2009 PEN/STUDZINSKI LITERARY AWARD

KZN-based Kirsten Miller among the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award finalists.

The South African Centre of International PEN (SA PEN) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award.

The award for original short stories in English by African authors attracted an unprecedented 827 entries, 625 of which met with the rules of entry. Just under 200 stories were longlisted and 34 stories were chosen as finalists by the PEN Editorial Board comprising Shaun Johnson (Chair), Anthony Fleischer, Justin Fox, Harry Garuba, Alistair King and Mary Watson.

Nobel Laureate JM Coetzee is currently judging the shortlisted stories and will choose the winners of the first (£5,000), second (£3,000) and third (£2,000) prizes. The winners will be announced in May 2009.

The finalists’ stories will be included in an anthology of new writing from Africa to be published later this year.

KZN-based Kirsten Miller is among the writers whose stories have been selected as finalists for the Pen/Studzinski Literary Award 2009. Her story is titled Only in Art.

The PEN/STUDZINSKI Literary Award has replaced the HSBC/SA PEN Literary Award and aims to encourage new creative writing in Africa. It is open to all citizens of African countries writing in English, and offers talented writers on the continent an exciting opportunity to develop or launch a literary career. For more information visit www.sapen.co.za