Nimrod Literary Awards - Kendall College of Arts and Sciences

Nimrod Literary Awards

The 45th Nimrod Literary Awards

Founded by Ruth G. Hardman
The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction & The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

First Prize: $2,000 and publication
Second Prize: $1,000 and publication

The winners will also be flown to Tulsa from a domestic airport location for the Awards Ceremony and Writing Conference in October or, if global health situations do not allow for an in-person conference, winners will take part in a virtual Awards Ceremony and reading. All finalists in fiction and poetry will be published and paid at our standard publication rate. Semi-finalists in poetry will also be published and paid at our standard publication rate.

Contest Rules

Contest begins: January 1, 2023

Postmark Deadline: April 1, 2023

Poetry: 3-10 pages of poetry (one long poem or several short poems)

Fiction: 7,500 words maximum (one short story or a self-contained excerpt from a novel)

No previously published works or works accepted for publication elsewhere.  Author’s name must not appear on the manuscript.  Include a cover sheet containing titles, author’s name, full address, phone number, and email.

The Nimrod Literary Awards are open internationally.

Online Submissions: Work may be submitted online using our online submission manager system.

Postal Submissions: “Contest Entry” should be clearly indicated on both the outer envelope and the cover sheet. Manuscripts should be stapled, if possible; if not, please bind with a heavy clip. Manuscripts will not be returned.  Include SASE for results only. If no SASE is sent, no contest results will be sent; however, the results will be posted on Nimrod’s website.

Mail to:
Nimrod International Journal
Literary Contest–Fiction or Poetry (indicate the appropriate category)
The University of Tulsa
800 S. Tucker Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74104

Entry Fee: Each entry must each be accompanied by a $20 fee.  Make checks payable to Nimrod. $20 includes both entry fee & a one-year subscription (two issues). Writers may submit multiple entries, but each entry must include its own $20 fee.

 

2022 Nimrod Literary Awards Results

 

The editors of Nimrod International Journal are delighted to announce the winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists of the 44th Nimrod Literary Awards.

The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

First Prize: Treena Thibodeau, NY, “My Mother Says Our House Is Haunted”
Second Prize: Ellen Rhudy, OH, “You Women in the Mountains”

Honorable Mention
James Janko, NM, “The Wire-Walker”

Finalist
Marguerite Alley, NC, “Water Diviners”

Semi-Finalists
Amber Blaeser-Wardzala, AZ, “Deer Women”
Amber Fenik, Canada, “Dollhouse”
Summer Hammond, NC, “The Dangers of Dishwater”
Daniel Reiss, TN, “What’s of the Soul Is Not Forgotten”
Megan Staffel, NY, “Last Days of the Matriarch”

 

The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

First Prize: Lory Bedikian, CA, “Ode to Their Leaving” and other poems
Second Prize: Angela Kirby, NC, “Pareidolia 175: Requiem | Rest”

Honorable Mentions
Janée J. Baugher, WA, “Andrew Wyeth’s Footnotes to Self-Portrait, 1938” and other poems
Teresa Scollon, MI, “Asthma Attack” and other poems
Kyoko Uchida. NY, ““Hiroshima, 7:21 AM” and other poems

Finalists
Laura Apol, MI, “Afterlife” and other poems
Joanna Currey, VA, “Coming Out Vigil” and other poems
Emily Kingery, IA, “Snapdragons” and other poems
A.D. Lauren-Abunassar, NY, “Supplies for a Quick Migration” and other poems
Julia McDaniel, MI, “A Charted Territory”
Greg Nicholl, MA, “Sage” and other poems
Catherine Stearns, MA, “Desiderium” and other poems

