Earl R. Merrill: What Happens When An Author Who Identifies As Non-binary Is Nominated For A Women’s Fiction Prize?

Monday, March 4, 2019

What Happens When An Author Who Identifies As Non-binary Is Nominated For A Women’s Fiction Prize?

The author Akwaeke Emezi’s debut novel, Freshwater, is on the 16-book longlist for the Women’s prize for fiction. Emezi identifies as a non-binary trans person and uses they and them as pronouns. The chair of the judging committee: “We’re very careful not to Google the authors while judging, so we did not know. But the book found great favour among us, it is wonderful. They are an incredibly talented author and we’re keen to celebrate them.” – The Guardian (UK)