Robert Olen Butler Prize
Encyclopedia
The Robert Olen Butler Prize is a prize for short fiction awarded by Del Sol Press
in conjunction with Pulitzer Prize
-winning novelist Robert Olen Butler
, who chooses the winning story. The winning stories are also collected into an annual anthology, The Robert Olen Butler Prize Anthology. As of 2009, three individuals had appeared in the anthology more than once: Jacob M. Appel
(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Erin Soros
(2008, 2009) and Mark Wisniewski
(2008, 2009).
The award was conceived by Michael Neff, and has been influential in launching the careers of such writers as Lynn Veach Sadler
, Charles Yu
, Roy Kesey
and Cris Mazza
.
Del Sol Press
Del Sol Press was founded in 2002 by Michael Neff of Web del Sol. The first book published by the press was Michael Brodsky's novel, Detour. Since that time the press has gone on to publish work by Nin Andrews, David Blair, Joan Houlihan, Ander Monson, Don Thompson, Walter Cummins, and Thomas...
in conjunction with Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning novelist Robert Olen Butler
Robert Olen Butler
Robert Olen Butler is an American fiction writer. His short-story collection A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1993.-Early life:...
, who chooses the winning story. The winning stories are also collected into an annual anthology, The Robert Olen Butler Prize Anthology. As of 2009, three individuals had appeared in the anthology more than once: Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel
Jacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009), Erin Soros
Erin Soros
Erin Soros is an Canadian author of short stories. She was awarded the Governor General's Gold Medal in 2001 and the Commonwealth Prize for the Short Story in 2006. Her fiction has been published widely in such journals as the Indiana Review and the Iowa Review...
(2008, 2009) and Mark Wisniewski
Mark Wisniewski
Mark Wisniewski is an American author. He is the author of the novel, Confessions of a Polish Used Car Salesman, and the poetry collection One of Us One Night. He is a two-time finalist for the Robert Olen Butler Prize for short fiction. He is a frequent contributor to the Missouri Review and a...
(2008, 2009).
The award was conceived by Michael Neff, and has been influential in launching the careers of such writers as Lynn Veach Sadler
Lynn Veach Sadler
Dr. Lynn Veach Sadler is an American poet, writer, and playwright. A native of North Carolina, she holds a doctorate and a master's degree from the University of Illinois and a bachelor's degree from Duke University1...
, Charles Yu
Charles Yu
Charles Yu is an Asian American writer. He is the author of the novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and the short story collection Third Class Superhero.- Writing :...
, Roy Kesey
Roy Kesey
Roy Kesey is an American author. His books include All Over, Nothing in the World and an historical guide to the city of Nanjing, China....
and Cris Mazza
Cris Mazza
Cris Mazza is an American novelist, short story and non-fiction writer.-Biography:A native of Southern California, she earned her BA and MA at San Diego State University and her MFA in writing at Brooklyn College. She has published nine novels, four collections of short stories, and a collection...
.
2005
- Grand Prize: E. R. Catalano "News from My Father"
- Thomas P. Balazs "Omicron Ceti III"
- Ariana-Sophia Kartsonis "Sundress"
- Roy KeseyRoy KeseyRoy Kesey is an American author. His books include All Over, Nothing in the World and an historical guide to the city of Nanjing, China....
"Invunche y voladora" - Gloria DeVidas Kirchheimer "Malika"
- Karen Kovacik "My Polish Widower"
- Dylan Landis "Jazz"
- Kelly Magee "Not People, Not This"
- Lynn Veach SadlerLynn Veach SadlerDr. Lynn Veach Sadler is an American poet, writer, and playwright. A native of North Carolina, she holds a doctorate and a master's degree from the University of Illinois and a bachelor's degree from Duke University1...
"Miss Spam Maps of Vegas" - Marianne Taylor "Who is the Hardware"
- Charles YuCharles YuCharles Yu is an Asian American writer. He is the author of the novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe and the short story collection Third Class Superhero.- Writing :...
