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Heart of a Scribe

A Pennacle Anthology

A compilation of all winning pieces from Pennacle’s contests: POF 1-6, and Literesque Prize 1. 

Edited by Kahlan Hills

Compiled and Published 2025

Publisher's Note

Literature has always been both a mirror and a fire: a mirror that reflects the textures of human experience, and a fire —the force of expression itself — that burns with urgency, clarity, and imagination, stripping away indifference, complacency and the boundaries of language. 

Every age has turned to its writers for this alchemy of witness and wonder. Every society has been reshaped by voices brave enough to take the raw material of language and forge it into something enduring.

At Pennacle, we have long believed that the pen remains one of the most formidable instruments of change and illumination. For years, our literary competitions have invited writers to test the strength of their voices and  stretch the limits of their craft, and we have witnessed again and again from hundreds of entries submitted across cultures and sensibilities, how a single piece of writing can startle, console, provoke, and inspire.

Heart of a Scribe: A Pennacle Anthology, puts this in perspective, bringing together the finest works from seven editions of Pennacle’s literary competitions —six cycles of the Pen on Fire Writing Contest and Workshop, and one cycle of the Literesque Prize (previously known as Pennacle’s Prize for Good Literature.)

Across fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, this collection gathers voices whose artistry lies not only in their creative brilliance, but in their boldness and courage to ignite thought, stir feeling, and press language to its highest form.

Here are pieces that wrestle with truth, fracture silence, and carry the burden of beauty. You will find each piece bearing witness —to grief and resilience, to memory and desire, to the persistent fire of the human spirit, even as little as a flint. 

This anthology is both a record and a promise: a record of the excellence our contests have fostered, and a promise that literature —when sharpened by craft and purpose— remains one of the most powerful forces of transformation. Even more so, this anthology is a part of a larger commitment that Pennacle will continue to build spaces where writers are sharpened, celebrated, and seen. 

To the writers whose works appear in these pages, we offer our recognition and gratitude. To the readers, we offer these words as conversation, as challenge, as light.

Beloved writers, readers and all who enter these pages, I welcome you to Heart of a Scribe.

With Love, 

Kahlan Hills

Editor-in-chief

The Collection

Tap on a title to read full piece. 

The Literesque Prize, 1st Edition

POETRY CATEGORY

First Place  ̶  I Am Bread by Anaele Zedd 

Second Place   ̶  Too Much of a Woman by Marce Nefechi

Third Place   ̶  Bean Sprouts by Dika

Fourth Place   ̶  Beneath the Bulbous Boabab Tree by Deborah Egbekpalu

SHORT STORY CATEGORY

First Place  ̶  When We Dared to Dream by Damilola Seyi

Second Place  ̶  The Other End of the Cuffs by Okeke Ifunanya

Third Place  ̶  Nigeria Happened to Me Too by Emmanuel Faith Olatayo

Fourth Place  ̶  Love, Habibi by Ella Ngwakwe

CREATIVE NONFICTION CATEGORY

First Place  ̶  Default Destiny by Courtney Ebele

Second Place  ̶  Purpose Beacons by Adama Felix Ekene

Third Place  ̶  To Be or Not To Be by Ibezim Emily Chika

Fourth Place  ̶  Masked by Ogochukwu Tricia Onwaeze

Pen on Fire Writing Competition & Workshop

1st Edition, April 2020

First Place  ̶  Courtney Ebele

Queen of the Waters 

2nd Edition, April 2021

First Place  ̶  Kelechi Rosanna Joel

Blood Thirst

Second Place  ̶  Precious Chioma

Curated

3rd Edition, October 2022

First Place  ̶  Olivia Michael 

Anxious for Nothing

Second Place  ̶  Ibekwe Chinonso

Repercussions

4th Edition, April 2023

First Place  ̶  Marylin Anikwe

Nineteenth of January

Second Place  ̶  Damilola Seyi 

Salt on Their Skin

5th Edition, October 2024

First Place  ̶  Penelope Kosarachi

Mother Lied

Second Place  ̶  Kennedy Ohams

Living in Bondage (Or Whatever That Andy Okeke Movie Said)

