First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, first awarded in 2006, recognizes the best debut novel of the year, and supports emerging voices in fiction. The winner receives a $15,000 prize and each shortlisted author receives $1,000.
The First Novel Prize is given to a debut novel published in the United States between January 1st and December 31st of the competing year. The longlist is announced in the summer, followed by the shortlist in the fall. In December, the shortlisted authors are celebrated at the First Novel Fête and the winner is announced at our Annual Awards Benefit.
The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize is supported in part by Hawthornden Foundation. For support opportunities, please reach out to Melissa Wyse at [email protected].
Questions? Contact us.
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First Novel Prize
Announcing The Center for Fiction 2025 First Novel Prize Longlist
We are pleased to announce the longlist for The Center for Fiction 2025 First Novel Prize. This year, we received 185 submitted titles with U -
First Novel Prize
2024 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2024 First Novel Prize was awarded to Joseph Earl Thomas for his debut novel God... -
2023 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2023 First Novel Prize was awarded to Tyriek White for his debut novel We Are a Haunting... -
2022 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize was awarded to Noor Naga for her debut novel If an Egyptian... -
2021 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2021 First Novel Prize was awarded to Kirstin Valdez Quade for her debut novel The... -
2020 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2020 First Novel Prize was awarded to Raven Leilani for her debut novel Luster (Farrar... -
2019 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2019 First Novel Prize was awarded to De’Shawn Charles Winslow for his debut novel... -
2018 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2018 First Novel Prize was awarded to Tommy Orange for his debut novel There There (Alfred A -
2017 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2017 First Novel Prize was awarded to Julie Lekstrom Hines for her debut novel Mikhail... -
2016 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2016 First Novel Prize was awarded to Kia Corthron for her debut novel The Castle... -
2015 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2015 First Novel Prize was awarded to Viet Thanh Nguyen for his debut novel The Sympathizer... -
2014 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2014 First Novel Prize (then called the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize) was awarded to Tiphanie... -
2013 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2013 First Novel Prize (then called the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize) was awarded to Margaret... -
2012 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2012 First Novel Prize (then called the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize) was awarded to Ben... -
2011 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2011 First Novel Prize (then called the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize) was awarded to Bonnie... -
2010 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2010 First Novel Prize (then called the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize) was awarded to Karl... -
2009 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2009 First Novel Prize (then called the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize) was awarded to John... -
2008 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2008 First Novel Prize (then called the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize) was awarded to Hannah... -
2007 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction 2007 First Novel Prize (then called the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize) was awarded to Junot... -
2006 First Novel Prize
The Center for Fiction’s inaugural First Novel Prize (then called the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize) was awarded...
2024 Winner: Joseph Earl Thomas
Joseph Earl Thomas received The Center for Fiction 2024 First Novel Prize for God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer (Hachette Book Group / Grand Central Publishing). Author Raven Leilani, one of the four First Novel Prize judges in 2024, presented the award to Thomas on December 10, 2024 at our Annual Awards Benefit.
2023 Winner: Tyriek White
Tyriek White received The Center for Fiction 2023 First Novel Prize for We Are a Haunting (Astra House). Author Ayana Mathis, one of the four First Novel Prize judges in 2023, presented the award to White on December 5, 2023 at our Annual Awards Benefit.
2022 Winner: Noor Naga
Noor Naga received The Center for Fiction 2022 First Novel Prize for If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English (Graywolf Press). Author Rebecca Makkai, one of the five First Novel Prize judges in 2022, presented the award to Naga on December 6, 2022 at our Annual Awards Benefit hosted by author Jennifer Egan.
2021 Winner: Kirstin Valdez Quade
Kirstin Valdez Quade received The Center for Fiction 2021 First Novel Prize for The Five Wounds (W. W. Norton & Company). Our 2020 winner, Raven Leilani, presented the award to Quade on December 7, 2021 at our Annual Awards Benefit and 200th Anniversary Celebration hosted by Fran Lebowitz.
2020 Winner: Raven Leilani
Raven Leilani received The Center for Fiction 2020 First Novel Prize for Luster (Farrar, Straus and Giroux / Macmillan). Our 2019 winner, De’Shawn Charles Winslow, presented the award to Leilani on December 3, 2020 at our virtual Annual Awards Benefit hosted by Yvonne Orji.
All Winners: The Complete List
Browse all of the winning titles, including work by Marisha Pessl, Junot Díaz, Hannah Tinti, John Pipkin, Karl Marlantes, Bonnie Nadzam, Ben Fountain, Margaret Wrinkle, Tiphanie Yanique, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Julie Lekstrom Himes, Kia Corthron, Tommy Orange, and De’Shawn Charles Winslow.
2025 First Novel Prize Schedule
- Titles must have a publication date between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2o25
- The submission window opens on January 14, 2025
- The submission window closes on March 14, 2025
- The longlist is announced in Summer 2025
- The shortlist is announced in Fall 2025
- The winner is announced at our Benefit in December 2025
2025 Eligibility Requirements
Click here to review the 2025 eligibility requirements, learn about the selection process, and more.
Book Cover Medallions
The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize medallions are available for the covers of winning, shortlisted, and longlisted titles. Questions? Please contact Matt Kafoury, Art Director, at [email protected] for more information.