The esteemed ONCE Tiflos Literature Awards have recognised notable contributions in the categories of Poetry, Story, and Novel. The laureates of these awards are the talented writers Carolian Essen, Juan Carlos Mendez Guedez, and Luis Salvago.
In the realm of Poetry, the award was won by the Argentine wordsmith Carolina Estes, lauded for her collection of poems titled ‘That pine shoot’. Her work was chosen by a majority of the jury members. According to Christina Linares, a member of the jury and editor at Renacimiento, the collection offers a unique poetic perspective on diverse themes such as motherhood, the loss of a paternal figure, and the nuances of everyday life. Linares further praised Estes’s work for its overwhelming drive to write that challenges many authors and encapsulates a very poetic point of view.
The Story category saw the Spanish-Venezuelan writer Juan Carlos Méndez Guédez emerge as the winner for his work – ‘In the ruins’. Jury member Care Santos highlighted the varied tones of his stories, ranging from tragedy to humor, as a standout feature. Guédez’s aptitude for weaving intricate human relationships and portraying the depth of his characters’ psychology was also commended. Santos concluded that Méndez Guédez is a writer who showcases a solid originality in his craft.
The Novel category was won by Valencian author Luis Salvago for his riveting work titled ‘Josephine’. According to academic Luis Mateo Díez, the novel presents a suspenseful narrative set against the vibrant backdrop of Tangier. He praised Salvago’s work as a “mysterious, very interesting” piece that resolves its suspenseful plot in an excellent manner.
The winners of these prestigious awards will be awarded a cash prize – 17,000 euros for the Novel category and 10,000 euros each for the Story and Poetry categories. Furthermore, the winning works will be published by renowned publishing houses – Editorial Galaxia Gutenberg will publish the winning novel, Edhasa Castalia will publish the winning story, and Renacimiento will publish the winning poetry collection.
