First published 2018
This collection brings together established authors like Joyce Carol Oates alongside Simpson Prize winners Anthony Marra and T. Geronimo Johnson. Prize finalists Ben Fountain, Samantha Hunt, Lori Ostlund, and Martin Pousson contribute stories that showcase the range of contemporary American fiction. The anthology also features Simpson Fellows and writers making their first appearance in print. These stories emerge from the New Literary Project's mission to support storytellers across generations and backgrounds. The collection spans work from incarcerated writers to high school students to distinguished mid-career authors. UC Berkeley Simpson Fellows mentor emerging writers while Jack Hazard Fellows receive funding for ongoing projects. The Joyce Carol Oates Prize provides substantial support for developing careers. Each story reflects the project's belief that narrative forms the foundation of literacy and literary culture.
Genres: anthologies, american-fiction, contemporary, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, mentor-mentee
216 pages · Paperback · Rare Bird Books