KEY WEST, Florida Keys -- Ernest Hemingway's decade of residence in Key West ended late in 1939, but his literary legacy lives on -- both in the island city and in the annual Hemingway Days celebration. Scheduled to run through July 22, Hemingway Days 2007 offers three events that commemorate Key West's rich literary tradition while honoring talented contemporary writers.

The festival's primary literary event is the announcement of the winners of the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, July 20. Now in its 27th year, the annual competition supports the efforts of emerging writers of short fiction.

Its director, Lorian Hemingway, is a powerful writer as well as Ernest Hemingway's granddaughter. She was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for her second book, "Walk on Water," and also is an accomplished journalist. A frequent visitor to Key West, she is currently working on an in-depth book on the island and its heritage to be titled "Key West: The Pirate Heart."

Lorian Hemingway heads a judging panel that reads and evaluates the 750 to 1,000 entries the competition receives each year from U.S. and international writers. During the short story awards reception she plans to announce the winners of the 2007 competition's $1,000 first prize, $500 second and third prizes, and honorable mentions.

The awards presentations and reading are to be held at Casa Antigua, Ernest Hemingway's first Key West address. Now beautifully restored with a central atrium and pool, Casa Antigua traditionally is the site of the short story events.

Its owners, Mary Ann Worth and her son, magazine publisher Tom Oosterhoudt, are longtime supporters of the competition and of Key West's literary tradition. The event is to feature a reading of the winning story and a presentation by Oosterhoudt on Casa Antigua and its legacy. Admission is free.

In addition to announcing the short story awards, Lorian Hemingway will be joined by several renowned writers for an evening of readings, presentations and discussions scheduled Wednesday, July 18.

Participants in "Voices, Places, Inspirations" are to include Tom Corcoran, whose Key West-based Alex Rutledge mystery series is praised for its authentic depiction of the island; Canadian actor and playwright Brian Gordon Sinclair, acclaimed for his one-man theatrical explorations into Ernest Hemingway's life and motivations; writer/photographer and expert fishing guide Jeffrey Cardenas, who is best known for his books "Marquesa: A Time & Place with Fish" and "Sea Level"; and master storyteller Captain Finbar Gittelman of the Schooner Wolf.

Hosted by Wyland Galleries of Key West, the event is scheduled for 8-10 p.m. at Wyland's 623 Duval St. gallery. The evening is to include a reception where attendees can mingle with the presenters in an intimate, relaxed setting. Admission is free. Sinclair also is to re-create Ernest Hemingway's personality and adventures during a thought-provoking one-man storytelling presentation titled "Hemingway's Havana."

Sinclair, who has presented four segments of his planned five-play cycle on Hemingway's life at past Hemingway Days festivals, has done extensive research into the author's life and adventures.

His one-night-only presentation of "Hemingway's Havana" is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at Key West's Tropic Cinema, 416 Eaton St. A sangria reception is to follow the performance.

Tickets are $10 per person including the reception, with all proceeds benefiting the Key West Art & Historical Society.

For tickets and more information about "Hemingway's Havana," visit www.kwahs.com. For information about the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition awards and "Voices, Places, Inspirations," visit www.shortstorycompetition.com or call (305) 294-0320. A full schedule of Hemingway Days events can be found at www.hemingwaydays.net.

For lodging information in Key West, contact the Key West Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539), or explore this Web site.