Rochester, New York—BOA Editions, Ltd. is pleased to announce that James R. Gapinski of Portland, Oregon is the winner of the 14th annual BOA Short Fiction Prize for their collection, The Museum of Future Mistakes. BOA Publisher Peter Conners selected the winning manuscript.
“What a delight it was to first discover James Gapinski’s The Museum of Future Mistakes. Once I finished reading it as a judge, I immediately read it again as a fan. Among a field of strong submissions, Gapinski’s originality, wit, and dynamic storytelling abilities positively glowed on the page. It is a pleasure to announce this outstanding collection as winner of BOA’s Short Fiction Prize,” said Conners.
Gapinski expressed their excitement: “I’m thrilled to win the BOA Short Fiction Prize. I look forward to vworking with a small, tight-knit editorial team that prioritizes author voice and collaboration throughout the entire publication process.”
In addition to the winning manuscript, the following runners-up were selected:
Winner:
The Museum of Future Mistakes by James R. Gapinski
Runners-Up:
- Garden Teeth by M.E. Bronstein
- None of Our Memories by Anna Badkhen
- In the Shadow of the Architect by Bradley Bazzle
- Go Bother Camoes by Meredith Wadley
- The Iridescents by Emrys Donaldson
- Soft Goodbyes through Broken Veils by Clayton Bradshaw-Mittal
- Look Away… I’m Hideous by Patrick Crerand
James R. Gapinski (they/them) is the author of the novella Edge of the Known Bus Line—winner of the 2018 Etchings Press Novella Prize, named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2018, and a finalist for the 2019 Montaigne Medal. James is also the author of three fiction chapbooks: The Last Dinosaurs of Portland, Fruit Rot, and Messiah Tortoise. Their short fiction has appeared in the Best Microfiction 2023 anthology, HAD, Heavy Feather Review, Juked, Paper Darts, SmokeLong Quarterly, and other publications.
BOA Editions will accept manuscripts for the 15th annual BOA Short Fiction Prize between April 1 and May 31, 2025. An entry form and a $30 fee are required. Complete guidelines for the BOA Short Fiction Prize are available at https://www.boaeditions.org/SFP.
For press inquiries or more information about the 14th Annual BOA Short Fiction Prize, please contact: Benjamin Thompson, Director of Development & Publicity at thompson@boaeditons.org or (585) 546-3410
