New York, NY — The Community of Literary Magazines & Presses (CLMP), the national nonprofit organization that for 58 years has supported the work of independent literary publishers, has announced the finalists for its eleventh annual FIRECRACKER AWARDS, given for the best independently published books of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry and the best literary magazines in the categories of debut and general excellence.
Pittsburgh-based publishers are among the finalists in three of the five categories:
- University of Pittsburgh Press is a finalist in the Fiction category for Obligations to the Wounded by Mubanga Kalimamukwento (winner of the 2024 Drue Heinz Literature Prize);
- Short Reads, a weekly email-based literary magazine showcasing flash nonfiction, is a finalist in the Magazines/Best Debut category;
- Aster(ix) Journal, a transnational feminist literary arts journal committed to social justice and translation, is a finalist in the Magazines/General Excellence category (and was the 2019 winner in the Best Debut category).
“Everyone knows about Pittsburgh’s rich literary history, but the contemporary writing and publishing community is so vibrant and diverse—our indie bookstores, writing programs, publishers, and writers—and this recognition is proof the city is a vital contributor to the national literary ecosystem,” says Hattie Fletcher, a co-founder of Short Reads.
Each winner in the books category will receive $2,000—$1,000 for the press and $1,000 for the author or translator—and each winner in the magazine categories will receive $1,000. Publishers of the winning titles will receive a free one-year membership to CLMP, and magazine winners will also receive a one-year CLMP Member subscription to Submittable. Additionally, the winning publications will be featured in a national publicity campaign that includes promotional materials distributed to over 750 independent booksellers across the country in coordination with the American Booksellers Association.
The winners of this year’s FIRECRACKER AWARDS will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on June 26, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET.
See the complete list of the 2025 Firecracker Awards Finalists here.
More information about the judges can be found here.
ABOUT CLMP
CLMP ensures a vibrant, diverse literary landscape by helping mission-driven independent literary magazines and presses thrive. Since 1967, CLMP has provided publishers with funding and technical assistance; facilitated peer-to-peer learning and group action; served as a dependable, essential hub for best practices, resources, and nurturing community support; and connected publishers with other groups of literary stakeholders, including readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, educators, presenting organizations, and funders. Along with directly serving 1,000+ publishers located in every state in the country, CLMP administers the Lit Mag Adoption program, which provides educators and students with discounted magazine subscriptions; the annual Indie Lit Fair, in partnership with the PEN World Voices Festival; the $10,000 Constellation Award, given to honor an independent literary press that is led by and/or champions the writing of people of color for excellence in publishing; and the Firecracker Awards for Independently Published Literature, which celebrate magazines and books that make a significant contribution to our literary culture, among other programs.
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