2023 HAWTHORNE PRIZE WINNER
MOSS by Joe Pace
MOSS by Joe Pace
MOSS by Joe Pace
Isaiah Moss was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His illegitimate son Oscar Kendall wasn't. Living in Isaiah's inescapable shadow, Oscar has become an inveterate quitter who hides his own literary work from the world rather than suffer the pain of failure or rejection.
When Isaiah suddenly dies, Oscar inherits the
Isaiah Moss was one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. His illegitimate son Oscar Kendall wasn't. Living in Isaiah's inescapable shadow, Oscar has become an inveterate quitter who hides his own literary work from the world rather than suffer the pain of failure or rejection.
When Isaiah suddenly dies, Oscar inherits the old man's lakefront writing cabin in New Hampshire. There he finds his father's typewriter, a full liquor cabinet, and an unpublished manuscript of such genius that it could launch Oscar's career if he claims it as his own.
But as Oscar wrestles with his own twisted inspirations, he meets the women in Isaiah's life and begins to learn the depths of his father's secrets...and the costs that come with unresolved trauma and romantic delusion.
Joe Pace
MOSS by Joe Pace
MOSS by Joe Pace
Joe Pace lives in his native New Hampshire with his wife Sarah and their sons. A Boston sports fan and an incurable public servant, Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. He has previously published the award-winning and crit
Joe Pace lives in his native New Hampshire with his wife Sarah and their sons. A Boston sports fan and an incurable public servant, Joe holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. He has previously published the award-winning and critically-acclaimed literary fiction novel Moss (2021) and two science fiction novels: Minotaur (2012) and Lost Harvest (2015), all through Reliquary Press.
2023 HAWTHORNE PRIZE FINALISTS
FULL BOOK TITLE: CROSSROADS : THE LONG WAY HOME
AUTHOR NAME: VINCENT L. HOWARD
PUBLISHER NAME: PALMETTO PUBLISHING
FULL BOOK TITLE: Ghost of the Rio Grande
AUTHOR NAME: Don Allen Holbrook
PUBLISHER NAME: Two Knights One Horse
FULL BOOK TITLE: Moss
AUTHOR NAME: Joe Pace
PUBLISHER NAME: Reliquary Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Islander
AUTHOR NAME: David W. Berner
PUBLISHER NAME: Outpost19 Books/The Shortish Project
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Silence in the Sound
AUTHOR NAME: Dianne C. Braley
PUBLISHER NAME: Koehler Books
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Year of the Bear
AUTHOR NAME: Douglas J. Lanzo
PUBLISHER NAME: Ambassador International
FULL BOOK TITLE: A PERSISTENT ECHO
AUTHOR NAME: Brian Kaufman
PUBLISHER NAME: Black Rose Writing
FULL BOOK TITLE: Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again
AUTHOR NAME: Roni Rosenthal
PUBLISHER NAME: StoryTime World
FULL BOOK TITLE: Deadly Division
AUTHOR NAME: Nathaniel Sizemore
PUBLISHER NAME: BDI Publishers
FULL BOOK TITLE: The Color of Ice
AUTHOR NAME: Barbara Linn Probst
PUBLISHER NAME: She Writes Press
FULL BOOK TITLE: Hey Jude
AUTHOR NAME: Kathleen Stone
PUBLISHER NAME: Kathleen Stone
FULL BOOK TITLE: MacLeish Sq.
AUTHOR NAME: Dennis Must
PUBLISHER NAME: Red Hen Press
HAWTHORNE PRIZE
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
The Hawthorne Prize is an elite writing award founded by AmericanWritingAwards.com in honor of renowned American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. A team of judges chooses one winner from among the year's best works of FICTION--judges reserve the right to award more than one winner if they believe multiple works merit recognition. A SHORTLIST of finalists is announced, followed by a Hawthorne Prize FINALIST announcement, then the WINNER declaration a week later. The WINNER is hailed 'first among equals.'
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Authors of age between 18-120 can apply. Any book of FICTION published or planned to be published between 2020-2025 are accepted.
Authors must submit a work of FICTION--novel, novella, or short story collection--for consideration. The book must be published in English with an ISBN number. UNPUBLISHED works do not require an ISBN. Electronic submission is the only accepted form of submission. Entries are judged based on multiple writing criteria, which include an author's story-telling ability, transitions, hooks, pacing, character development, dialogue, grammar, punctuation, and the overall impact it has on our judges. Check the entry form for more details.
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
WHAT IS THE PRIZE?
Winners of the prestigious Hawthorne Prize will receive an official high-resolution Hawthorne Prize seal for promotional use and possible cover placement. The results of the competition will be published and promoted on our popular website and different media channels, the author will be honored as a "Featured Author," the press release of winner(s) and short listers will be submitted to newspapers and media nationwide as well as referred to talent agents in New York and Los Angeles for possible manuscript review. The WINNER will be hailed 'first among equals.'
2024 Hawthorne Prize
AWARDING EXCELLENCE IN FICTION!
A single entry qualifies a piece for The Hawthorne Prize
$54 per title
Deadline to Enter--April 28, 2024
SHORTLIST Announced--May 12
FINALISTS Announced--May 19
WINNER Announced-May 26