Semi-Finalists
M. Soledad Caballero, PA, “The Mirage”
Anne Casey, Australia, “Season of Samhain”
Lauren Coggins, SC, “Reminders”
Donte Collins, MN, “Ombrophobia”
Jonathan Fink, FL, “Leonardo’s Mistake”
Jana-Lee Germaine, MA, “Distance”
Mara Lee Grayson, CA, “May We All Emerge One Day as Butterflies in Poems.”
Andrew Hemmert, CO, “Like the Points of Compass Needle” and other poems
Anna Claire Hodge, FL, “Sephora During the Cancer Scare”
Justin Hunt, NC, “At the Missouri Pacific Depot, where, in 1931, You Holed up for Three Days and Drank”
Leah Claire Kaminski, IL, “Red” and other poems
Susan Landgraf, WA, “Bindweed”
Rosa Lane, CA, “Dear Master (No. 7)”
Wen Lim, UK, “2006, the Year Mom Learnt to Bake Jim Lahey’s No-Knead Bread”
Jessica Pierce, OR, “I want to speak all of the springtime”
Ivy Raff, MI, “You Learned to Wait”
Susan Rich, WA, “The Blind Ones”
Anna Scotti, CA, “Kanawha Street”
Darius Simpson, CA, “Lessons Learned on a Slow Drive East”
Kelly Grace Thomas, CA, “Female Lobsters Grow More Fertile with Age”
Hannah Whiteman, FL, “The Law of Conservation of Energy Says Not a Bit of You Is Gone”
Amelia L. Williams, VA, “Beautiful Death” and other poems
Melody Wilson, OR, “Tightrope”

Nimrod extends deep appreciation to all who submitted. Selecting the poetry and fiction finalists was a task that dominated the lives of Nimrod’s editors all spring. They approached their mission with dedication and discretion, reading and rereading the final group, comparing notes, and speaking for favorites. The finalists’ manuscripts were sent to the judges for 2022. Toni Jensen served as fiction judge, and Kaveh Bassiri served as poetry judge. They chose the winners and honorable mentions from the finalist groups.

The 45th Nimrod Literary Awards competition begins January 1, 2023; the deadline is April 1st, 2023. We welcome your submissions, knowing that each year brings new discoveries, often from those who have submitted to the competition before.

All entrants not previously contacted by Nimrod about their work may consider their work released at this time.

 

 

  • 2021 Literary Awards Results

    The editors of Nimrod International Journal are delighted to announce the winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists of the 43rd Nimrod Literary Awards.

    The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

    First Prize: Celine Aenlle-Rocha, NY, “White Black People”
    Second Prize: Paula Closson Buck, PA, “The Inventories”

    Honorable Mentions
    Rachel Furey, CT, “A Dolphin in Pain”
    Rachel Reeher, AZ, “God Is In Your Body”

    Finalists
    Jennifer Blackman, NY, “Wife Of; or, What Does It Mean to Be Haunted?”
    Teresa Milbrodt, VA, “The Southern Part of the State”
    Edvin Subašić, ID, “Thug”

    Semi-Finalists
    Alexa T. Dodd, TX, “Mother’s Milk”
    Peter Kazon, DC, “Productive Aging”
    Lisa Leyenda, OH, “The Healing Properties of Green Chile Tamales”

    The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

    First Prize: Emily Rose Cole, OH, “Spell for Patience” and other poems
    Second Prize: Julie Marie Wade, FL, “Now”

    Honorable Mentions
    Laura Apol, MI, “Vanishing Point” and other poems
    Francesca Bell, CA, “Like a Friend” and other poems
    Angela Sucich, WA, “Everything I Love I Want to Consume” and other poems

    Finalists
    Dan Albergotti, SC, “Inscription in the Wake”
    Harley Anastasia Chapman, IL, “The Shape of Animal” and other poems
    Caroline Earleywine, AR, “When I Think of Parenthood” and other poems
    Christina Hutchins, CA, “String Theory” and other poems
    Anthony Thomas Lombardi, NY, “Ruinenlust”
    John McCarthy, IL, “The Little Egypt Dive Bar Elegy”
    Carolyn Oliver, MA, “Night Ocean” and other poems
    Jessica Pierce, OR, “Some comfort” and other poems
    Richard Robbins, MN, “The Oratory of All Souls”
    Adrie Rose, MA, “Separation” and other poems
    Mara Adamitz Scrupe, VA, “Jump” and other poems
    Kyoko Uchida, NY, “And Love” and other poems
    Connor Yeck, OH, “Hold For Release Till End of the World Confirmed” and other poems

