In a literary landscape brimming with fresh voices, Samuel Kọ́láwọlé’s debut novel, The Road to the Salt Sea (Amistad), has secured a coveted spot on the 2025 PEN America Literary Awards Longlist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel.
Announced on March 21, this year’s longlists celebrate a diverse array of writers and translators, spotlighting works that push boundaries and redefine genres. Kọ́láwọlé’s nomination places him among an elite group vying for the $10,000 prize, awarded to an American author’s first novel of exceptional merit.
Kọ́láwọlé’s The Road to the Salt Sea stands out as a gripping narrative, weaving a tale that resonates with both literary depth and emotional heft. Judged by acclaimed authors Lauren Acampora, Allegra Goodman and Akhil Sharma, the PEN/Hemingway Award recognises debut novels that signal not just promise, but profound storytelling prowess. Kọ́láwọlé joins fellow nominees like Venita Blackburn (Dead in Long Beach, California) and Morgan Talty (Fire Exit), each bringing unique perspectives to the American literary canon.
The 2025 PEN America Literary Awards, conferring over $350,000 across categories like fiction, poetry and translation, underscore a commitment to honouring voices that challenge and inspire. Kọ́láwọlé’s inclusion reflects the awards’ emphasis on diversity and innovation, aligning with PEN’s mission to elevate writers who reshape the cultural conversation. Finalists will be revealed ahead of the May 8 ceremony, where the literary world will gather to celebrate these achievements.
From the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award’s genre-defying contenders to the PEN Open Book Award’s focus on authors of colour, this year’s longlists are a testament to the vibrancy of contemporary literature.
For Kọ́láwọlé, a Nigerian-American writer, this nod is a milestone, amplifying his voice on an international stage. The Road to the Salt Sea stands as a beacon of the vibrant, evolving future of contemporary fiction—and Kọ́láwọlé as a name to watch.
