Woman is published in 'Soup' anthology
For as long as she can remember, Evans resident Terri Duncan says, she has enjoyed two things - fishing and writing.
Back
Terri Duncan of Evans contributed a story for the book Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul, which was released May 28. Duncan says the submission gave her the chance to combine her two favorite pastimes, writing and fishing.
Photo by Quandra Collins
"I had a wonderful childhood," Duncan, a former Columbia County elementary school teacher, said with a smile.
"Growing up, my mother and teachers always encouraged me to write. My fondest memories are fishing stories."
And it was a childhood story about her favorite pastime that recently won Duncan a chance to share her story with the world in the book Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul, which was released May 28.
Duncan said she submitted her story two years ago after learning about the writing opportunity on the Internet. Out of 1,500 submissions, Duncan said, her story was chosen, along with 87 others.
"I take great pride in being a part in a world-renowned series like Chicken Soup. ... I like Chicken Soup stories because they are feel-good and warm-hearted stories," Duncan said.
She had won a previous award for a longer version of the story in a 1999 newspaper contest sponsored by The Augusta Chronicle.
In a short story called The Purple Plastic Worm, Duncan chronicles the first time she caught a catfish with a purple plastic worm while fishing with her older brother.
Terri Duncan says she has loved fishing for as long as she can remember. This mounted fish was her first catch when she was a young girl.
Photo by Quandra Collins
"I was in absolute shock when I caught one because no one thought that I would catch a fish with a purple plastic worm," she said.
Now that Duncan has a published story in the Chicken Soup series book, she said, she hopes to write more stories about her childhood and family experiences.
Duncan has two children, Dallas, 16, and Barret, 13. She said she grew up fishing and now looks forward to continuing her favorite pastime with her family and through her writing.
"I have lots to write about," she said.