Jeannee Sacken wins 2026 Hawthorne Prize for The Women Who Stand Between

By AI, Created 12:16 PM UTC, May 31, 2026, /AGP/ – The American Writing Awards named Jeannee Sacken’s The Women Who Stand Between the 2026 Hawthorne Prize winner on May 31 in Dallas, closing its spring competition season. The result highlights a wide field of finalists and shortlistees across contemporary fiction, while the group opens new entry opportunities for upcoming award cycles.

Why it matters: - The Hawthorne Prize is one of the American Writing Awards’ top honors for contemporary fiction. - The award can raise visibility for authors and publishers across independent and traditional publishing. - The 2026 field was described as one of the strongest and most competitive in the prize’s history.

What happened: - The American Writing Awards announced Jeannee Sacken’s The Women Who Stand Between, published by Ten16 Press, as the 2026 Hawthorne Prize winner on May 31, 2026. - The announcement came as the organization wrapped its 2026 Spring Award Season in Dallas. - The prize moved through three stages this season: Shortlist on May 17, Finalists on May 24, and Winner on May 31.

The details: - The judging panel praised The Women Who Stand Between for unforgettable characters, emotional depth, universal themes, and its exploration of courage, sacrifice, and resilience. - Finalists included 17 books, among them Escala’s Wish by David James, Indira’s Daughters by Ron Destro, Split by Michael Swartz, and The Scott Boys by S. Scott Anderson. - The Shortlist included those 17 finalists plus additional titles such as The Artificial Conspiracy by Jesse Muehlbauer, Marianne: A Sense and Sensibility Sequel by Alice McVeigh, CLASS ACTION by Gail Ward Olmsted, and Until the Rising by Amber Kirkpatrick. - The award cycle featured authors from around the world.

Between the lines: - The American Writing Awards used the announcement to underscore the breadth of contemporary fiction, spanning historical fiction, literary drama, speculative fiction, thrillers, and family sagas. - The organization is positioning the Hawthorne Prize as a broad recognition platform for both independent and traditionally published writers. - The prize’s multi-stage process adds a built-in promotional arc for books that make the shortlist or finals, not just the winner. - A spokesperson said this year’s competition showcased an extraordinary range of voices, styles, and stories.

What’s next: - The American Writing Awards is directing authors to its site for information on the Hawthorne Prize and future competitions: More information. - Upcoming deadlines include Sports Book of the Year on Nov. 1, 2026; American Writing Awards on Nov. 8, 2026; Podcast of the Year Awards on Feb. 14, 2027; Children’s Book International on March 14, 2027; and the Hawthorne Prize on April 25, 2027. - The organization also says Book of the Year recipients, category winners, and finalists receive promotional support, including social media campaigns.