    Semi-Finalists
    Danielle Badra, VA, “The Phillips Collection”
    John Blair, TX, “Eclogue 18: The House That’s Not the End of the World” and other poems
    Sunu P. Chandy, DC, “Practice raking leaves or sweeping to remind oneself of the feeling of engaging in work that knows no end.”
    Gail Entrekin, CA, “Wind” and other poems
    Sally Lipton Derringer, NY, “Target”
    Rachel Edelman, WA, “No matter, my treads are lined with Kevlar.”
    Sandra Fees, PA, “On the Consolatory Pleasure of Jigsaws When the World Is in Bits”
    Corrinne Clegg Hales, CA, “Silent Stroke”
    Siew David Hii, AL, “help—my brother is a fascist”
    Kathleen Holliday, “In a Monastery Garden”
    Kate Kingston, CO, “Whiteout” and other poems
    Zack Lesmeister, WI, “Birds of Prey” and other poems
    Liz Marlow, TN, “Thunderstorm” and other poems
    Amy Miller, OR, “Linda Vista” and other poems
    William Snyder, MN, “Mas at Saintes Maries De La Mer”
    Cynthia White, CA, “Tongue” and other poems


    Nimrod 
    extends deep appreciation to all who submitted. Selecting the poetry and fiction finalists was a task that dominated the lives of Nimrod’s editors all spring. They approached their mission with dedication and discretion, reading and rereading the final group, comparing notes, and speaking for favorites. The finalists’ manuscripts were sent to the judges for 2021. Rilla Askewserved as fiction judge, and Geffrey Davis served as poetry judge. They chose the winners and honorable mentions from the finalist groups.

  • 2020 Literary Awards Results

    The editors of Nimrod International Journal are delighted to announce the winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists of the 42nd Nimrod Literary Awards.

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

    FIRST PRIZE: Rebecca Foust, CA, “Blackout” and other poems
    SECOND PRIZE: Janine Certo, MI, “Home Altar in the Year of a Pandemic” and other poems

    HONORABLE MENTIONS:
    A.D. Lauren-Abunassar, PA, “Victim Impact Statement” and other poems
    Richard Michelson, MA, “A Horse-Cure” and other poems

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

    FIRST PRIZE: Mohit Manohar, DC, “This Has Not Been Enough”
    SECOND PRIZE: Gage Saylor, OK, “Jailbird”

    HONORABLE MENTIONS:
    Carol Dines, MN, “Grace’s Mask”
    Hayley Lynch, KY, “The Tremendous Machine”
    Grace Newman, NY, “Initial Consultations”

    Nimrod extends deep appreciation to all who submitted and would like to congratulate all winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists. Selecting the poetry and fiction finalists was a task that dominated the lives of Nimrod’s editors all spring. They approached their mission with dedication and discretion, reading and rereading the final group, comparing notes, and speaking for favorites. The finalists’ manuscripts, without cover letters or names, were sent to the judges for 2020. Kaveh Akbar served as poetry judge, and Joy Castro served as fiction judge. They chose the winners and honorable mentions from the finalist groups.

    All entrants not previously contacted by Nimrod about their work may consider their work released at this time.

