Announcing the 2023 Winner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2024
City Lights Publishers Wins Republic of Consciousness Prize, United States and Canada
The second annual Republic of Consciousness Prize, United States and Canada, designed to celebrate the commitment of independent presses to fiction of exceptional literary merit, has announced its winner of the 2023 Prize: City Lights Publishers for its submission of Lojman, by Ebru Ojen, translated by Aron Aji and Selin Gökçesu.
Founder of the Republic of Consciousness Prize US and Canada and Jury Chair, Lori Feathers, said: “On behalf of the Prize jury, I congratulate City Lights Publishers, author Ebru Ojen, and translators Aron Aji and Selin Gökçesu for this arresting novel set in Turkish Kurdistan. We believe that Lojman and its journey to North American readers exemplifies the passion, vision, and risk-taking for which the Prize was founded. It is our hope that this recognition will bring new readers to Ms. Ojen’s work and foster City Lights’ commitment to surprising and original fiction.”
A total of $35,000 USD will be distributed to the presses, authors, and translators named as finalists for the Prize. Each press included in the longlist will receive $2,000. The five shortlisted books will be awarded an additional $3,000 each, split equally between the publisher and author, or publisher, author, and translator, where applicable.
The Prize finalists were selected by a jury of independent booksellers and small press enthusiasts: James Crossley (Leviathan, St. Louis), Lori Feathers, Chair (Interabang Books, Dallas), Zoe Grams (Upstart & Crow, Vancouver), Amanda Qassar (Warwick’s, La Jolla), and Paul Wilson (literary podcaster, Colorado).
A public Zoom party celebrating the longlist with publishers, authors, and translators took place on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. A video recording of that program can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCGElxd7f3U
About the Republic of Consciousness Prize
The Republic of Consciousness Prize in the United States and Canada was founded in 2022 and is run by volunteers. All prize monies to authors and publishers are funded by donations from members of the public. Donations can be made to the prize here.
For further information, or for an interview about the Prize, contact:
Lori Feathers, lori@interabangbooks.com
www.republicofconsciousnessprize-usa.com
Donate at: https://www.republicofconsciousnessprize-usa.com/donate
Twitter: @USRofC