Justin Haynes’ debut novel, Ibis, and Chloe Dalton’s memoir, Raising Hare, have been selected as the winning titles of the 2026 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing, administered by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation. This biennial prize, aimed at new and emerging writers, honors the renowned author William Saroyan, the son of Armenian immigrants who spent much of his life in his California hometown of Fresno, amidst the fruit growers of the San Joaquin Valley, and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Saroyan was known for his contributions to both fiction and nonfiction genres throughout his literary career.
Michael A. Keller, the Ida M. Green University Librarian, announced that each winner will receive an award of $5,000 and remarked, “Stanford University Libraries proudly houses the world’s most extensive William Saroyan archive, featuring papers assembled by the author himself, along with numerous unpublished and unperformed works. We are honored to uphold his legacy and to celebrate the profound humanity found in his writings through this prize.”
Ibis distinguished itself among the fiction finalists as a work marked by originality, vitality, and stylistic innovation from a promising new author. In their recommendation of the novel for the Saroyan Prize, the judges noted, “Set in a Trinidadian coastal village, Ibis tells a story that traverses multiple generations from colonial times to the present day and touches on elements of family, community, migration, folklore, slavery, mysticism, fellowship, sex trafficking, colonialism, text messaging, and violence. Haynes’ writing is highly engaging — thought-provoking, mysterious, frightening, endearing and hilarious.”
The two fiction finalists—América del Norte (Soho Press, 2024) by Nicolás Medina Mora and The Ephemera Collector (Liveright, 2025) by Stacy Nathaniel Jackson—converge in their commitment to exploring cultural identities through innovative storytelling. In addressing significant social themes, these works offer readers complex characters, intricate family legacies, and multi-layered narratives that span history.
Photo credit: Una Burnand.
Raising Hare earned the top nonfiction spot as a quiet, endearing, and deeply human memoir. In comparing the book to Thoreau’s Walden and the poetry of Mary Oliver, the judges remarked, “Dalton draws readers back to the natural world at a time when much of life is shifting toward artificiality. This sweet book, set during the COVID pandemic, feels especially vital and timely, serving as a reminder of how we can be saved by nature's beauty, even in the most challenging times. Dalton seamlessly weaves research and personal narrative into prose that appears deceptively simple, yet is enriched by unique subject matter and a life-affirming heart.”
The nonfiction finalists—The Waterbearers (Knopf, 2025) by Sasha Bonét, and Not Your China Doll (Dutton, 2024) by Katie Gee Salisbury—explore themes of identity during challenging times within a broader historical context. Overall, these works engage with important social issues through compelling personal narratives, all expressed in artistic and lyrical prose.
"The Saroyan Prize generates great excitement at Stanford, engaging a vibrant community of avid readers and authors, as well as our dedicated alumni volunteers and library professionals who administer the prize," said Keller. This year, there were more than 240 applications for the prize. Nearly 220 volunteers, primarily members of the Stanford Alumni Association, read the submissions and provided initial evaluations to the judging committee. “Together, these volunteers and judges bring a wealth of literary expertise, creative vision, cultural insight, and a profound appreciation for storytelling in both fiction and nonfiction,” Keller added.
The panel of fiction judges consisted of three accomplished Stanford graduates. Sumbul Ali-Karamali, BA ’85, is a noted author and expert in Islamic law, recognized for her books including The Muslim Next Door and Demystifying Shari'ah. Elizabeth McKenzie, MA ’87, is a celebrated novelist whose titles include The Portable Veblen and The Dog of the North, in addition to her contributions to prestigious publications such as The New Yorker and NPR. Scott Setrakian, BA ’76, MBA ’84, is a prominent figure in both literature and technology; he has produced films like Ithaca, based on Saroyan’s The Human Comedy, and has a robust background in venture innovation. Setrakian is the president of the William Saroyan Foundation, which co-sponsors the Saroyan Prize with Stanford University Libraries.
The nonfiction judges included two prior Saroyan Prize winners and an industry veteran. Mark Arax, a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and The California Sunday Magazine, possesses a rich understanding of California's cultural landscape; he was awarded the Saroyan Prize in 2005 for The King of California. Lori Jakiela, a professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, received the prize in 2016 for her memoir, Belief Is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe. The third member, Fritz Kasten, has enjoyed a diverse career as a performer, producer, and board member in music and television.
The 2028 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing will soon begin accepting submissions for books published in 2026 and 2027. For more details about eligibility and entry requirements, as well as the history of the prize and its winners since its inception in 2003, please visit the Saroyan Prize’s official website.