About the Fête

Presented with Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Picador

Before the First Novel Prize winner is announced at our Annual Awards Benefit, join us at The Center for Fiction to celebrate with the seven shortlisted authors. The First Novel Fête is one of our favorite traditions—a chance to gather for readings from the finalists' stunning work, catch up and mingle over snacks and drinks from our open bar, win door prizes from our generous sponsors, and receive personalized book recommendations and literary tarot consultations. This year's Fête once again promises to be a fun, festive evening—we can't wait to see you there.

Funds raised by the First Novel Fête support The Center's public events, Emerging Writer Fellowships, reading groups and writing workshops, and KidsRead / KidsWrite educational programming for New York City public school students.

The 2023 First Novel Prize Finalists

The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, first awarded in 2006, recognizes the year’s best debut novel as selected by a panel of distinguished American writers and carries with it an award of $15,000. This year’s judges are Hannah Lillith Assadi, Ayana Mathis, Tochi Onyebuchi, and Deesha Philyaw.

Elizabeth Acevedo (Copy)

Christine Byl (Copy)

Eskor David Johnson (Copy)

Jamila Minnicks (Copy)

Tracey Rose Peyton (Copy)

Tyriek White (Copy)

Esther Yi (Copy)

Family Lore
Elizabeth Acevedo
(HarperCollins / Ecco)

Lookout
Christine Byl
(Deep Vellum / A Strange Object)

Pay As You Go
Eskor David Johnson
(McSweeney’s)

Moonrise Over New Jessup
Jamila Minnicks
(Hachette / Algonquin Books)

Night Wherever We Go
Tracey Rose Peyton
(HarperCollins / Ecco)

We Are a Haunting
Tyriek White
(Astra House)

Y/N
Esther Yi
(Astra House)

The Fête Committee

Co-Chairs
Pilar Garcia-Brown (Dutton)
Alex Primiani (Avid Reader Press)
Soumeya Roberts (HG Literary)

Emily Burns (Grove), Kerry Cullen (JMH Scouting), Taylor Damron (CAA), Danielle Davenport (BEM Books). Kyle Frischkorn (Nature Magazine), Eve Gleichman (Liz Gately), Alicia Kroell (Catapult), Meaghan Leahy (Macmillan), Ruby Lee, Shannon Moran (CAA), Karah Preiss (Belletrist), Sophie Pugh-Sellers (Gernert), Jessica Vestuto (Mariner Books)