Aspen Words

Aspen Words Literary Prize Longlist Announced November 13
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver) | CO
Aspen Words will announce the longlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on November 13.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist Announced March 11
2026-03-11 10:00 - 17:00 | CO
Aspen Words will announce the shortlist for the Aspen Words Literary Prize on March 11.
The Aspen Words Literary Prize is a $35,000 annual award for an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.
Annually, open to authors of any nationality, the award is one of the largest literary prizes in the United States, and one of the few focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include Mohsin Hamid (2018 for “Exit West”), Tayari Jones (2019 for “An American Marriage”), Christy Lefteri (2020 for “The Beekeeper of Aleppo”), Louise Erdrich (2021 for “The Night Watchman”), Dawnie Walton (2022 for “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev”), Jamil Jan Kochai (2023 for “The Haunting of Hajji Hotak”), Isabella Hammad (2024 for “Enter Ghost”) and Tommy Orange (2025 for “Wandering Stars”). Eligible works include novels or short story collections that address questions of violence, inequality, gender, the environment, immigration, religion, race or other social issues.
Learn more about the prize

The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion Featuring a Live Zoom Conversation with Maria Reva, Moderated by APR's Breeze Richardson
2026-07-15 17:30 - 18:30 | Pitkin County Library, 120 N. Mill St., Aspen, CO, 81611, United States
The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion
The Lit Lounge: 2026 Community Read Discussion Featuring a Live Zoom Conversation with Maria Reva, Moderated by Breeze Richardson from Aspen Public Radio
Wednesday, July 15 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Pitkin County Library (Free & open to all; no registration required)
Welcome to The Lit Lounge—a book club inspired by the thought-provoking novels championed by our local literary center, Aspen Words.
For our July meeting, we are diving into the 2026 Community Read and Aspen Words Literary Prize winner: Endling by Maria Reva. Join fellow literature lovers for an evening of great conversation.
We are thrilled to announce that author Maria Reva will be joining us live via Zoom for an exclusive, moderated conversation with APR’s Breeze Richardson. Don’t miss this chance to discuss her extraordinary novel directly with the author!
Have a question for Maria Reva about “Endling”? Submit your questions here.
Learn more about the Lit Lounge Book Club HERE
