Tryon Arts and Crafts School is making a final appeal for local, regional and national audiences to submit original ghost stories to the school by Monday, Aug. 27.

This is the second year the Tryon Arts and Crafts School is inviting audiences to submit original ghost stories to the school’s national competition, “The Apparitionist.” The submission process is well underway, but time still remains for haunted pens to glean this year’s pièce de résistance, organizers said.

The competition’s head judge will be Michael Zam, co-creator, writer and producer on FX’s “Feud: Bette and Joan.” Preliminary judges will be Marilyn McMinn McCredie, Susan McNabb and Katie Winkler.

Cash prizes and overnight accommodations will go to the first, second and third place winners. Note that stories do not have to be based in western North Carolina, though the Heritage Award will go to a resident of Polk or Henderson counties or Landrum.

“The Apparitionist” competition was initiated in 2017 to embrace and honor the heritage of storytelling in western North Carolina, and it was met with great response, organizers said.

The 2018 winning stories will be read live for an audience 7 p.m. on Halloween, Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the school at 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon.

The reading, directed by Kai Elijah Hamilton, is appropriate for young adults and older ages, but be advised — these tales make light of dark frights.

People may view an official trailer for “The Apparitionist” competition on the school’s YouTube page, “Tryon Craft.”

For more information about the school, people may contact the office at 828-859-8323 or visit TryonArtsandCrafts.org.

– Submitted by

Will Barclift