James Jones Literary Society Explained

The James Jones Literary Society is an association that honors American author James Jones by sponsoring a number of literature awards.

History

The Society was founded in 1991 at Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, Illinois. As of 2008, it had nearly 300 members from 34 states and 5 countries. The Society sponsors a national symposium every year, when the First Novel Fellowship is awarded; these are held in different locations, but return every third year to Robinson, Jones's home town.[1]

First Novel Fellowship

The Society's best known award is the Annual James Jones First Novel Fellowship, co-sponsored by Wilkes University. It was established in 1992, and as of 2011 is a $10,000 prize, and two $750 runner up awards, awarded to American authors of first novels in progress that honor "the spirit of unblinking honesty, determination, and insight into modern culture" that Jones's works exemplified. 667 entries were received for the 2011 contest.[2] [3] [4]

Laine Cunningham, winner of the 2003 award for her novel Message Stick, credits the award for US and international agents beginning to call her. She has since sponsored her own writing award.[5]

Awards

YearAuthorWorkPublishedNotes
1993 Nancy FlynnEden Undone$2,000, 143 entries.[6] [7]
1994 Mary Kay ZuravleffThe Frequency of SoulsFarrar Straus & Giroux, 1996, 403 entries.[8] [9]
1995 Rick BassWhere the Sea Used To BeHoughton Mifflin, 1998, $2,500, also awarded to Tanuja Desai Hidier.[10]
1995 Tanuja Desai HidierTale of a Two-Hearted Tiger$2,500, also awarded to Rick Bass.[11]
1996 Greg HrbekThe Hindenburg Crashes NightlyWilliam Morrow, 1999, $2,500.[12] [13]
1997 Jumping the GreenSimon & Schuster, 1999, [14]
1998 Judith BarnesA Year in the Woods$2,500. 470 entries.[15]
1999 Louise Wareham LeonardSince You AskAkashic Books, 2004, $3,000.[16] [17]
2000 Steven Phillip PolicoffBeautiful Somewhere Else Carroll & Graf, 2004, $5,000. 566 entries.[18] [19]
2001 Tracking GingerCreateSpace, 2010, $5,000.[20]
2002 Seven LaurelsSoutheast Missouri State University Press, 2004, [21]
2003 Laine CunninghamMessage StickSun Dogs Creations, 2008, $6,000.[22]
2004 John SmelcerThe Trap593 entries.[23] Award rescinded in 2015.[24] [25]
2005 Anne CampisiThe Lime Tree$10,000.[26]
2006 Herta FeelyThe Trials of Serra Blue[27]
2007 Robin OliveiraMy Name is Mary SutterViking Press, 2010, Working title The Last Beautiful Day.[28]
2008 Margarite LandryBlue Moon$10,000. 520 entries.[29]
2009 Tena RussAfter Paradise$10,000, 674 entries.[30]
2010 Gina VentreMoon's Extra Mile$10,000, 520 entries.[31]
2011Robert ShusterTo ZenziNew Issues Poetry & Prose, 2021, $10,000, 667 entries.[32]
2012Lise BrodyFor One Thing She Did$10,000, 585 entries.[33]
2013Margot SingerThe Art of FugueAs Underground Fugue, Melville House Publishing, 2017, $10,000, 666 entries.[34]
2014Cam TerwilligerYet Wilderness Grew in My Heart$10,000.[35]
2015Josie SiglerThe Flying Sampietrini$10,000.[36]
2015Alison MurphyBalagan$10,000.[37]
2017Erin Kate RyanQuantum Girl TheoryRandom House, 2022, $10,000.[38]
2018Alicia UpanoBig Music$10,000.[39]
2019Marco KayeLevon$10,000.[40]
2020Morgan M.X. SchulzGood Morning, Dr. Du Bois$10,000.[41]
2021Rose WhitmoreFeats of Strength in the Time of Hoxha$10,000, more than 700 entries.[42]