6th Edition, February 2025

First Place  ̶  Kim Chioma

Murder Dresses Up

Second Place  ̶  Faridah Abdulrazaq

Hey Blue Eyes, I’m Going Under

Edition &Category Themes

POF 1-6 Editions

POF 1 – Craftsmanship

The first edition of the Pen on Fire Writing Contest & Workshop focused on craft itself —the shaping of words, the attention to structure, the careful balance between imagination and execution. These works testify to the belief that writing is not only inspiration but also deliberate artistry, where every sentence is an instrument, every line a choice, and every piece a work of deliberate design.

POF 2 – The Genius Edition

In its second cycle, the contest sought to uncover the spark of genius that distinguishes a writer’s voice. These pieces are not only clever but revelatory, carrying insights that surprise and resonate long after the final line. The works in this edition embody a fusion of talent and originality, a reminder that true genius lies not only in brilliance of thought but in the ability to translate vision into words that live and breathe.

POF 3 – Writing Mastery

The third edition celebrated mastery —the honing of skill, the sharpening of voice, the command of form. The workshop focused on positioning writers in full control of their craft, helping them weave narratives, essays, and poems with precision and depth. The entries stand as examples of how discipline and practice, when married to imagination, produce works that are both artful and enduring.

POF 4 – The Beauty of the Art

Here, the contest turned its gaze to beauty, not superficial, but elegance, the kind that arises when truth and expression meet in harmony. The selected pieces demonstrate the aesthetic force of literature: its power to console, to dazzle, to move. Pieces in this edition, reveal how language, in the right hands, becomes both mirror and music.

POF 5 – The Creative Writer

The fifth edition focused on creative writing as a genre. The workshop emphasized the daring leap of imagination, the willingness to see beyond convention and breathe life into the unexpected. These pieces remind us that creative writing  is both freedom and discipline —the freedom to imagine differently, and the discipline to render that vision compellingly on the page.

POF 6 – Short Stories That Sell

By its sixth cycle, the contest pressed into the craft of storytelling as both art and offering stories not only told but shared, as book, as reels, as tweets, as content —stories that live in the marketplace of human attention. The winning short stories in this edition demonstrate that a work of art can be both beautiful and accessible, both refined and resonant with the reader’s deepest needs. They remind us that literature’s reach is widest when its heart beats in rhythm with its audience.

Fun Fact

We didn’t know or plan for it at the time of each POF contest but we realized during the production of this anthology that the themes follow a natural chronological journey. Each edition was simply an exploration of writing. But looking back, a hidden order reveals itself, moving from craftsmanship to genius, mastery, beauty, creativity, and finally, to stories that sell. Almost as if the anthologies were writing their own story of growth, edition by edition.

  • Craftsmanship → The beginning. Foundational. Where the writer learns to hone tools, shape words, and focus on precision.
  • The Genius Edition → After the craft, comes originality. The spark. Writers begin to show their voice and stand out as unique.
  • Writing Mastery → With originality cultivated, discipline and deeper control of technique take center stage. Mastery ties together craft + genius.
  • The Beauty of the Art → Once mastery is there, the writer sees beyond technical skill into elegance, aesthetics, and the soul of writing.
  • The Creative Writer → At this point, creativity is freer, broader. The writer is less bound by form and more confident in innovation.
  • Short Stories that Sell → The practical culmination. After journeying through craft, genius, mastery, beauty, and creativity, the writer is ready to meet the market with works that resonate and sustain.

Literesque Prize, 1st Edition

Poetry

Theme: I AM

A declaration, a whisper, a prayer…however way you read it, I Am is both a statement and a journey into becoming. Poets stretch language into mirrors and masks, affirmations and doubts, tracing the fragile and fierce dimensions of selfhood. In these verses, being is fluid, unfolding, resisting, and creating. 

Short Story

Theme: Nigeria Happened to Me Too

Every Nigerian carries a story that bears the marks of survival; of chaos, laughter, resilience, thriving,  and the weight of “no be Naija again?.” In this section, writers peel back the layers of lived experience and imagination to confront how a country’s storms and charms find their way into the lives of its people. These stories echo what it means to be born in the motherland and live long enough to tell the tale. 

