From Literal’s website: “It is an honor for Literal to announce this year’s winners and celebrate with the awardees this recognition of literary merit: the First Prize went to Daniel Herrera for the novel Libro secreto; the First Honorable Mention was awarded to Gisela Heffes for her collection of essays Nuestros huesos sobre el abismo; and the Second Honorable Mention was given to Manuel Iris for his poetry collection Ensayo sobre lo frágil. The 2nd Literal International Prize, organized by Latin American Voices, aims to highlight the literary excellence of writers who produce their literary work in Spanish in the United States and Canada. This year’s prize, which marks the 21st anniversary of the magazine and publishing house foundation, reaffirms Literal’s commitment to creativity, memory, and the diversity of voices that shape our literary community. The competition received a significant number of submissions from across the United States and Canada, demonstrating growing interest in creating and strengthening platforms for the dissemination of Latin American literature abroad. The quality and craftsmanship of the entries remind us that our language remains a vibrant, evolving space that continually reinvents itself. We sincerely thank all the participating authors from the United States and Canada. Their work – careful, well-structured, and imaginative – embodies the true spirit of this prize. Each submission confirms the importance of building cultural bridges that allow us to share our experiences, roots, and our quests from different geographical locations. The jury for this edition included Malva Flores, Tanya Huntington, and David Medina Portillo, who thoroughly and rigorously read all the submitted works. Their dedicated work enabled them to reach a clear and consensual decision.”

You can read more (in Spanish) here.