What Does it Mean to Be the “Best”? On Writing, Winning, and What Comes Next

First awarded in 2006, The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize recognizes the best debut novel of the year. Hundreds of readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, and other members of The Center’s community help determine the longlist—which means the Prize reflects the diverse tastes, concerns, and imaginations of many people—but what does it really mean to win an award and be dubbed the “best”? And how does a prize like this shape a writer’s career? Don’t miss this panel with First Novel Prize winners Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief (2008),  Kirstin Valdez Quade, author of The Five Wounds (2021 winner); and Joseph Earl Thomas, author of God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer (2024 winner). Join them for a lively and insightful conversation about life before, after, and beyond writing an award-winning debut novel. Moderated by Judith Ohikuare, The Center for Fiction.