Creative Nonfiction

Theme: Pursuit of Purpose

When homes crumble, dreams scatter, or new beginnings emerge, the question of “why” becomes sharper than ever. Here, writers wrestle with purpose, searching for meaning in ruins, in recovery, and in the small victories of daily lives. These pieces are intimate, radical acts of reflection, asking what it truly means to live with intent.

Contributors Wall

Courtney Ebele

Courtney is Pennacle’s premiere contest winner. She is a poet, scriptwriter, accountant, and a feminist and LGBT rights activist. She loves creating stories that “challenge norms and spark conversations”. When she is not working, she is drawing or hanging out with friends who, in her words, like to tease her for labelling everything, even her daydreams, in neat spreadsheets. 

After winning POF 1 in 2020, Courtney came back in 2024 and won the Creative Nonfiction category of the Literesque Prize. 

Connect with her @badgalkhay__

Rosanna is a full-time editor and ghostwriter. She’s written for many big name authors globally, in her words, “you’ve probably read a book I wrote without realizing it.’. Off duty, she wanders with her camera in search of the perfect landscape shot, and has a soft spot for ice cream and white wine.

In 2023, she joined Pennacle as an intern and quickly became one of our highest rated Editors. She is known for her sharp eye and infectious laughter in meetings. 

Connect with her @rosannah__

Egbekpalu Deborah Nkiruka hails from Anambra state. She is an avid reader and writer, who channels her passion into stories and poems that explore the complexities of life and human fate. In her spare time you can find her reading biographies of great men and women who changed the world. 

Connect with her @debby_rowey

Ibekwe Chinonso started writing as a teenager to get through addiction, and then, in his words, he “became addicted to writing instead”. He is a medical doctor, and  lives in Abuja with his brother. He  hopes to publish his books soon.

Connect with him @ibe.kwe

Okeke Ifunanya is an undergraduate at Mountaintop university. She is currently studying Accounting while building a portfolio in writing.

 
Anaele Zeddekiah is a songwriter and editor who describes himself as “an almost perfect mixture of cool + dorky + nonchalant”. His favorite downtime activities include podcasts, gym workouts, and hanging out with friends. 
In 2023, he joined Pennacle as an intern,  and is currently a high-rated editor. 
 
Connect with him @zeddekiah
Olivia Michael joined POF 1 & 2 but didn’t even make it to Top 20 finalists. Then she tried for the third edition and claimed first place. In her words, “the third time’s the charm.” 
She describes herself as sociable, curious, and endlessly creative. She is a gemologist, cartoonist, and freelance book illustrator. She balances her love of good food and outdoor adventures with quiet afternoons curled up with a book. 
 
Connect with her @plain_olivia

Marylin Anikwe started writing to make sense of life’s chaos. Now she enjoys the power of being able to turn moments of frustration or boredom into playful stories. She excels at comedy and mystery genres. She loves spontaneous road trips, caffeine-fueled brainstorms, and finding humor in ordinary things. She lives in Abuja with her family. 

Connect with @the.marylin

Emmanuel Faith Olatayo is a passionate and aspiring writer exploring the world of storytelling. Inspired by the beauty of everyday life and the power of imagination, he embarked on this writing journey to share stories that entertain, provoke thoughts and inspires.
 
Connect with him @noira.ft
Faridah Abdulrazaq began writing as a way to escape the mundane reality of life as a remote working digital marketer in Abuja. She quickly became intoxicated with the excitement of taking her characters on wild adventures that make their very identity. When she’s not writing grisly and grim stories, she spends hours cuddling her two cats and whips up awesome meals.
 
Connect with her @reedah_ao
 
 
Dika says his one-word-name is a nod to his late grand mother who was a writer and poet. He says she inspired him to pursue this art and taught him everything he knows. Dika describes himself as a socially awkward young man who found belonging in writing and books. He runs a startup, but outside work he loves reading, watching football, and crafting stories with sly humor. He describes himself also, as a pretty boy, quietly observant and thoughtful. 
 
