New York, NY (May 21, 2025)—The Community of Literary Magazines & Presses (CLMP), the national nonprofit organization that for 58 years has supported the work of independent literary publishers, has announced the finalists for its eleventh annual FIRECRACKER AWARDS, given for the best independently published books of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry and the best literary magazines in the categories of debut and general excellence.
Each winner in the books category will receive $2,000—$1,000 for the press and $1,000 for the author or translator—and each winner in the magazine categories will receive $1,000. Publishers of the winning titles will receive a free one-year membership to CLMP, and magazine winners will also receive a one-year CLMP Member subscription to Submittable. Additionally, the winning publications will be featured in a national publicity campaign that includes promotional materials distributed to over 750 independent booksellers across the country in coordination with the American Booksellers Association.
The winners of this year’s FIRECRACKER AWARDS will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on June 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET.
2025 FIRECRACKER AWARDS FINALISTS:
FICTION
Obligations to the Wounded by Mubanga Kalimamukwento, published by University of Pittsburgh Press
The World With Its Mouth Open by Zahid Rafiq, published by Tin House
Vague Predictions & Prophecies by Daisuke Shen, published by CLASH Books
Medusa of the Roses by Navid Sinaki, published by Grove Atlantic
Amphibian by Tyler Wetherall, published by Ig Publishing
CREATIVE NONFICTION
We’re Alone by Edwidge Danticat, published by Graywolf Press
Fire Eater: A Translator’s Theology by Chloe Garcia Roberts, published by co•im•press
Low: Notes on Art & Trash by Jaydra Johnson, published by Fonograf Editions
Becoming Little Shell: A Landless Indian’s Journey Home by Chris La Tray, published by Milkweed Editions
Frighten the Horses by Oliver Radclyffe, published by Grove Atlantic
POETRY
Cloud Missives by Kenzie Allen, published by Tin House
Consider the Rooster by Oliver Baez Bendorf, published by Nightboat Books
Mirror Nation by Don Mee Choi, published by Wave Books
Besaydoo by Yalie Saweda Kamara, published by Milkweed Editions
A Domestic Lookbook by JoAnne McFarland, published by Grid Books
MAGAZINES/BEST DEBUT
Fruitslice
new words
Revel
Short Reads
The Weganda Review
MAGAZINES/GENERAL EXCELLENCE
Aster(ix) Journal
Circumference
The Common
The Evergreen Review
The Hopkins Review
Joyland Magazine
2025 FIRECRACKER AWARD JUDGES
FICTION: Luis Alberto Correa, general manager at White Whale Bookstore; Juliana Lamy, author of You Were Watching from the Sand, published by Red Hen Press; Alejandro Varela, author of The Town of Babylon, published by Astra House.
CREATIVE NONFICTION: Sean Enfield, author of Holy American Burnout!, published by Split/Lip Press; Rosa Hernandez, marketing manager at Third Place Books; Alejandra Oliva, author of Rivermouth: A Chronicle of Language, Faith, and Migration, published by Astra House.
POETRY: Rob Arnold, executive director of Poets House; Truong Tran, author of book of the other: small in comparison, published by Kaya Press; Lena Khalaf Tuffaha, author of Kaan & Her Sisters, published by Trio House Press.
MAGAZINES: Amy Brady, former executive director and publisher of Orion Magazine; Alexandra Watson, executive editor of Apogee Journal; Oscar Villalon, editor of ZYZZYVA.
More information about the judges can be found here.
ABOUT CLMP
CLMP ensures a vibrant, diverse literary landscape by helping mission-driven independent literary magazines and presses thrive. Since 1967, CLMP has provided publishers with funding and technical assistance; facilitated peer-to-peer learning and group action; served as a dependable, essential hub for best practices, resources, and nurturing community support; and connected publishers with other groups of literary stakeholders, including readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, educators, presenting organizations, and funders. Along with directly serving 1,000+ publishers located in every state in the country, CLMP administers the Lit Mag Adoption program, which provides educators and students with discounted magazine subscriptions; the annual Indie Lit Fair, in partnership with the PEN World Voices Festival; the $10,000 Constellation Award, given to honor an independent literary press that is led by and/or champions the writing of people of color for excellence in publishing; and the Firecracker Awards for Independently Published Literature, which celebrate magazines and books that make a significant contribution to our literary culture, among other programs.
