It’s always wonderful to see translated books on the shortlist for the Firecracker Awards given out by CLMP (Community of Literary Magazines and Presses), especially since the award sometimes even goes to a translated book.
This year’s shortlists include translated works among the finalists in three separate categories. Here are the shortlisted works in translation:
Fiction:
- Disoriental by Négar Djavadi, translated by Tina Kover, published by Europa Editions
- Mina by Kim Sagwa, translated by Bruce Fulton and Ju-Chan Fulton, published by Two Lines Press
- The Taiga Syndrome by Cristina Rivera Garza, translated by Suzanne Jill Levine and Aviva Kana, published by Dorothy, a publishing project
- Trick by Domenico Starnone, translated by Jhumpa Lahiri, published by Europa Editions
With a special mention to All Roads Lead to Blood by Bonnie Chau, published by Santa Fe Writers Project, which isn’t a work in translation, but is a work written by a translator.
Creative Nonfiction:
- False Calm: A Journey Through the Ghost Towns of Patagonia by María Sonia Cristoff, translated by Katherine Silver, published by Transit Books
Poetry:
- You Will Always Be Someone From Somewhere Else by Dao Strom, translated by Ly Thuy Nguyen, published by AJAR Press
For the complete lists of finalists in all categories as well as more information about the awards and each of the shortlisted books, visit the CLMP website. Please note that a number of magazines that publish translations have been shortlisted for awards as well.
The prizes will be announced and awarded at a ceremony on June 5. Best of luck to all the shortlisted translators!
UPDATE June 5: None of the translated books was selected for an award, but the prize in the category “Magazines/Best Debut” went to Aster(ix), a feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, placing women of color at the center of the conversation. They publish online and in print, e.g. the spectacular issue Kitchen Table Translation edited by Madhu Kaza.