"My Last Days as Me"
2006
- Grand Prize: Matthew J. Sullivan "Unfound"
- Cheryl Alu, "Girl"
- Jacob M. AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
, "Shell Game with Organs" - Kerry Dolan, "Falling Off the George Washington Bridge"
- Alicia Gifford, "Gorgeous World"
- Alison Lee Kinney, "Term"
- Phil LaMarche, "In the Tradition of My Family"
- Cris MazzaCris MazzaCris Mazza is an American novelist, short story and non-fiction writer.-Biography:A native of Southern California, she earned her BA and MA at San Diego State University and her MFA in writing at Brooklyn College. She has published nine novels, four collections of short stories, and a collection...
, "Our Time Is Up" - Jeff ParkerJeff Parker (writer)Jeff Parker is an American novelist and short story writer. His novel Ovenman was published in 2007 by the book division of the literary journal Tin House...
, "The Taste of Penny" - Bill Pettitt, "This Is Not About Me"
- Peter Paul Smith, "Kleebe"
- Alia Yunis, "A Nearly Blonde Christmas"
2007
- Grand Prize: Valerie Hurley “Jasmine, Washing the Hair of Pearsa”
- Jacob AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
“Enoch Arden’s One Night Stands” - Stephenie Brown “The Wheel Wright”
- Lauren Cobb “No Place”
- Greg HrbekGreg Hrbek- Teaching :After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College in 1990, Hrbek taught kindergarten for three years in San Francisco and New York, before studying for a Master of Fine Arts degree in English at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, which he completed in 1995. The University of Iowa awarded...
“Bereavement” - LaTanya McQueen “Once”
- Jamie Pearlberg “A Wedding Tale”
- Matthew Pitt “The Mean”
- Scott Winokur “Hideous Thing”
- Mark WisniewskiMark WisniewskiMark Wisniewski is an American author. He is the author of the novel, Confessions of a Polish Used Car Salesman, and the poetry collection One of Us One Night. He is a two-time finalist for the Robert Olen Butler Prize for short fiction. He is a frequent contributor to the Missouri Review and a...
“Prisoners of War”
2008
- Grand Prize: Kimberly Willardson "Winter Memories of the Summer Bear"
- Jacob M. AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
- "Animal Control" - Miriam Gershow - "Carker"
- Nick Healy - "Joyless Men"
- Brodie Smith - "Watch Him Burn"
- Erin Soros - "The chorus"
- Naomi Williams - "The Report"
- Mark Wisniewski - "Stricken"
- Christina Yu - "Christmas in the Neighborhood"
2009
- Grand Prize: Annie Weatherwax - "The Possibility of Things"
- Jacob M. AppelJacob M. AppelJacob M. Appel is an American author, bioethicist and social critic. He is best known for his short stories, his work as a playwright, and his writing in the fields of reproductive ethics, organ donation, neuroethics and euthanasia....
- "The Appraisal" - Porter Fox - "Caribou"
- James Gish Jr. - "Wandering Boy"
- Gregory Loselle - "Buried Dinner"
- Geraldine Ann Marshall - "Secrets of Wood"
- Dolen Perkins-Valdez - "The Clipping"
- Michael Schivone - "The Heatseeker"
- Erin SorosErin SorosErin Soros is an Canadian author of short stories. She was awarded the Governor General's Gold Medal in 2001 and the Commonwealth Prize for the Short Story in 2006. Her fiction has been published widely in such journals as the Indiana Review and the Iowa Review...
- "Surge" - Shubha Venugopal - "Lalita and the Banyan Tree"
- Mark WisniewskiMark WisniewskiMark Wisniewski is an American author. He is the author of the novel, Confessions of a Polish Used Car Salesman, and the poetry collection One of Us One Night. He is a two-time finalist for the Robert Olen Butler Prize for short fiction. He is a frequent contributor to the Missouri Review and a...
- "Without Good-byes"