    Fiction Finalists
    Jean Ferruzola, WA, “Burn Brightly and Rise”
    Jessi Phillips, MI, “Anything You Ask Me To”

    Fiction Semi-Finalists
    Kristyn Childres, IN, “The Northeast Kingdom”
    Alice Hatcher, AZ, “Caesura”
    Sasha Hom, CA, “Always, Peanut”
    Alex Hughes, OK, “Crown”
    Grace Spulak, NM, “More Than Bright”
    Nicole VanderLinden, IA, “Fiddler”

    Poetry Finalists
    Jubi Arriola-Headley, FL, “Peacocking” and other poems
    John Blair, TX, “Seeking Dr. Einstein” and other poems
    Chuck Carlise, MI, “Solana” and other poems
    Jehanne Dubrow, TX, “Metamorphoses”
    Benjamin Gucciardi, CA, “I Ask My Sister’s Ghost to Write Her Own Elegy” and other poems
    Youssef Helmi, FL, “Scarf” and other poems
    Caroline Mei-Len Mar, CA, “Dream of the Lake” and other poems
    Jessica Pierce, OR, “We all have our work to do” and other poems
    Sean Reynolds, IL, “The Year My Voice Began to Crack” and other poems
    Frances Richey, NY, “Bloody Mingo County” and other poems
    Darius Simpson, CA, “Yea I Did It” and other poems
    Alice Templeton, CA, “Youth Sermon” and other poems
    Theresa Q. Tran, OR, “Mercy” and other poems
    Jeanne Wagner, CA, “Speaking in Tongues” and other poems
    James Wyshynski, GA, “Counting Out the Cost” and other poems

    Poetry Semi-Finalists
    Yasmine Ameli, MA, “History Lesson” and other poems
    Yvonne Amey, FL, “Bad Brains, a Woke Mosh Pit, and a D.C. Haiku” and other poems
    Shannon Austin, MD, “Dollhood”
    Diane Beck, CO, “History of Winter” and other poems
    Imani Cezanne, CA, “No Crowns Allowed Through TSA” and other poems
    Lauren Coggins, SC, “Eating Light” and other poems
    Marsha Truman Cooper, CA, “The Rapture of Bees” and other poems
    Marissa Davis, NY, “When the Blood Came” and other poems
    Tyler Dunston, NY, “8 lines in the Grace Church garden” and other poems
    Bernard Ferguson, FL, “juxtaposition with death” and other poems
    Jana-Lee Germaine, MA, “Learning Curve” and other poems
    W.J. Herbert, NY, “The Latin Lesson” and other poems
    Anthony Immergluck, WI, “Madre Matryoshka” and other poems
    Karen Kovacik, IN, “Farsickness” and other poems
    Susan Landgraf, WA, “Out of the Roase Garden” and other poems
    Kathleen Michael, VA, “Cowbird” and other poems
    Amy Miller, OR, “The Church of the Hair Salon” and other poems
    Oak Morse, TX, “Sashay” and other poems
    Gail Newman, CA, “Two Men Talking” and other poems
    Wendy Scott, PA, “Two Body Problem” and other poems
    Emily Van Kley, WA, “Affidavit for Self-Care & Other Questionable Ephemera” and other poems
    John Walser, WI, “Give yourself over to the trees, to the sun” and other poems
    Amie Whittemore, TN, “First Self-Portrait with the Artist” and other poems

     

  • 2019 Literary Awards Results

    The editors of Nimrod International Journal are delighted to announce the winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists of the 41stNimrod Literary Awards.

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

    FIRST PRIZE: Robert Thomas, CA, “Negligee and Hatchet: A Sonnet Crown”

    SECOND PRIZE: Matt Miller, NH, “The Adorned Fathomless Dark Creation” and other poems

    HONORABLE MENTION: Pianta, CA, “Uchinanchu” and other poems

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

    FIRST PRIZE: Jonathan Wei, TX, “Capybara”

    SECOND PRIZE: John Tait, TX, “This Might Hurt Some”

    HONORABLE MENTIONS:

    Elinam Agbo, MI, “Schools of Longing”

    C.C. Lewis, NC, “Tapeta Lucida”

    Elsa Nekola, WI, “Meat Raffle”

    Finalists Fiction 2019

    Andrew Mangan, NY, “The Pioneer Spirit”

    Kathleen McNamara, AZ, “Pyrosome”

