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Libiran and Palacios Make CBC Nonfiction Prize Longlist

9/12/2025

Summary

Libiran and Palacios Longlisted

Jim Libiran and Lena Palacios are on the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist, exploring personal themes of death and illness.
The winner will receive $6,000, a writing residency, and publication on CBC Books; the shortlist is set for September 18.
Libiran's memoir, "Death on the Seventh," reflects on his heart surgery recovery, while Palacios's "Cancer Stage Exit 4" critiques cancer survivorship narratives.
The longlist was selected from over 1,300 submissions by a jury including Zoe Whittall, Danny Ramadan, and Helen Knott.

Summary

National Book Awards Longlist

The National Book Foundation revealed the longlist for the 2025 National Book Awards, featuring ten titles across five categories.
Notable fiction nominees include Susan Choi’s "Flashlight," Angela Flournoy’s "The Wilderness," and Joy Williams’s "The Pelican Child."
Judges for fiction are Rumaan Alam, Debra Magpie Earling, Attica Locke, Elizabeth McCracken, and Cody Morrison.
Finalists will be announced on October 7, with winners revealed on November 19 in New York.
Other categories include nonfiction, poetry, translation, and young people’s literature.

History

Historical Context

Established in 1962, the National Book Foundation aims to promote literature and honor exceptional works. Over the years, it has awarded more than $1 million annually to authors across genres. The upcoming 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize and National Book Awards underscore the foundation's role in highlighting diverse narratives that address critical themes like illness and survival, shaping contemporary literary discourse.

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Libiran and Palacios Longlisted

Jim Libiran and Lena Palacios are on the 2025 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist, exploring personal themes of death and illness.
The winner will receive $6,000, a writing residency, and publication on CBC Books; the shortlist is set for September 18.
Libiran's memoir, "Death on the Seventh," reflects on his heart surgery recovery, while Palacios's "Cancer Stage Exit 4" critiques cancer survivorship narratives.
The longlist was selected from over 1,300 submissions by a jury including Zoe Whittall, Danny Ramadan, and Helen Knott.

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