US-BOOKS-WHITING AWARDS
Ten promising writers — ranging from a speculative fiction author to a New Orleans-based poet shaped by Hurricane Katrina, and a writer of Indian heritage — have each been awarded USD 50,000 by the Whiting Foundation.
Since its establishment in 1985, the foundation has aimed to foster “new creations” by supporting emerging poets, playwrights, and authors of fiction and nonfiction. Notable past recipients include Tony Kushner, Andre Aciman, and Tracy K. Smith.
This week, the foundation revealed its 2025 awardees. Elwin Cofman, who writes speculative fiction, was recognized by Whiting judges for presenting “illuminating sites of bawdy humour and horror,” while Karisma Price was celebrated for her post-Katrina poetry, described as “songs, howls, portraits, critiques.”
Aisha Sabatini Sloan’s essays were commended for drawing “startling connections between the personal and the collective.”
The remaining recipients include playwright Liza Birkenmeier; fiction authors Samuel Klaw le, Shubha Sunder, and Claire Luchette; graphic fiction creator Emil Ferris; poet Annie Wenstrup; and nonfiction writer Sofi Thanhauser.
According to her personal website, Shubha Sunder is based in Boston and teaches creative writing at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
“These authors reveal an extraordinary range; each has forged the tools they needed to shape their stories and realms,” said Courtney Hodell, Whiting’s director of literary programs. “Collectively, their work reflects a finely tuned awareness of both personal and shared histories, and a passionate interest in the insights that understanding can bring.”