The literary world gathered at the New York Historical Society on April 9 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Whiting Awards recognising emerging writers for their “excellence and promise,” per people.com. Among this year’s 10 recipients is Samuel Kọ́láwọlé, whose novel The Road to the Sal Sea earned him a spot in the fiction category alongside other standout talents.
The announcement, made by the Whiting Foundation, marks a milestone for these writers, each awarded $50,000 to support their craft.
The Whiting Awards, now in their 40th year, have a storied history of spotlighting writers who go on to shape the literary landscape. Past recipients include luminaries like Colson Whitehead and David Foster Wallace, and this year’s cohort continues that tradition of bold, innovative storytelling. Kọ́láwọlé joins fellow fiction winners Elwin Cotman (The Age of Ignorance), Emil Ferris (My Favorite Thing is Monsters), Claire Luchette (Agatha of Little Neon), and Shubba Sunder (Boomtown Girl, Optional Practical Training). The diversity of genres represented this year also includes nonfiction winners Aisha Sabatini Sloan (Dreaming of Ramadi in Detroit) and Sofi Thanhause (Worn: A People’s History of Clothing), poets Annie Wenstrop (The Museum of Unnatural Histories) and Karisma Price (I’m Always so Serious), and dramatist Liza Berenmeier (Dr. Ride’s American Beach House, Grief Hotel).
Courtney Hodell, the Whiting Foundation’s Director of Literary Programs, praised the winners in a statement shared with PEOPLE, saying, “These writers demonstrate astounding range; each has invented the tools they needed to carve out their narratives and worlds.” She highlighted their collective ability to weave personal and historical threads into works that resonate deeply with readers. For many recipients, the $50,000 prize offers a rare opportunity to focus fully on their writing or take creative risks that might otherwise remain out of reach.
The ceremony itself was a star-studded affair, featuring a keynote address by 2016 Whiting Award winner Ocean Vuong. Past recipients Alice McDermott, Jia Tolentino, Eduardo C. Corral, and James Ijames also delivered remarks, while author Tony Tulathimutte introduced readings from the 2025 winners, including Kọ́láwọlé. The event underscored the award’s legacy—since its inception in 1985, the Whiting Foundation has distributed over $10 million to more than 400 writers.
For Kọ́láwọlé, whose The Road to the Sal Sea has already garnered attention for its evocative storytelling, the recognition signals a bright future. The Whiting Awards’ emphasis on emerging talent ensures that voices like his—bold, fresh, and unflinching—continue to find a platform. As Hodell noted, this year’s winners share “a passionate curiosity” about history and its lessons, a quality that promises to drive their work forward.
