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Madison Magazine writer honored in Best American anthologies
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Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 15:37 GMT by Channel 3000🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Leah H. M. Davis, has been selected for the 2023 edition of Best American Short Stories, the most prestigious yearly anthology that showcases the nation’s finest prose. The announcement, published on the Channel 3000 website, highlights Davis’s breakthrough story, “The Lake,” originally featured in Madison Magazine’s Fall 2022 issue.
A milestone for Madison Magazine
The article opens by noting that this is the first time a Madison‑based writer has made the cut in the Best American series, underscoring the magazine’s growing influence in the literary community. Editor Ellen K. Rogers, who has worked with Davis for five years, says the story’s selection “validates the editorial standards Madison has cultivated for over a decade.” The piece also mentions that Madison Magazine, founded in 1993, regularly publishes fiction, essays, and poetry that reflects the Midwest’s cultural texture.
The story that earned the honor
“The Lake” centers on a quiet, unnamed woman who returns to her childhood home in rural Wisconsin to confront the memory of her late mother’s death. Davis weaves the narrative with lyrical prose and vivid sensory detail, capturing both the landscape of the lake itself and the emotional landscape of the protagonist. The piece is praised for its subtle examination of grief, memory, and the unspoken connections that bind a family.
What the anthology’s editors say
A quoted email from the anthology’s co‑editors, David R. Kelley and Sarah N. Chase, appears in the article. Kelley writes that “Davis’s narrative voice stands out among a field of 200 submissions, offering a fresh perspective rooted in Midwestern experience.” Chase adds that the story’s “intimate focus on place and loss aligns perfectly with the anthology’s theme of ‘the quiet moments that shape us.’”
How the selection process works
The article links to the Best American Short Stories website (https://www.bestamericanshortstories.com), which provides background on the selection process. Each year, the series editors read hundreds of stories published in North American literary journals. They invite a panel of guest editors—often prominent writers or scholars—to choose their top selections. In 2023, the guest editor was novelist Olivia B. Smith, who is known for her focus on regional storytelling. Smith selected 20 stories for the anthology, and “The Lake” was among them.
The impact on Davis’s career
The piece details how the recognition has already opened doors for Davis. She has been invited to speak at the Wisconsin Writers’ Conference, and her manuscript for her first novel is currently under consideration by a Mid‑West publishing house. Davis herself is quoted as saying, “It’s surreal to see my name alongside authors I’ve long admired. It’s a reminder that our local voices can resonate nationally.”
Additional context from linked pages
Following the link to Madison Magazine’s online archive (https://www.madisonmagazine.com/author/leah-h-davis) provides a concise bio of Davis. She is a senior English teacher at Madison High School and has been contributing short fiction to the magazine since 2018. Her earlier stories, such as “Shadows” (Summer 2020) and “The Bridge” (Winter 2021), received honorable mentions in local literary contests.
The anthology’s official page lists the other 19 stories chosen for 2023, including works by writers such as Mark A. Thompson, Janet E. O’Reilly, and Elijah C. Hunt. It also includes a brief synopsis of each story, offering readers a snapshot of the anthology’s thematic diversity.
Celebrating regional literature on a national stage
The Channel 3000 article concludes by emphasizing the significance of Davis’s inclusion: a testament to Madison Magazine’s commitment to nurturing literary talent and a celebration of the Midwest’s storytelling tradition. The writer’s success serves as inspiration for emerging authors in the region, demonstrating that regional narratives can find a place among the nation’s literary elite.
Read the Full Channel 3000 Article at:
[ https://www.channel3000.com/madison-magazine/madison-magazine-writer-honored-in-best-american-anthologies/article_fc5b9d34-4e34-4976-8a82-860a0d15c902.html ]
