TheCenter for Fiction First Novel Prize is an annual award presented by theCenter for Fiction, a non-profit organization in New York City, for the bestdebut novel. From 2006 to 2011, it was called the John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize in honor ofJohn Turner Sargent, Sr. From 2011 to 2014, it was known as the Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, named for Center for Fiction board member Nancy Dunnan and her journalist father Ray W. Flaherty.^[1]

Publishers nominate English-language works by first-time United States novelists.^[2][3] There is a two-tiered selection process for the prize. First, the nominees are read by a network of booklovers (referred to as Common Readers), including librarians, writers, staff, members, and friends of The Center for Fiction, giving rise to a long list of recommended books. Next, the Common Readers' long list is forwarded to a committee of distinguished American writers, who select a short list, typically comprising five to seven titles, which is publicly announced in the late summer. All finalists are invited to read from their works at a First Novel Fête. The winning novel is announced at an awards event—both of these events usually occur in December. The winning novelist receives a cash prize of $10,000; each finalist receives $1,000.^[4]

• List of American literary awards

• The First Novel Prize, official website.

• Awards established in 2006
• First book awards
• American fiction awards
• 2006 establishments in the United States
• English-language literary awards
• Novel awards

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