    Semi-Finalists Fiction 2019

    JJ Byars, NY, “The Sifter”

    Leslie Campbell, CA, “Overture”

    Jennifer Chianese, PA, “The Crazy Ones”

    Celine Fitzpatrick, IL, “Crossing the Swamp”

    Linnie Greene, NJ, “What Was Left Was Ours”

    Brenda Liebling-Goldberg, TX, “Edelweiss”

    Grace Newman, NY, “Kontan, Always”

    Maureen McGranaghan, PA, “The Heart Flashes”

    Reena Shah, NY, “Bears”

    Rachel Talbot, NY, “Lucuma”

    Finalists Poetry 2019

    Lauren Abunassar, PA, “Cryptid Poem” and other poems

    Laura Apol, MI, “But Winter” and other poems

    Pam Bernard, NH, “Turtle” and other poems

    Hannah Dow, CA, “Realizations While Staying in Other People’s Apartments” and other poems

    Christina Hutchins, CA, “Sleeping with the Melvini Sisters” and other poems

    Ae Hee Lee, WI, “Inside a Mogyoktang in Chicago” and other poems

    Joel Peckham, WV, “Locomotive of the Lord”

    Osel Plante, FL, “When the Mississippi Speaks with its Wet, Pretty Mouth” and other poems

    Faith Shearin, MA, “Mittens” and other poems

    Semi-Finalists Poetry 2019

    Roy Bentley, OH, “The Fighting Lady” and other poems

    Eleanor Berry, OR, “Not Burning the Chrsitmas Greens” and other poems

    Janine Certo, MI, “Diagram of the Four Chambers of the Heart”

    Lauren Coggins, SC, “Precedent” and other poems

    Lisa Compo, MD, “Elegy Prelude”

    Catherine Freeling, “The Glove”

    Matthew Gellman, NY, “Not Music” and other poems

    Amanda Gomez, VA, “Autopsy of My Mother”

    Kathryn Haemmerle, CA, “Aubade Ending With a View of a River” and other poems

    Karen Harryman, CA, “Southern Funeral with Hairbrush”

    W.J. Herbert, NY, “Northern Cardinal” and other poems

    Catherine Hodges, CA, “Late Afternoon Meditation on an Open Egg Carton”

    George Looney, PA, “A Falling Piano is a Classic”

    Anne McDonnell, NJ, “Ash and Metal”

    Gail Newman, CA, “Blood Memory”

    Adam Penna, NY, “The Love Poems That Are Now”

    Peter H. Michaels, MD, “Our First Love”

    Jo Pitkin, NY, “Village: Bag of Babkas”

    Michele Randall, FL, “Tea Hot Tea Iced” and other poems

    C.C. Reid, DC, “Indelible”

    Mary Rummel, MN, “Illuminator Dreams”

    Tori Sharpe, AR, “The Move” and other poems

    Jeremy Voigt, WA, “Lunar Eclipse”

  • 2018 Literary Awards Results

    The editors of Nimrod International Journal are delighted to announce the winners, honorable mentions, finalists, and semi-finalists of the 40th Nimrod Literary Awards.

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry

    FIRST PRIZE: Emma DePanise, MD, “Dry Season” and other poems

    SECOND PRIZE: Megan Merchant, AZ, “Marrow” and other poems

    HONORABLE MENTIONS:

    Anna Scotti, CA, “When I could still be seen” and other poems

    Jeanne Wagner, CA, “Dogs That Look Like Wolves” and other poems

    Josephine Yu, FL, “Women Grieving” and other poems

    Nimrod Literary Awards: The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction

    FIRST PRIZE: Sharon Solwitz, IL, “Tremblement”

    SECOND PRIZE: Ellen Rhudy, PA, “Would You Know Me”

    HONORABLE MENTION:

    Liz Ziemska, CA, “Hunt Relic”

    Nimrod extends deep appreciation to all who submitted. Selecting the poetry and

    fiction finalists was a task that dominated the lives of Nimrod’s editors all spring.