Other awards

Since 2006, the Society has co-sponsored the annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition, created in 2005 by Secretary of State of Illinois and State Librarian Jesse White. Originally this consisted solely of the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award, but since the co-sponsorship of the Society, it has also included the James Jones Short Story Award. Each category carries prizes of $500, $300, and $100 for unpublished works. Both are named after Illinois writers.[43] [44]

Since 2007, the Society has been working to establish the James Jones Chair in World War II Studies at Eastern Illinois University.[45] [46]

The Society sponsors an annual Valentine Essay Contest, based on Jones's short story, "The Valentine", for high school seniors from Crawford County, Illinois and Clark County, Illinois. The $75 and $50 prizes are awarded on Valentine's Day.[47] [48] [49] [50]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.memphis.edu/newsarchive/sept05/jjones.php "English Dept. Will Host Aficionados of WWII-era Novelist James Jones Oct. 7-9"
  2. http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp "James Jones Fellowship Contest"
  3. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/GUIDEL.HTM "Fellowship Guidelines"
  4. http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/3616.asp?item=55295 "James Jones Society Names Wilkes University Faculty Member Its New President"
  5. http://www.chathamjournal.com/weekly/ae/books/pittsboro-writer-third-place-in-literary-contest-100711.shtml "Pittsboro writer wins third place in literary magazine writing contest"
  6. http://www.nancyflynn.com/awards.html "Awards"
  7. https://archive.today/20120721060024/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24264043.html?dids=24264043:24264043&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT "Duty Bound: James Jones First Novel Winner Drawn to 'Eternity'"
  8. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/VOL4-1.HTM "Manuscripts Pour In For Second Year Of Fellowship Award"
  9. http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2.8123/m-k-zuravleff-s-racy-read-captures-crowd-1.1131371 "M.K. Zuravleff's racy read captures crowd"
  10. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1995-11-06/features/9511060003_1_fiction-award-largest-literary-award-willys-dream-kit "Carl Sandburg Awards Bestowed On 4 Local Writers"
  11. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/VOL11-3.HTM#tanuja "Letter to the Society from Tanuja Desai Hidier, Winner of the 1995 JJLS First Novel Fellowship"
  12. http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-380-97741-3 "Fiction Review: The Hindenburg Crashes Nightly"
  13. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/VOL6-2.HTM#vassar "Vassar Instructor Receives 1996 First Novel Award"
  14. http://www.leslieschwartz.com/publications/jumping "Reviews for Jumping the Green"
  15. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/BARNES.HTM "Judith Barnes Receives 1998 James Jones First Novel Fellowship"
  16. http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/leonardlouisewareham.html "Wareham Leonard, Louise"
  17. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/VOL9-2.HTM "7th Annual First Novel Award Presented to Louise Wareham"
  18. http://www.newpages.com/interviews/Policoff/policoff.htm "An Interview with Stephen Policoff, Author of Beautiful Somewhere Else"
  19. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/VOL10-A.HTM "Writing Teacher Wins 2000 James Jones First Novel Fellowship"
  20. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WB&s_site=timesleader&p_multi=WB&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F05CC85252670AC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Prospect resident captures fellowship"
  21. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K6cfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IdYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3091,3083100&dq=linda+busby+parker+james-jones&hl=en "Novel Published by SEMO Press Garnering Awards"
  22. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=GB&p_theme=gb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FE7271245A6C1C8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Cunningham Wins Fellowship"
