Every year, the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers recognizes 12 emerging writers for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website, and aims to support the launch of their careers as fiction writers. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are respected experts in the art of the short story. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize, and their winning stories will be published by Autumn House Press in the annual anthology, Best Debut Short Stories: The PEN America Dau Prize.
We are very pleased to announce that we have nominated the following three authors and their debut stories published in Cha for the 2027 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers. Congratulations to Anna, Matt, and Christian! Good luck!
We invite you to read their stories:
β “Three Travelling Portraits: India” by Matt Reeck
β “An Asian Study: January” by Anna Nguyen
β “The Room After the Typhoon” by Christian Wilken
