Emerging Writer Award Winners Announced

Lambda Literary, the nation's leading national nonprofit organization promoting LGBTQ literature, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 Judith A. Markowitz Emerging Writer Award. This year Lambda recognizes Bryan Borland and JP Howard.

The judges for the prize were award-winning authors Reginald Harris and Lee Lynch. In a joint statement they said of this year's winners:

"Bryan Borland is the very epitome of literary activism. A prolific and engaging poet, he is the founder of Sibling Rivalry Press and Founding Editor of the literary journal Assaracus. His press also publishes a quarterly of queer and trans women's poetry called Adrienne. Mr. Borland has demonstrated that he is energetic and ambitious not only for his own beautiful work, but for his community of LGBTQ poets."

They continued, "JP Howard stands out both for her fine poetry and for her passionate, unrelenting involvement with and on behalf of lesbians of color, all lesbians, and the LGBTQ literary community. She reverently celebrates our forebears. A poet, a teacher, and a curator, Ms. Howard has shown an ongoing commitment to nurturing our writers and to writing and publishing from her heart."

The Emerging Writer Award, which consists of two cash prizes of $1000, is made possible by Judith A. Markowitz who is committed to helping LGBT literature flourish by recognizing talented new writers. To qualify for the award, recipients must have published up to 2 books or 1 book and additional literary work such as short stories, essays or journalistic articles.

Borland and Howard will be recognized as winners of the Emerging Writer Awards at the 28th Annual Lambda Literary Awards ceremony on June 6 in New York City.

"This year's judges considered a very wide field of exceptional nominations," said LL Executive Director, Tony Valenzuela. "We congratulate the winners for their well-deserved achievement and for their exciting new works yet to come."