Our 2023 J.F. Powers Prize Short List!

We are thrilled to share with you our 2023 J. F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction finalists! Congratulations to these fourteen writers whose work was selected to move on to the next round of consideration from nearly 400 submissions. In the final round, these pieces compete for the top prize of $500 to the winner, $250 to the runner up, and a number of honorable mentions that will appear in publication at the editors' discretion. It was a difficult decision to narrow the field and we are grateful for all who submitted their best short stories. Those under consideration are, in alphabetical order by author:

“The Golden Egg” by Emily Boutin

“The Penitent” by Chimezie Chika

“Profound Silence” by Sheila Gramling

“Where the Wildflowers Grow” by Sylvia Guarracino

“Miscellaneous Isle” by JK Haman

“Heat of a Tear” by Maura Harrison

“The Craftsman’s Bane” by S. B. Horgan

“A Single Blossom” by Laura Lambie

“Everything to Ease Their Way” by Lynda Lantz

“Bridges Rarely Crossed” by Fletcher Michael

“After the Blast” by Pita Okute

“The Donut Swamp” by SM Stubbs

“The Least” by Brian Sutton

“Misery” by Daude Teel