The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize has announced its 2024 longlist.
Distinct among the literary prizes for its emphasis on debuts, the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize has been recognizing “exciting emerging voices in contemporary fiction” since 2006. This year, a panel of readers and judges selected a longlist of 25 novels out of 144 debuts submitted for consideration.
A panel of four “distinguished author” judges will narrow these titles to a shortlist to be released later this fall. The prize itself will be announced in December. At that point, a single winner will receive a $15,000 prize, and all shortlist finalists will receive $1,000.
In the meantime, here’s the full longlist:
Kaveh Akbar, Martyr!
Rita Bullwinkel, Headshot
Essie Chambers, Swift River
Vanessa Chan, The Storm We Made
Tessa Fontaine, The Red Grove
Marcela Fuentes, Malas
Parul Kapur, Inside the Mirror
Daniel Lefferts, Ways and Means
Betsy Lerner, Shred Sisters
Kelly Link, The Book of Love
Lily Meyer, Short War
Melissa Mogollon, Oye
Iris Mwanza, The Lions’ Den
Andrew X. Pham, Twilight Territory
Nicolette Polek, Bitter Water Opera
Ruthvika Rao, The Fertile Earth
Mai Sennaar, They Dream in Gold
Clare Sestanovich, Ask Me Again
Ery Shin, Spring on the Peninsula
Charlie J. Stephens, A Wounded Deer Leaps Highest
Morgan Talty, Fire Exit
Joseph Earl Thomas, God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer
August Thompson, Anyone’s Ghost
Sasha Vasilyuk, Your Presence is Mandatory
Ledia Zhoga, Misinterpretation
You can read more about the books in play here. Congratulations to all the recognized novelists!
