Bryan Washington (born April 22, 1993)[1] is an American writer from Houston. He published his debut short story collection, Lot, in 2019[2] and a novel, Memorial, in 2020.
Bryan Washington | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 22, 1993 Kentucky, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Education | University of Houston (BA) University of New Orleans (MFA) |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Notable works | Lot Memorial |
| Notable awards | Dylan Thomas Prize (2020) Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence (2019) |
Early life and education
editWashington was born 1993 in Kentucky and moved to Katy, Texas when he was 3 years old.[3][4] He knew he was gay at a young age but did not formally come out, fearing stigmatization. He graduated from James E. Taylor High School in 2011.[4] Washington graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English, and continued his education at the University of New Orleans where he graduated with an MFA.[5]
Career
editFor his collection of short stories, Lot, he was recognized as one of the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35. Lot, a series of interconnected short stories set in Houston, was published in 2019 by Riverhead.[5] The book centers in part on Nicolás, a young man of mixed African American and Latino American descent who works in his family's restaurant while coming to terms with his sexuality.[6] The book was the winner of the 2019 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence,[7] the 2020 Dylan Thomas Prize,[8] and the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[9]
Washington's debut novel, Memorial, was published on October 27, 2020.[10] In addition to being longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, Memorial was also named a New York Times Notable Book.[11] Prior to publication, A24 purchased the rights to adapt the novel for television, with Washington adapting his novel.[12] His second novel Family Meal was also shortlisted for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[13]
Washington lectures in English at Rice University, where in July 2020 he was made George Guion Williams Writer in Residence and Scholar in Residence for Racial Justice.[4]
Awards
edit| Year | Title | Award | Category | Result | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Lot | Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence | — | Won | [7] |
| Texas Institute of Letters Award | Sergio Troncoso Award | Won | |||
| 2020 | Aspen Words Literary Prize | — | Shortlisted | [14] | |
| Crook's Corner Book Prize | — | Longlisted | |||
| Dylan Thomas Prize | — | Won | [8] | ||
| Edmund White Award | — | Shortlisted | [15] | ||
| Lambda Literary Awards | Gay Fiction | Won | [9] | ||
| Young Lions Fiction Award | — | Won | [16] | ||
| Memorial: A Novel | Center for Fiction First Novel Prize | — | Longlisted | ||
| National Book Critics Circle Award | Fiction | Shortlisted | |||
| 2021 | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence | Fiction | Longlisted | ||
| Aspen Words Literary Prize | — | Longlisted | |||
| Heartland Booksellers Award | Fiction | Won | |||
| Ferro-Grumley Award | LGBTQ Fiction | Shortlisted | |||
| VCU Cabell First Novelist Award | — | Shortlisted | |||
| 2022 | James Tait Black Memorial Prize | — | Shortlisted | ||
| William Saroyan International Prize for Writing | Fiction | Shortlisted |
Bibliography
editBooks
edit- —— (2019). Lot: Stories (1st ed.). Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-525-53367-2.
- —— (2020). Memorial: A Novel. Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-593-08727-5.
- —— (2023). Family Meal: A Novel (1st ed.). Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-593-42109-3.
Fiction and essays
edit- Washington, Bryan (August 8, 2019). "How Many". Flash Fiction. The New Yorker.
- Washington, Bryan (August 3, 2020). "Heirlooms". Fiction. The New Yorker. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- Washington, Bryan (June 14, 2021). "Foster". Fiction. The New Yorker.
- Washington, Bryan. "Arrivals". Fiction. The New Yorker. No. July 11 & 18, 2022.
- Washington, Bryan. Last Coffeehouse on Travis. Fiction. The New Yorker. Sep. 16, 2024.
References
edit- ^ "Library of Congress LCCN Permalink n2018020990". lccn.loc.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
- ^ Luis Alberto Urria, "In Bryan Washington’s ‘Lot,’ Stories Reveal Houston’s Hidden Borders". The New York Times, May 14, 2019.
- ^ Bird, Tyson (2020-09-24). "Writer Bryan Washington Brings Another Side of Houston to Life". Texas Highways. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ a b c Wolf, Brandon (2020-10-27). "Bryan Washington's New Novel Highlights LGBTQ Life in Houston". OutSmart Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
- ^ a b "Bryan Washington | Rice University Department of English".
- ^ Colin Grant, "Lot by Bryan Washington review – tough but tender stories". The Guardian, August 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Johnson, Chevel (January 30, 2020). "Houston writer Bryan Washington to receive Gaines Award". Associated Press. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ a b Flood, Alison (2020-05-14). "Bryan Washington's 'kickass' short stories win £30,000 Dylan Thomas prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ a b Vanderhoof, Erin (2020-06-01). "EXCLUSIVE: The Winners of the 32nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Exclusive: 'Lot' author Bryan Washington previews romantic debut novel 'Memorial'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Bryan Washington". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Fleming, Mike Jr (October 13, 2020). "A24 Wins Hot Novel 'Memorial' By Bryan Washington For TV Division". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
- ^ "Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". them. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Aspen Institute Announces the Longlist for the 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize". The Aspen Institute. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "The Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction". The Publishing Triangle. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Young Lions Award List of Winners and Finalists". The New York Public Library. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
