Curfew Chronicles, a collection of linked short stories by writer Jennifer Rahim of Trinidad and Tobago, has been named the winner of the 2018 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.
The judges for the 2018 OCM Bocas Prize have chosen a shortlist of two books, announced on 2 April, consisting of the winning books in the poetry and fiction categories:
Poetry winner:
Madwoman, by Shara McCallum (Peepal Tree Press/Alice James Books)
Fiction winner:
Curfew Chronicles, by Jennifer Rahim (Peepal Tree Press)
There is no non-fiction winner for 2018, as the judges did not believe any of the eligible books “could be held to represent the best of regional writing.”
For further details of the shortlisted books, see the full announcement.
The overall winner of the 2018 OCM Bocas Prize will be announced on 28 April at the NGC Boas Lit Fest.
The 2018 OCM Bocas Prize longlist was announced on 18 March:
POETRY
Liviticus, by Kamau Brathwaite (House of Nehesi)
Infidelities, by Sonia Farmer (Poinciana Paper Press)
Madwoman, by Shara McCallum (Peepal Tree Press/Alice James Books)
FICTION
If I Had the Wings, by Helen Klonaris (Peepal Tree Press)
Curfew Chronicles, by Jennifer Rahim (Peepal Tree Press)
Tell No-One About This, by Jacob Ross (Peepal Tree Press)
NON-FICTION
In the non-fiction category, the judges made an unprecedented decision to name no titles to the longlist. “While a few books stood head and shoulders above the rest,” they write, “even those had obvious shortcomings, and we believe that this prize ought to be awarded for achievement, not for effort.” None of the eligible books, the judges continue, “could be held to represent the best of regional writing.”
For further details of the longlisted books and honourable mentions, see the full announcement.
The OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature is a major award for literary books by Caribbean writers.
Books are judged in three categories: poetry; fiction — both novels and collections of short stories; and literary non-fiction — including books of essays, biography and autobiography, history, current affairs, travel, and other genres, which demonstrate literary qualities and use literary techniques, regardless of subject matter. (Note: textbooks, technical books, coffee-table books, specialist publications and reference works are not eligible.)
There is a panel of three judges for each category, who determine category shortlists and winners. The three category winners are then judged by a panel of four judges — consisting of the chairs of the category panels and the prize chair — who will determine the overall winner.
The author of the book judged overall winner will receive an award of US$10,000. The other category winners will receive cash awards of US$3,000.
To be eligible for entry for the 2018 prize, a book must:
Submissions must be accompanied by a completed entry form and entry fee. Click to download the OCM Bocas Prize 2018 guidelines and entry form
Submissions for the 2018 OCM Bocas Prize are now closed.
Lorna Goodison, Chief judge Author, Jamaica; based in Canada
Poetry
Vahni Capildeo, Chair Author, Trinidad and Tobago; based in United Kingdom
Loretta Collins Klobah Author and scholar, Puerto Rico
Danielle Legros Georges Author, Haiti; based in United States
Fiction
Evelyn O’Callaghan, Chair Scholar, Jamaica; based in Barbados
Maya Jaggi Author and critic, United Kingdom
Kei Miller Author, Jamaica; based in United Kingdom
Non-fiction
Judy Raymond, Chair Author and editor, Trinidad and Tobago
Robert Edison Sandiford Author and editor, Barbados
Jeremy Taylor Author and editor, United Kingdom; based in Trinidad and Tobago
POETRY: Cannibal, by Safiya Sinclair (University of Nebraska Press)
FICTION & OVERALL WINNER: Augustown, by Kei Miller (Weidenfeld and Nicolson)
NON-FICTION: Virtual Glimpses into the Past/A Walk Back in Time: Snapshots of the History of Trinidad and Tobago, by Angelo Bissessarsingh (Queen Bishop Publishing)
POETRY: Tiphanie Yanique: Wife (Peepal Tree Press)
FICTION and OVERALL PRIZE: Olive Senior: The Pain Tree (Cormorant Books)
NON-FICTION: Jacqueline Bishop: The Gymnast and Other Positions (Peepal Tree Press)
POETRY and OVERALL PRIZE: Vladimir Lucien: Sounding Ground (Peepal Tree Press)
FICTION: Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings (Riverhead)
NON-FICTION: Olive Senior: Dying to Better Themselves: West Indians and the Building of the Panama Canal (UWI Press)
FICTION and OVERALL PRIZE: Robert Antoni: As Flies to Whatless Boys (Akashic Books)
POETRY: Lorna Goodison: Oracabessa (Carcanet)
NON-FICTION: Kei Miller: Writing Down the Vision: Essays and Prophecies (Peepal Tree Press)
POETRY: Fault Lines, by Kendel Hippolyte (Peepal Tree Press)
FICTION and OVERALL PRIZE: Archipelago, by Monique Roffey (Simon and Schuster)
NON-FICTION: The Sky’s Wild Noise: Selected Essays, by Rupert Roopnaraine (Peepal Tree Press)
POETRY: The Twelve-Foot Neon Woman, by Loretta Collins Klobah (Peepal Tree Press)
FICTION and OVERALL PRIZE: Is Just a Movie, by Earl Lovelace (Faber)
NON-FICTION: George Price: A Life Revealed, by Godfrey P. Smith (Ian Randle Publishers)