This is the third year of the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature (which is sponsored by Ashland Creek Press, which also sponsors EcoLit Books).
We’re pleased to see the Siskiyou Prize gaining momentum and awareness. Now more than ever we need a chorus of creative and passionate voices speaking up for the planet and all of its species.
This year, we received more than a hundred submissions, which included a wide range of fiction, short story and essay collections, memoirs, nonfiction nature books, and a number of previously published works in all categories. We began reviewing submissions when the contest opened in September of last year and have been reading steadily since then.
Every manuscript was given careful consideration, and the decision-making process was very difficult, given the exceptional quality of this year’s entries. As much as we love this contest, the hardest part is having to narrow the list down to only a few titles. It’s a completely subjective process, of course, and we thank all who contributed their work to this year’s prize.
We are delighted to announce the finalists and semifinalists:
FINALISTS
Three Ways to Disappear
A novel by Katy Yocom
Small Small Redemption
Essays by Sangamithra Iyer
The Heart of the Sound
A memoir by Marybeth Holleman
Published by Bison Books
Song of the Ghost Dog
A novel by Sharon Piuser
SEMIFINALISTS
Karstland
A novel by Caroline Manring
Rumors of Wolves
A novel by C.K. Adams
The Harp-Maker of Exmoor
A novel by Hazel Prior
The four finalists will move on to final judging by JoeAnn Hart.
We hope to announce a winner in the next month or so. To be among the first to hear the announcement, stay tuned to this blog or subscribe to the Ashland Creek Press newsletter.
Again, thanks to everyone who submitted and everyone who writes with the goal of making this world a better place.
The Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature
John is co-author, with Midge Raymond, of the eco-mystery Devils Island, forthcoming in 2024. He is also author of the novels The Tourist Trail and Where Oceans Hide Their Dead. Co-founder of Ashland Creek Press and editor of Writing for Animals (also now a writing program).
