Phillip Hurst’s writing has appeared in publications such as The Missouri Review, River Teeth: A Journal of Nonfiction Narrative, Reed Magazine, Cimarron Review, and The Doctor T. J. Eckleburg Review. His book of narrative nonfiction, The Land of Ale and Gloom: Discovering the Pacific Northwest, is forthcoming from Unsolicited Press. A novel, Regent’s of Paris, is forthcoming from Regal House Publishing. He lives in Oregon.

Steven Harvey selected Whiskey Boys: And Other Meditations from the Abyss at the End of Youth by Phillip Hurst as the 2021 winner. Phillip will receive $1,000, publication with our spring 2021 titles including distribution with Casemate Group, and 50 author copies. We offer him our heartiest congratulations!

We also offer congratulations to the two finalists:

Lauren Fath of Las Vegas, New Mexico, for her collection: My Hands, Remembering: A Memoir in Essays

Brandon Schrand of Moscow, Idaho, for his collection: The Bone Road: Notes from Flyover Country

Steven Harvey is the author of a book-length essay, Folly Beach, a memoir, The Book of Knowledge and Wonder and three collections of personal essays: A Geometry of Lilies, Lost in Translation, and Bound for Shady Grove. He is also a contributing editor at River Teeth magazine and the creator of The Humble Essayist website. In addition two of his essays have been selected for The Best American Essays series: “The Book of Knowledge” in 2013 and “The Other Steve Harvey” in 2018. Fourteen of his essays have been listed as notable by that series as well.