Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize

Literary annual award

The Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize is an annual award presented by the New Literary Project to recognize mid-career writers of fiction.[1][2] "Mid-career writer" is defined by the project as "an author who has published at least two notable books of fiction, and who has yet to receive capstone recognition such as a Pulitzer or a MacArthur."[3] The prize, which carries a monetary award of $50,000, was established in 2017 and is administered by the New Literary Project, a collaboration of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation of Lafayette, California and the Department of English of the University of California, Berkeley.[4]

Each year the longlist of finalists for the prize – who are selected by publishers, agents, authors, and author representatives – is announced in the fall of the year before, and the shortlist in early spring of the presenting year. The winner of the award is then announced in late spring. The winner gives reading in the San Francisco Bay area and receives a two-week residency in Lafayette and Berkeley. Shortlisted finalists receive $2,000.[4]

The prize is named after author Joyce Carol Oates,[3] and has been referred to as the Simpson Family Literary Prize and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize. Joyce Carol Oates is an honorary member of the project's board of directors, and has served several times as their artist-in-residence.[1] The choice of a prize for a mid-career writer was a considered one. Joseph Di Prisco, the project's founding chairman says "There are too damn many 'emerging writer' prizes — what about emerged writers? ... Ninety-five percent of publishers’ catalogs are made up of writers in the middle of their careers, but unless you're J. K. Rowling or Stephen King, you're not on the best-seller lists. You need support."[1]

The New Literary Project was founded in 2015 by the Lafayette Library, the UC Berkeley English Department, and the Contra Costa County Library.[4] Its purpose is to foster fiction writing through educational outreach in schools and universities, and to celebrate and support authors.[5]

Recipients

Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize winners and finalists
Year Author Title Result Ref.
2017 T. Geronimo Johnson Welcome to Braggsville Winner [6]
2018 Anthony Marra The Tsar of Love and Techno Winner [6]
2019 Laila Lalami The Other Americans Winner [6]
2020 Daniel Mason The Winter Soldier Winner [1][6]
2021 Danielle Valore Evans The Office of Historical Corrections Winner [6]
2022 Lauren Groff Matrix Winner [7]
Christopher Beha The Index of Self-Destructive Acts Finalist [8]
Percival Everett The Trees
Katie Kitamura Intimacies
Jason Mott Hell of a Book

References

  1. ^ a b c d Kosman, Joshia (May 12, 2020) "Bay Area author and psychiatrist Daniel Mason wins $50,000 Joyce Carol Oates Prize" San Francisco Chronicle
  2. ^ Staff (March 5, 2020) "2020 Joyce Carol Oates Prize Finalists" Locus
  3. ^ a b "Joyce Carol Oates Prize" New Literary Project
  4. ^ a b c Staff (November 14, 2019) "2020 Simpson/Joyce Carol Oates Literary Prize Longlist Finalists Announced" Simpson Literary Project
  5. ^ https://www.newliteraryproject.org/) Archived 2021-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ a b c d e "Joyce Carol Oates Prize". The New Literary Project. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  7. ^ "Awards: Oates Winner; Jhalak Shortlists". Shelf Awareness. 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  8. ^ Schaub, Michael (2022-03-07). "Finalists for Joyce Carol Oates Prize Announced". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2022-03-07.

External links

  • Official website