Friday, December 5th, 2025
The Center for Fiction
About the Fête
Friday, December 5th at 6:30pm
The Center for Fiction
15 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11217
Festive Attire
Join us for the best book(ish) party in Brooklyn. The First Novel Fête is one of our favorite traditions, celebrating the seven authors shortlisted for our First Novel Prize: Colwill Brown, Rickey Fayne, Justin Haynes, Alejandro Heredia, Darrell Kinsey, Mariam Rahmani, and Shubha Sunder. Gather with us at The Center for Fiction to enjoy readings from the finalists' work, catch up and mingle over snacks and drinks from our open bar, win door prizes from our generous sponsors, and more. This year's Fête once again promises to be a fun, festive evening—we can't wait to see you there.
The Fête also helps sustain our work for readers and writers of all ages. Proceeds support The Center's KidsRead program with New York City public schools, our fellowships and awards for emerging writers, community programs, and more.
The Center for Fiction 2025 First Novel Prize Shortlist
We Pretty Pieces of Flesh
Colwill Brown
Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co.
The Devil Three Times
Rickey Fayne
Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown and Company
Ibis
Justin Haynes
Abrams / The Overlook Press
Loca
Alejandro Heredia
Simon & Schuster
Natch
Darrell Kinsey
University of Iowa Press
Liquid
Mariam Rahmani
Hachette Book Group / Algonquin Books
Optional Practical Training
Shubha Sunder
Graywolf Press
Thank You to Our Early Supporters
Vivian Liao Korich & Daniel Korich
Meera & Harsha Marti
The 2025 Fête Committee
Co-Chairs
Pilar Garcia-Brown
Meaghan Leahy
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, please email development@centerforfiction.org.