Chicago Tribune Announces Nelson Algren Award Winners

CHICAGO, June 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Tribune has named Jeremy T. Wilson winner of the 2012 Nelson Algren Award for short fiction for his story, "Everything is Going to Be Okay."

The award, named in honor of the iconic Chicago author best known for "The Man With the Golden Arm" and "Chicago, City on the Make," carries a $5,000 cash prize. Three runners-up also receive award money.

The winner was announced Saturday, June 9, at the 28th annual Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest— the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest.

Wilson grew up in Georgia but has called Chicago home since 2001. He is a tutor and writing teacher for several Chicago organizations, including 826CHI, After School Matters and Northwestern University's School of Continuing Studies. Wilson's fiction has appeared in Carolina Quarterly and Third Coast and has recently been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Northwestern.

The finalists were Jennie Lin, for "No One Noticed the Moon Was Defaced"; Kimberly Elkins, for "The Letter," and Kelly Luce for "The Far Turn."

The Algren competition consistently draws memorable works. Past winners and finalists have been published as part of the Printers Row Fiction series. Those stories, printed in a standalone booklet perfect for collecting, are part of the Chicago Tribune's Printers Row membership program, which also includes a weekly literary journal, special access to author events and other benefits. The 2012 Algren winners and finalists will appear in future Printers Row Fiction editions.

This year's Lit Fest was presented by Bank of America. Other sponsors included Riverfront Theater, Navy Pier, C-SPAN, Random House Audio, Columbia College, Acura, Chicago Public Library, Gino's East and Stanley Steemer.

Chicago Tribune operates Printers Row Lit Fest as part of the company's ongoing commitment to the written word and its support of literacy. For more information about the Lit Fest and a complete list of programs and exhibitors go to www.printersrowlitfest.org

About Chicago Tribune Media Group

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SOURCE Chicago Tribune Media Group