SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova When asked to describe this debut novel in three words, one VCU MFA reviewer wrote: "strange, haunting, tender." VCU College of H&S VCULibraries VCU English Dept. Gerardo Sámano Córdova

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: Flux by Jinwoo Chong When asked to describe this debut novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote that Flux is about: "time, connections, second-chances." VCU College of H&S VCU English Dept. VCULibraries Jinwoo Chong 정진우

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: The Kudzu Queen by Mimi Herman When asked to describe this novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "tender, funny, moving." VCU College of H&S VCULibraries VCU English Dept. Regal House Publishing

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: I Will Greet The Sun Again by Khashayar J. Khabushani When asked to describe this novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "Sweeping, devastating, gorgeous." VCULibraries VCU English Dept. VCU College of H&S Hogarth Books

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: Atomic Family by Ciera Horton McElroy When asked to describe the novel in three words, one MFA reader wrote: "Compelling, emotional, familial." VCU College of H&S VCULibraries VCU English Dept. Ciera Horton McElroy

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: What Napoleon Could Not Do by DK Nnuro When asked to describe the novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "Character-driven, insightful, nuanced." VCULibraries VCU College of H&S VCU English Dept. Riverhead Books

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee When asked to describe the novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "Melancholic, hopeful, electric." VCU English Dept. VCULibraries VCU College of H&S Molly McGhee ✨

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: In Memoriam by Alice Winn When asked to describe the novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "romantic, brutal, historical." VCU College of H&S VCULibraries VCU English Dept. Alfred A. Knopf

SHORT LIST SPOTLIGHT: Y/N by Esther Yi When asked to describe this novel in three words, one MFA reviewer wrote: "experimental, literary, exploratory." VCU College of H&S @vcuchs VCU English Dept. VCULibraries Astra House

FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: Flux by Jinwoo Chong See what one VCU MFA reviewer had to say about Flux: "Flux is a time-bending, literary sci-fi novel that is at once tragic, tender, lyrical, and thrilling." VCU College of H&S VCULibraries VCU English Dept. Jinwoo Chong 정진우

FINALIST SPOTLIGHT: IN MEMORIAM by Alice Winn See what one VCU MFA reviewer had to say about IN MEMORIAM: "With its charming characters, cinematic plot and pacing, and excellent dialogue, In Memoriam captivated me from start to finish. " @englishvcu @vculibraries VCU College of H&S

Send us your debuts! VCU's Cabell First Novelist Award is OPEN for submissions! Debut novels published conventionally anytime in the 2024 calendar year are eligible. See firstnovelist.vcu.edu/submit-a-novel/ for more details on submission and eligibility. @vcuchs @englishvcu VCULibraries

Congrats to VCU MFA-er, Josh Galarza on his debut novel THE GREAT COOL RANCH DORITO IN THE SKY!

We're counting down the days until Alice Winn's reading in November! But who will be the next CFNA winner? Submit a debut novel today! See firstnovelist.vcu.edu/submit-a-novel/ for more details. VCU College of H&S VCU English Dept. VCULibraries