Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 15 (2020) Winner
Raven Leilani Baptiste
レイヴン・レイラニ・バプティスト
Raven Leilani Baptiste
Pen Names:
Raven Leilani（Publishes under this pen name）
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1990-08-26 （The Bronx, New York City, U.S.）
- Nationality
- American
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Seventh-day Adventist (raised)
- Residence History
- Grew up in the Bronx, New York City → Moved to a suburb of Albany, New York → Resides in Brooklyn, New York City
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Short story writer, Essayist
- Active Years
- 2016-
- Influenced By
- Zadie Smith, Carmen Maria Machado, Brit Bennett, Angela Flournoy
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marist College | — | English and Psychology | BA | 在学〜2012年卒業 | United States |
| New York University (MFA) | — | Creative Writing (MFA) | MFA（在学） | 2017年〜（MFA課程） | United States |
Marist College
English and Psychology
Degree:
BA
Period:
在学〜2012年卒業
Year of Graduation:
2012
Country:
United States
Studied English and psychology as an undergraduate
New York University (MFA)
Creative Writing (MFA)
Degree:
MFA（在学）
Period:
2017年〜（MFA課程）
Country:
United States
Studied under Zadie Smith and with other notable writers
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kirkus Prize for Fiction | Luster | — | Kirkus Reviews | Winner |
| 2020 | Center for Fiction First Novel Prize | Luster | — | The Center for Fiction | Winner |
| 2020 | John Leonard Prize (National Book Critics Circle) | Luster | — | National Book Critics Circle | Winner |
| 2021 | Dylan Thomas Prize | Luster | — | Dylan Thomas Prize organization | Winner |
| 2021 | VCU Cabell First Novelist Award | Luster | — | VCU Cabell First Novelist Award organization | Winner |
Kirkus Prize for Fiction
2020
Work:
Luster
Organization:
Kirkus Reviews
Result:
Winner
Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
2020
Work:
Luster
Organization:
The Center for Fiction
Result:
Winner
John Leonard Prize (National Book Critics Circle)
2020
Work:
Luster
Organization:
National Book Critics Circle
Result:
Winner
Dylan Thomas Prize
2021
Work:
Luster
Organization:
Dylan Thomas Prize organization
Result:
Winner
VCU Cabell First Novelist Award
2021
Work:
Luster
Organization:
VCU Cabell First Novelist Award organization
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Gotham Book Prize
1 appearances
PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel
1 appearances
-
Edition 46 (2021) Nominee
Works
Major Works
Luster
2020 Novel (literary fiction) 272 pagesA debut novel following a young Black woman navigating urban life, relationships, sexuality, and artistic desire. Through the protagonist's interactions and complex relationships, the book explores identity and longing in a frank, vivid voice.
RaceSexualityIdentityArt and desireUrban life
Bibliography
- Luster. 2020
- "Hard Water" (short story). 2016 (Cosmonauts Avenue)
- "Breathing Exercise" (short story). 2019 (The Yale Review)
- "Airplane Mode" (short story). 2019 (SmokeLong Quarterly)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Visual, detail-oriented descriptionForthright, often ironic narrationSimultaneous rendering of interior emotion and external action
- Recurring Motifs
- Urban settings and rites of passageLoneliness and unstable relationshipsDesire for art and feelings of inadequacy
Legacy
Luster received critical acclaim as a debut and won multiple first-novel and literary awards, establishing Raven Leilani as an important contemporary voice. She has influenced perceptions of young Black writers in current literary discourse.
Archives
- Marist College archives (holds some undergraduate archival work)
In Popular Culture
- Selected as a Marie Claire book club pick and widely covered by magazines, increasing mainstream readership
Quotes
-
A debut that announces an exciting new voice.
Source: Zadie Smith (commentary), 2020 (2020)
Trivia
- Raised Seventh-day Adventist, later left the church.
- Worked in archives, as a delivery person, and for a scientific journal before publishing widely.
- A strong affinity for comics and music informs aspects of her writing.