  23. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/vol13-4.pdf "First Novel Fellowship Award Committee"
  24. News: Smith . Rich . Meet John Smelcer, Native American Literature's "Living Con Job" . 7 January 2020 . The Stranger . August 30, 2017 . en.
  25. News: Flood . Alison . John Smelcer dropped from YA award amid 'concerns' over integrity . 7 January 2020 . The Guardian . 30 August 2017.
  26. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/vol14-2.pdf "Anne Campisi Wins First Novel Fellowship On Her Third Try"
  27. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/vol15-2.pdf "Herta Feely named recipient of Jones First Novel Fellowship
  28. http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/my_name_is_mary_sutter.html "Reading Guide: My Name is Mary Sutter"
  29. http://telegram.com/article/20081023/FLASH/810230356/0/FLASH01 "Landry’s ‘Blue Moon’ is shining"
  30. http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/194.asp?item=54928 "James Jones First Novel Fellowship Awarded by Wilkes University Graduate Creative Writing Program, James Jones Society"
  31. http://www.timesleader.com/community/Names_and_Faces_10-13-2010.html "Names and Faces"
  32. http://www.telegram.com/article/20111011/NEWS/110119479/1003/rss01&source=rss "First prize greets novelist’s debut"
  33. http://www.jamesjonesliterarysociety.org/JJLS_Journal_Fall_2012.pdf "Shakespearean witch inspires 1st novel winner"
  34. http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1159.asp "James Jones Fellowship Contest"
  35. Web site: JJLS fellow wins Historical Novel Society's New Novel Award . James Jones Literary Society . 11 April 2022 . en . 18 April 2016.
  36. Web site: Mayk . Vicki . Josie Sigler '99 Wins James Jones First Novel Fellowship . . 11 April 2022 . en.
  37. Web site: 2016 James Jones First Novel Fellowship recipient named . James Jones Literary Society . 11 April 2022 . en . 6 November 2016.
  38. Web site: 2017 James Jones First Novel Prize Awarded to Minneapolis writer . James Jones Literary Society . 11 April 2022 . en . 7 September 2017.
  39. News: Stanich . Samantha . Alicia Upano of Wahiawa, Hawai'i, Wins 2018 James Jones First Novel Fellowship Competition . 11 April 2022 . Wilkes News . 18 September 2018.
  40. News: Lissner . Caren . Maplewood Author Wins $10K Prize For Unpublished Novel . 11 April 2022 . Maplewood, NJ Patch . 6 January 2020 . en.
  41. News: Morgan M.X. Schulz wins 2020 James Jones First Novel Fellowship Competition . 11 April 2022 . . 7 August 2020.
  42. Web site: D'Amico . Gabrielle . Rose Whitmore of San Leandro, Calif., Wins 2021 James Jones First Novel Fellowship Competition . Wilkes News . . 11 April 2022 . 31 August 2021.
  43. http://www.illinoiscenterforthebook.org/projects/projectsb.html "Illinois Emerging Writers Competition"
  44. http://www.sos.state.il.us/press/2010/march/100329d1.pdf "Jesse White Announces 2010 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition"
  45. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=119915F417712CC8&p_docnum=1&s_dlid=DL0111111514155410297&s_ecproduct=SUB-FREE&s_ecprodtype=INSTANT&s_trackval=GooglePM&s_siteloc=&s_referrer=&s_subterm=Subscription%20until%3A%2012%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docsbal=%20&s_subexpires=12%2F14%2F2015%2011%3A59%20PM&s_docstart=&s_docsleft=&s_docsread=&s_username=decaturfree&s_accountid=AC0107082015365903015&s_upgradeable=no "EIU to establish World War II studies chair"
  46. http://www.dennews.com/news/james-jones-literary-society-embraces-eiu/article_33b5e94f-0f79-5757-8c6d-91506097b7f3.html "James Jones Literary Society embraces EIU"
  47. http://rking.vinu.edu/Valentine_Essay_Contest.htm "Area High School Students Win James Jones Literary Society Essay Contest"
  48. http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-4838-banned-valentine.html "Banned Valentine"
  49. http://www.robdailynews.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=8544 "Jones essay winners named"
  50. http://tribstar.com/schools/x1745488725/Illinois-students-excel-in-James-Jones-essay-contest/print "Illinois students excel in James Jones essay contest"

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