Connect with him @the.word.i.write.are.life
 
Ella Ngwakwe is a final-year medical student at the University of Uyo, and a writer. She developed a love for writing in secondary school “when creating fictional characters became a way for me to escape reality”.  Now, she writes with the hope of touching lives with her stories.

Kim Precious Chioma came 2nd place in POF2, then she came back in 2025 and won POF 6. She is a biologist and actress for whom writing is a lifestyle, not a career. She loves binge-watching movies, experimenting with colours, and stealing naps whenever possible. 

 Connect with her @weirdsaint_
Penelope Kosarachi writes to navigate her mental health and make sense of the world. She is a professional copywriter and brand consultant, she loves history, quiet spaces, and organizing chaos into neat patterns. She dislikes bugs, lukewarm tea, and idle chatter, but will happily debate obscure historical facts over a glass of beer. 
 
Connect with her @penny_with_a-pen
 
Adama Fidelis Ekene was born on the 15th day of September, 1995 in Anambra State. He lost his mother and father at ages eleven and fourteen respectively.  In 2019, he graduated from the faculty of Law, Kogi State University, and from the Yenagoa Campus of the Nigerian Law School in 2023. 
Ibezim Emily Chika is a Nigerian female born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State but of Anambra descent. She is currently studying medicine in a private university in Ekiti, Nigeria and looks forward to working as a medical doctor.  
She is a Christian and lives with her parents and siblings in Port Harcourt. 

Kennedy Ohams is a Physics student with a dream of becoming a published author. She loves reading manga and comics, lives in Abuja with her family, and keeps a tight circle of friends. Her notebooks are full of sketches and story fragments, and she calls herself a chronic daydreamer.

Connect with her @kenndarl___

Ogochukwu Tricia Onwaeze is a writer, content creator, orator and YouTuber. She loves to talk, sleep, write, watch movies and hang out with her family and friends. Very few things excite her and some of them include; food, the thought of sleeping, movies and really tidy environment.

Damilola Seyi discovered his love for writing while working as a journalist, and although that chapter of his life is over, the habit of capturing stories remains. He enjoys evening runs and hanging out with his family. He is quietly plotting his debut book, and describes himself as a  “nighttime thinker,” as he often comes up with ideas after everyone else has gone to bed.

Connect with him @writelikeseyido

Marce Nefechi is a children’s book ghostwriter who delights in creating whimsical worlds for young readers. She is an avid reader and enjoys painting, nature walks, and testing her stories on nieces, nephews, and unsuspecting neighbors for feedback. Her stories often carry a secret wink to grown-ups, too.

Connect with her @marcenevaeh

About Pennacle

At Pennacle, we are more than a little bit obsessed with storytelling, and narrative excellence. Our mission is to inspire writers to mastery and profitability, and we seek out creatives who are not afraid to be provocative, bold and explorative. 

Through our programs and resources, we provide empowerment for writers to create freely, attain mastery, make impact and thrive. 

Our team includes writers, editors, designers, marketers and branding experts, who have honed their craft individually and built credibility working with a vast number of customers both home and abroad.

As a team, we have helped thousands of creatives develop their skills, scale their brands, realize their visions and achieve their goals. Each member brings their unique skills and experiences to the table, allowing us to offer a comprehensive suite of services that meets your needs.

Acknowledgement

This anthology would not exist without the remarkable talent, courage, and creativity of all our contest participants. To every writer who submitted to POF 1–6 and Literesque Prize 1,: thank you for trusting us with your stories and for inspiring us with your voices.
We are deeply grateful to our judges, mentors, and volunteers, whose careful guidance and dedication helped shape these contests and uplift every winning entry. Your insight, encouragement, and patience have been invaluable.
A heartfelt thanks also goes to our editors, curators, and team members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this collection to life, ensuring that every story shines in its full glory.
Finally, we thank our readers. Without you, these stories would remain words on a page. Your support, curiosity, and love of storytelling give purpose to every contest, every submission, and every carefully crafted line in this anthology.

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