New Letters – the University of Missouri-Kansas City‘s (UMKC) international magazine of writing and art – announces the winners of the 25th annual New Letters Literary Awards. Judges Daniel Woodrell, Mia Leonin and David Shields selected the award recipients.
“The New Letters Literary Awards have a long tradition of discovering fresh new voices in fiction, poetry and the essay,” said Robert Stewart, editor-in-chief of New Letters. “This year, we continue that tradition with amazing new writing by these three winners.”
Josephine Yu of Florida won first prize in poetry for “The Optimists’ Birthday” and other poems. Mia Leonin, an author of two poetry books and work previously published in New Letters, selected Yu’s poems for their “spiteful, lusty wisecracks aimed at fate, humanity and loss.”
Heidi Naylor of Idaho won first prize in fiction with her short story, “Revolver”. Fiction judge Daniel Woodrell, an award-winning short story writer and author of eight novels, chose the story.
Linda Lancione of California won first prize in the essay competition with “The Currency of Love”. David Shields, a New York Times best-selling author and professor in the University of Washington’s Department of English, selected the essay because it “is ruthless, heartfelt and bristles with intelligence.”
Winners in each category will receive $1,500 and publication in the spring awards issue of New Letters magazine. Runners-up in each category receive a complimentary copy of a recent book from New Letters’ affiliate, BkMk Press. All entries receive consideration for publication in a future issue of New Letters.
“Part of what makes this Awards series so successful is our scrupulous process of deadlines, format and anonymity,” Stewart said. “Writers know where they stand, and they stand with their writing.”
Subscriptions are available for $22 per year (four issues), with discounts for longer subscriptions. To order, call (816) 235-1168 or visit www.newletters.org.
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