DENTON (UNT), Texas -- In 2006, Aledo resident, Sally Pringle was devastated by an accident that left her confined to a hospital bed. It was during this dark time that Sally discovered horseman Tim Jobe at a Texas boys’ ranch for troubled youth.

This past Saturday night at the University of North Texas’ Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, Pringle was awarded $3,000 and a book contract with the UNT Press for her manuscript “Quiet Heroes,” which was inspired by Jobe and his dramatic work using horses to teach children and adults good social skills and respect for others.

Pringle began working on the manuscript in 2007, after recovering from her accident enough to visit with Jobe and observe his life work matching abused children with abused or neglected horses. Pringle, a first time Mayborn participant, says that when she entered the Mayborn’s manuscript contest she wasn’t thinking about the prizes, she was simply trying to get her story out in an effort to help Tim Jobe’s program touch the lives of even more children.

“I was in shock when they called my name,” said Pringle.  “I am so thankful and humbled; being at the Mayborn Conference was truly like coming home.”

Pringle becomes the fifth winner of the manuscript competition. Previous winners are:

• Dan Burns for “Saving Ben,” which is being released by the UNT Press next month.
• William and Rosalie Schiff and Craig Hanley  for “William and Rosalie: A Holocaust Testimony,” which was published by the UNT press in 2007.
• Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe for “See Sam Run: A Mother’s Story of Autism,” which was published by the UNT press in 2008.
• Donna Johnson  for “Holy Ghost Girl: Scenes from the Apocalypse,” which is being published by Gotham Publishing.

In addition to naming Pringle the manuscript contest winner, the Mayborn recognized 12 other individuals for their exceptional literary nonfiction pieces. 

A complete list of Mayborn Conference winners follows.

Manuscript contest winners are:

• First place, $3,000 – Sally Pringle, “Quiet Heroes”
• Second place – Kalena Cook, “Birthing the Better Way”
• Third place – Jack Schwartzwald, “Political Zionism”

Personal essay contest winners are:

• First place, $3,000 – Tony Schwalm, “Trek”
• Second place, $2,000 – Brantley Hargrove, “Y’all’s a Bunch of Dogs”
• Third place, $1,000 – David Wallis, “Round Up”

Research and reporting-based essay winners are:

• First place, $3,000 – Marissa Alanis, “The Blue Angels”
• Second place, $2,000 – Sarah Perry, “The Sacred Act:  A Funeral Home’s Tribute to the Dead”
• Third place, $1,000 – Raul Moreno, “Made in China: Should Groceries and Garden Supplies Contain Human Hair?” 

The 10 best articles and essays will be printed in "Ten Spurs," the conference’s literary journal. These 10 essays include the six winners of the personal essay and the reporting-based essay categories, along with four others:

• Iris Podolsky, “Love and Lambchops”
• Randee Paur, “The Coconut Head Monkey”
• Mary Pfeiffer, “Lucille’s Persimmon Spoons”
• Richard Hudson, “Inglorious Victory”

For more information on any of the 2009 Mayborn winners contact George Getschow, the conference’s writer-in-residence at getschow@unt.edu or 940-369-8631.