The results of FABLES Magazine's first annual "Reader's Choice" Awards for 2003 have been announced, and the winners include writer Angela D. Mitchell's acclaimed fantasy story "Until My Dancing Days Are Done" (http://www.fables.org/autumn03/dancing_days.html). Originally featured in the Great Hall of FABLES Magazine's Autumn 2003 issue, Mitchell's story of poverty, murder and envy was inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale "The Red Shoes."

JACKSONVILLE, FL May 24, 2004 -- The results of FABLES Magazine's first annual "Reader's Choice" Awards for 2003 have been announced, with three works chosen by the celebrated fiction publication's readers as the best of 2003. With dozens of accomplished titles for readers to choose from over the past year, the poll's top winners were "Until My Dancing Days Are Done" by Angela D. Mitchell, along with "Uenuku and the Mist Maiden" by Chrissie Ward, and "Capelthwaite Barn" by Deborah P. Kolodji. A "virtual hamlet" dedicated to quality folklore and speculative fiction on the internet, FABLES continues to be one of the web's most popular and award-winning sources for great fiction.

A novelette of over 8000 words in length, Mitchell's story "Until My Dancing Days Are Done" was originally published in the Autumn Issue of FABLES Magazine at the end of September, 2003, in the magazine's "Great Hall" (read it now at http://www.fables.org/autumn03/dancing_days.html). The tale -- a story of poverty, murder, envy, and redemption -- was inspired by the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale "The Red Shoes." The tale tells the story of an impoverished teenager who is captivated at the sight of a pair of beautiful red shoes -- and who will do anything to obtain them. The penance she ultimately pays for her prize lasts a lifetime, however -- and is harder than anything she could have anticipated.

The first annual Reader's Choice Awards given by the magazine to date, the 2003 winners were announced by editor Megan Powell in the Spring issue of FABLES, available now at http://www.fables.org. The works were chosen in a poll by the magazine's readers which encompassed all fiction published by FABLES in 2003, during a voting period from February 15 to March 15, 2004.