JONATHAN DEE WINS $50,000 LITERARY PRIZE
Columbia Professor & New York Times Magazine Writer Wins Award for The Privileges
A celebration of the privileged rang out at the opening night gala of the 2011 Brooklyn Book Festival as Jonathan Dee, author of The Privileges (Random House), was announced as the second winner of the $50,000 St. Francis College Literary Award at the Brooklyn Book Festival 2011 Gala Mingle and Awards Ceremony held at The Green Building on September 17.
"So much of being a writer is about disappointment and discouragement.
Tonight I feel the exact opposite. I feel nothing but encouraged," said
Dee after being awarded the prize. Dee’s book rose to the top of the 116 entries for the literary award, |
 |
which is aimed at encouraging mid-career authors to continue honing their craft. In addition to winning the $50,000, Dee will also return to St. Francis College for a reading from The Privileges and to conduct a writing workshop with students. Those dates have yet to be announced.
The writers and their nominated books are:
Kevin Brockmeier,
The Illumination (Pantheon);
Joshua Cohen,
Witz (Dalkey Archive Press);
Jonathan Dee,
The Privileges (Random House);
Yiyun Li,
Gold Boy Emerald Girl (Random House);
Marlene van Niekerk,
Agaat (Tin House Books); and
Brad Watson,
Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives (W. W. Norton & Company).
The jury for the award is composed of three award winning writers;
Francine Prose (
A Changed Man, Blue Angel, My New American Life),
Rick Moody (
The Four Fingers of Death, Garden State, The Ice Storm) and
Darcey Steinke (Easter Everywhere, Milk: A Novel, Suicide Blonde).
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is it an annual award?
The SFC Literary Prize is a biannual prize. The 2011 winner was announced September 17, 2011. The next award will be given in September of 2013. Submissions are expected to open at the 2012 Brooklyn Book Festival.
What are the publication dates for eligible books?
The 2011 competition considered books published from July 2009 until May 2011.
What about self-published books?
Self-published books are considered for award consideration.
Are translated books eligible?
Yes, works in English translation are considered.
Can the book include previously published material?
Yes.
When will you announce the award?
The 2011 winner was announced at the 2011 Brooklyn Book Festival Gala on September 17. The 2013 winner is expected to again be announced at the 2013 Brooklyn Book Festival.
Is this a permanent jury?
No, the 2011 jury was composed of Francine Prose, Rick Moody and Darcey Steinke.
The 2009 jury was composed of Michael Chabon, Jonathan Lethem, Heidi Julavits, Ben Marcus, Ayelet Waldman.
ALEKSANDAR HEMON WINS INAUGURAL LITERARY PRIZE
From nearly 40 submissions down to one, the jury for the first ever St. Francis College Literary Prize has selected Aleksandar Hemon for his book,
Love and Obstacles (Riverhead Books) as the winner of the $50,000 award, one of the richest Literary Prizes in the United States. Hemon, raised in Sarajevo and now residing in Chicago wrote his first work in English in 1995. He was awarded the prize at the Gala Opening Night Party of the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 12. Hemon was selected over the other short list authors: Chris Abani,
Song For Night (Akashic Books); Jim Krusoe,
Girl Factory (Tin House Books) and Arthur Phillips,
The Song Is You (Random House).
“I was going to quit after this book now it turns out I'm mid-career,” said Hemon in his short, modest and humorous acceptance speech. “Thank you all for coming tonight and exposing me to this embarrassing pleasure. I will keep writing, I guess I have no other choice.” (
Watch the whole speech below)
The St. Francis College Literary Prize is meant to offer encouragement and significant financial support to a mid-career writer.
Read the press release
Hemon then returned to campus in the Fall 2009 to deliver a talk on his work and read selections from the book submitted. He also taught a short mini-workshop in fiction. (
Read the release & watch his reading)
St. Francis College Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean Tim Houlihan offers background on the Literary Prize.
Sarajevo Native Aleksandar Hemon delivers his brief and modest acceptance speech after winning the inaugural $50,000 St. Francis College Literary Prize.