The winning story
Ellen's winning story was challenging and exciting. In only 350 words, she brilliantly captured facets of the tremendous grief of facing a parent's death in a story that can be read both literally as eerie speculative fiction, or as a poignant, aching allegory. The story resonates far beyond its short word count. Watch her read the winning story on the November 2025 Pen Parentis Literary Salon, archived on YouTube.com/PenParentis (the A.I. Salon).
Published by Dreamers Magazine as the winner of the 2026 Pen Parentis Fellowship on November 30, 2025, Ellen Stearn's astonishing debut fiction "Cold Comfort" can be found on dreamerswriting.com
Author's Bio
Ellen Stearns of Larchmont, NY, is the mother of a 6 year old child and is already deep into a new, longer project with her Pen Parentis cohort. After eight years in ever-rising editorial positions at Simon and Schuster in New York City, Ellen left publishing to raise her child. She is eager to get back into the book industry, though this time as a writer. A graduate of Middlebury College and University of Chicago, with a memorable year at Oxford, this Fellowship is Ellen’s first big writing success. (We know it will be the first of many.)