We’re thrilled to share that nine Penguin Random House titles have been longlisted for The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize. This prestigious recognition honors outstanding debut fiction—and we’re so proud of the talented authors who’ve made their mark with powerful, original

We are thrilled to share that Rickey Fayne's (MCW '22) THE DEVIL THREE TIMES was longlisted for the 2025 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize! Congratulations, Rickey!

A huge congrats to Rob Franklin, Doug Jones, Alejandro Heredia, and Erica Peplin for being longlisted for the Center for Fiction 2025 First Novel Prize!

Congratulations, Shubha Sunder! OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING has made the The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize longlist 🎉🎉🎉 centerforfiction.org/book-recs/2025…

Was very excited to get to read submissions for this year's The Center for Fiction longlist! Some amazing books on here. 👏👏👏

Congratulations to Lydi Conklin for making the The Center for Fiction 2025 First Novel Prize longlist for SONGS OF NO PROVENANCE! Check out the full longlist here: buff.ly/uU02n71

WORK NIGHTS is longlisted for the Center for Fiction Prize! Congratulations Erica Peplin !!! ❤️‍🔥

The Center for Fiction revealed the longlist for its First Novel Prize, with Rob Franklin, Yrsa Daley-Ward, and Kate Folk among the 29 nominated authors. A shortlist will be announced in the fall, with the winner revealed on December 9. The Center for Fiction ow.ly/NJeO50WubtV

The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize longlist is announced. Kris Neville wins the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award. Ozzy Osbourne has died at age 76; his memoir LAST RITES is due to be published posthumously on October 7. hubs.ly/Q03yBSgX0

Thrilled to see THE FANTASIES OF FUTURE THINGS by the brilliant Doug Jones on this list!! 🩶 Haley Heidemann Yahdon Israel Simon & Schuster

🎉CONGRATULATIONS to Honor Jones and SLEEP🎉 Longlisted for the The Center for Fiction First Novel Prize! Start reading SLEEP now: bit.ly/41bdi1U

Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: Cundill History and Center for Fiction First Novel Prize Longlists raforall.blogspot.com/2025/07/using-…

I'm leading an online book club for The Center for Fiction on 8/21, 6:30 pm. We'll be discussing "Flowers for Algernon." This 1959 story resonates now, when Neuralink is real and Severance has put brain-computer interfaces in the sights of pop culture. Join the conversation!

Explore the distinctive, restless work of French-Senegalese historical novelist and scholar David Diop and Ivorian satirical novelist GauZ, a.k.a. Armand Patrick Gbaka-Brédé, in our upcoming reading group at The Center. tinyurl.com/657rxyem

A great article about one of our 2025 First Novel Prize longlisters, Yrsa Daley-Ward, with background about the FNP.

Don't miss Angela Flournoy discussing her new novel, The Wilderness, with Brit Bennett (The Vanishing Half) and Raven Leilani (Luster)! It'll be an intimate exploration of modern connection and coming of age. Register here tinyurl.com/c75srx95!

OTD 100 years ago

Explore the psychological and physical impact of place in writing, and learn effective techniques to bring settings to life in this one-day weekend writing intensive. Register here tinyurl.com/4f3mydtf!

📚Our annual Labor Day Bookstore Sale is back! 🛍️From 8/30 - 9/1, get 20% off storewide. You can also shop our Take What You Can Carry tote bag sale: Buy a CFF tote and fill it with books from select carts at no extra cost. 🗓️Mark your calendars—and see you later this month!