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Elliott Wins Carol Shields Prize for Fiction
3 Jun
Summary
- Julia Elliott won the 2026 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.
- Her winning work is the short story collection 'Hellions'.
- Elliott receives $150,000 and a residency at Fogo Island Inn.
Julia Elliott has won the 2026 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction for her critically acclaimed short story collection, Hellions. Published in April 2025, the book features a diverse array of tales, including those of a medieval nun, a Southern girl with supernatural abilities, and a college student sorceress.
The prize jury lauded Hellions for its "eerie, eclectic, genre-leaping" narratives that delve into human folly, horror, and magic. They noted the collection's similarity to the works of Angela Carter and Kelly Link, highlighting its blend of folklore, Southern gothic, surrealism, and bodily realism.
As the winner, Elliott, a professor at the University of South Carolina, will receive $150,000 and a residency at the Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. This prestigious award, named after author Carol Shields, celebrates fiction by women and non-binary writers in the United States and Canada.
Four other writers were finalists for the prize, each receiving $12,500. The nominated works included "The White Hot," "Cannon," "A Guardian and a Thief," and "Lion." The Carol Shields Foundation also supports emerging writers through scholarships and mentoring programs.
