The 2023 Shirley Jackson Awards, honoring excellence in horror, suspense, and dark fantasy, saw two African American authors, Tananarive Due and LaToya Jordan, emerge victorious in their respective categories.
Due, known for her critically acclaimed work, took home the award for Best Novel for her chilling masterpiece, "The Reformatory." The novel, set in Jim Crow Florida, follows the harrowing journey of Robert Stephens Jr. as he confronts the horrors of racism and injustice at a segregated reform school. Due's triumph comes hot on the heels of her L.A. Times Book Prize and Bram Stoker Award win for the same novel. "I just heard I won a Shirley Jackson Award for THE REFORMATORY!!!" she exclaimed on Twitter, expressing her joy and excitement.
In the Novella category, LaToya Jordan secured the coveted prize for her captivating story, "To the Woman in the Pink Hat," published by Aqueduct. Jordan, known for her poignant and thought-provoking narratives, expressed her delight on Twitter, simply stating, "I WON A SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD!"
The awards, presented at Readercon 33 in Quincy, Massachusetts, mark a significant moment for the literary world, showcasing the growing recognition and celebration of diverse voices within the genres of horror and suspense. Due and Jordan's victories stand as powerful testaments to the enduring influence of African American writers and their unique perspectives on the human experience.
Their wins serve as an inspiration to aspiring authors and a reminder that stories from all walks of life deserve to be heard and celebrated. The Shirley Jackson Awards continue to champion literary excellence while highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in the realm of genre fiction.
Due, known for her critically acclaimed work, took home the award for Best Novel for her chilling masterpiece, "The Reformatory." The novel, set in Jim Crow Florida, follows the harrowing journey of Robert Stephens Jr. as he confronts the horrors of racism and injustice at a segregated reform school. Due's triumph comes hot on the heels of her L.A. Times Book Prize and Bram Stoker Award win for the same novel. "I just heard I won a Shirley Jackson Award for THE REFORMATORY!!!" she exclaimed on Twitter, expressing her joy and excitement.
In the Novella category, LaToya Jordan secured the coveted prize for her captivating story, "To the Woman in the Pink Hat," published by Aqueduct. Jordan, known for her poignant and thought-provoking narratives, expressed her delight on Twitter, simply stating, "I WON A SHIRLEY JACKSON AWARD!"
The awards, presented at Readercon 33 in Quincy, Massachusetts, mark a significant moment for the literary world, showcasing the growing recognition and celebration of diverse voices within the genres of horror and suspense. Due and Jordan's victories stand as powerful testaments to the enduring influence of African American writers and their unique perspectives on the human experience.
Their wins serve as an inspiration to aspiring authors and a reminder that stories from all walks of life deserve to be heard and celebrated. The Shirley Jackson Awards continue to champion literary excellence while highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in the realm of genre fiction.
