• The Hub

    News, Notes, Talk

    Joseph Earl Thomas wins The Center for Fiction’s 2024 First Novel Prize.

    James Folta

    December 11, 2024, 11:36am

    Joseph Earl Thomas won this year’s Center for Fiction First Novel Prize for his book God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer. Congratulations!

    The novel has made it onto several best-of-2024 lists, and has been praised as “a powerful examination of every day black life–of health and sex, race and punishment, and the gaps between our desires and our politics.”

    The selection panel — Merve Emre, Raven Leilani, Jonathan Lethem, and Tyriek White — chose Thomas’ book out of an impressive list of first novels. The award also comes with a $15,000 prize for Thomas.

    Past winners of the First Novel Prize include Noor Naga, Tyriek White, Kirstin Valdez Quade, De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Tommy Orange, and Raven Leilani, who presented Thomas with the award last night at The Center for Fiction Annual Awards Benefit.

  • Become a Lit Hub Supporting Member: Because Books Matter

    For the past decade, Literary Hub has brought you the best of the book world for free—no paywall. But our future relies on you. In return for a donation, you’ll get an ad-free reading experience, exclusive editors’ picks, book giveaways, and our coveted Joan Didion Lit Hub tote bag. Most importantly, you’ll keep independent book coverage alive and thriving on the internet.

    x