    They approached their mission with dedication and discretion, reading and

    rereading the final group, comparing notes, and speaking for favorites. The

    finalists’ manuscripts, without cover letters or names, were sent to the judges for

    2018. Patricia Smith served as poetry judge, and Rilla Askew served as

    fiction judge. They chose the winners and honorable mentions from the finalist

    groups.

    Finalists Fiction 2018

    Ellen Furman, CA, “Things”

    Mimi Lok, CA, “Last of Her Name”

    Reena Shah, NY, “The Jains’ Annual Beach House Picnic”

    Amy Shearn, NY, “Some Fun”

    Semi-Finalists Fiction 2018

    April Alvarez, TN, “Tatau”

    Judith Dancoff, CA, “Roman Glass”

    Richard Hermes, TN, “Here, Where We Can Be Honest”

    Alex Hughes, OK, “Dutzow”

    Sandra Hunter, CA, “Meanwhile The Forests Continue To Die”

    Aaron Landsman, NY, “Love Story”

    Kristie Letter, CO, “Göttingen Seven”

    Karin Lin-Greenberg, NY, “A Small Enemy”

    Elizabeth Moller, NY, “Alice’s Tea Cup”

    Barbara Morrison, VT, “Nebula”

    S. Gale Pace, WA, “Jenny – My Life As Subject Matter”

    Darryl Pebbles, IN, “Apotheosis”

    Ann Russell, MA, “Conversational French”

    Jessica Tumio, CT, “Don’t Look Up”

    Namrata Verghese, TX, “God’s Intern”

    Kirk Wilson, TX, “The Meteor”

    Finalists Poetry 2018

    Caroline Berblinger, OK, “Interviewing My Grandfather” and other poems

    Ayokunle Falomo, TX, “The World’s Loudest Sound”

    Matty Layne Glasgow, TX, “Plumage” and other poems

    Darrel Alejandro Holnes, NY, “The land is made a stepmother” and other poems

    J. Bailey Hutchinson, AR, “Became My Body, Too”

    Chrissy Kolaya, MN, “The House Sitters”

    Matthew MacFarland, VA, “Singing Saw” and other poems

    Susan Nguyen, AZ, “Beast Angel” and other poems

    Liz Rees, MD, “Elegy for Good Health” and other poems

    Semi-Finalists Poetry 2018

    Cynthia Amoah, NY, “Handrails”

    Roger Camp, CA, “Ascension”

    Don Colburn, OR, “Ginkgo on 19th” and other poems

    Caroline Earleywine, AR, “Lipstick” and other poems

    Mel Elberger, NJ, “Recipe”

    Melanie Figg, MD, “Psyche’s History of Houses”

    Rebecca Foust, CA, “Spring Is”

    Katherine Gaffney, IL, “With Ghost”

    Benjamin Garcia, NY, “Gay Epithalamium”

    Emily Harman, WA, “Cairn”

    W.J. Herbert, NY, “The Smell of Almost Rain”

    Don Hogle, NY, “Mother”

    Luke J. Johnson, CA, “Song of the Stillborn”

    Susan Landgraf, WA, “What’s Left”

    Freesia McKee, FL, “Peeling an Orange”

    Ryan Meyer, NY, “Estuary” and other poems

    Kelly Michels, NC, “What I mean when I say he went peacefully”

    Adela Najarro, CA, “Chantico Swings”

    Lee Sharkey, ME, “To Look Out Is to See; to Look In, to Turn Wholly White”

    Mark Smith-Soto, NC, “Let It Spill”

    Christie Towers, MA, “Sugar Water in Winter”

    Cornelia Veenendaal, NH, “Rehearsal”

    Namrata Verghese, TX, “Kathakali”

    John Walser, WI, “Heaven” and other poems

    Michael Warr, CA, “What Not To Do . . .( an unfinished poem after Michael Harriot at The Root)”

    Arne Weingart, IL, “The Painting of the Barn without the Barn”