The William Saroyan International Prize for Writing is a biennial literary award for fiction and nonfiction in the spirit of William Saroyan by emerging writers. It was established by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation to "encourage new or emerging writers rather than recognize established literary figures;" the prize being $12,500.
The Saroyan Prize was first awarded in 2003 for "newly published works of fiction including novels, short stories, dramas or memoirs." Starting with the second round of awards in 2005, separate awards have been given for fiction and nonfiction. With the exception of a three-year gap between the second and third rounds of awards, the prize has been awarded every two years since it was established.
Recipients
General (2003) The first year the award was presented, winners and finalists not separated into genres. +Award winners and finalists Year Author Title Result 2003Everything is IlluminatedWinnerFinalistNocturneFinalist
Fiction (2005–present) +Fiction award winners, finalists, and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2005WinnerFinalistBloodvineFinalistHow to Breathe UnderwaterFinalist and Rick WartzmanWinnerChasing the SeaFinalistFinalist2008WinnerFinalistDead BoysFinalist2010Atmospheric DisturbancesWinnerapologize, apologize!FinalistConcord, Virginia: A Southern Town in Eleven StoriesFinalist2012Orientation and Other StoriesWinnerLeaving the Atocha StationFinalistEast of the West: A Country in StoriesFinalist2014Long DivisionWinnerFinalistFinalist2016Welcome to BraggsvilleWinnerNow We Will Be HappyFinalistCounternarrativesFinalist2018In the DistanceWinnerFinalistLucky BoyFinalist2020Friday BlackWinnerFinalistSome TrickFinalist2022ChouetteWinnerFinalistFinalist2024Lee Mirinae8 Lives of a Century-Old TricksterWinnerMeron HaderoA Down Home Meal for These Difficult TimesFinalistKim FuLesser Known Monsters of the 21st CenturyFinalist
Non-fiction (2005–present +Non-fiction award winners, finalists, and shortlists Year Author Title Result 2005 and Rick WartzmanWinnerChasing the SeaFinalistFinalist2008Dandelion Through the Crack: The Sato Family Quest for the American DreamWinnerTicket to ExileFinalistReturn of the Condor: The Race to Save Our Largest Bird from ExtinctionFinalist2010WinnerTrauma FarmFinalistAesop's MirrorFinalist2012WinnerSolacersFinalistPulpheadFinalist2014WinnerFinalist2016Belief is its Own Kind of Truth, MaybeWinnerRussian TattooFinalistNagasaki: Life After Nuclear WarFinalist2018On Trails: an ExplorationWinnerRiverine: a Memoir from Anywhere but HereFinalistShakespeare in Swahililand: Adventures with the Ever-living PoetFinalist2020Homesick: A MemoirWinnerHow to Write an Autobiographical Novel: EssaysFinalistIn the Dream HouseFinalist2022WinnerKinFinalist2024Fae Myenne NgOrphan BachelorsWinnerPhoebe ZerwickBeyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl HuntFinalistSusan Kiyo ItoI Would Meet You Anywhere Finalist
References
External links Prize website