: Cooper Matuszak (Richmond, CA), “Wading” 
*Second place: W Goodwin (Denver, CO), “Footbridge” 
*Third place: Laurel Ekstrom (Lund, Sweden), “Dead Ice”