Bryan Washington

Bryan Washington
Born (1993-04-22) April 22, 1993
Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation
  • Writer
  • scholar
EducationUniversity of Houston (BA)
University of New Orleans (MFA)
GenreFiction
Notable worksLot
Memorial
Notable awardsDylan Thomas Prize (2020)
Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence (2019)

Bryan Washington (born April 22, 1993)[1] is an American writer from Houston. He published his debut short story collection, Lot, in 2019[2] and a novel, Memorial, in 2020.

Early life and education

Washington was born 1993 in Kentucky and moved to Katy, Texas when he was 3 years old.[3][4] He knew he was gay at a young age but did not formally come out, fearing stigmatization. He graduated from James E. Taylor High School in 2011.[4] Washington graduated from the University of Houston with a BA in English, and continued his education at the University of New Orleans where he graduated with an MFA.[5]

Career

For his collection of short stories, Lot, he was recognized as one of the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35. Lot, a series of interconnected short stories set in Houston, was published in 2019 by Riverhead.[5] The book centers in part on Nicolás, a young man of mixed African American and Latino American descent who works in his family's restaurant while coming to terms with his sexuality.[6] The book was the winner of the 2019 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence,[7] the 2020 Dylan Thomas Prize,[8] and the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[9]

Washington's debut novel, Memorial, was published on October 27, 2020.[10] In addition to being longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, Memorial was also named a New York Times Notable Book.[11] Prior to publication, A24 purchased the rights to adapt the novel for television, with Washington adapting his novel.[12] His second novel Family Meal was also shortlisted for the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Fiction.[13]

Washington lectures in English at Rice University, where in July 2020 he was made George Guion Williams Writer in Residence and Scholar in Residence for Racial Justice.[4]

Awards

Year Title Award Category Result R
2019 Lot Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence — Won [7]
Texas Institute of Letters Award Sergio Troncoso Award Won
2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize — Shortlisted [14]
Crook's Corner Book Prize — Longlisted
Dylan Thomas Prize — Won [8]
Edmund White Award — Shortlisted [15]
Lambda Literary Awards Gay Fiction Won [9]
Young Lions Fiction Award — Won [16]
Memorial: A Novel Center for Fiction First Novel Prize — Longlisted
National Book Critics Circle Award Fiction Shortlisted
2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Fiction Longlisted
Aspen Words Literary Prize — Longlisted
Heartland Booksellers Award Fiction Won
Ferro-Grumley Award LGBTQ Fiction Shortlisted
VCU Cabell First Novelist Award — Shortlisted
2022 James Tait Black Memorial Prize — Shortlisted
William Saroyan International Prize for Writing Fiction Shortlisted

Bibliography

Books

  • —— (2019). Lot: Stories (1st ed.). Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-525-53367-2.
  • —— (2020). Memorial: A Novel. Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-593-08727-5.
  • —— (2023). Family Meal: A Novel (1st ed.). Riverhead Books. ISBN 978-0-593-42109-3.

Fiction and essays

  • Washington, Bryan (August 8, 2019). "How Many". Flash Fiction. The New Yorker.
  • Washington, Bryan (August 3, 2020). "Heirlooms". Fiction. The New Yorker. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  • Washington, Bryan (June 14, 2021). "Foster". Fiction. The New Yorker.
  • Washington, Bryan. "Arrivals". Fiction. The New Yorker. No. July 11 & 18, 2022.
  • Washington, Bryan. "Last Coffeehouse on Travis". Fiction. The New Yorker. Sep. 16, 2024.
  • Washington, Bryan. "Hatagaya Lore". Fiction. The New Yorker. March 23, 2025.

References

  1. ^ "Library of Congress LCCN Permalink n2018020990". lccn.loc.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. ^ Luis Alberto Urria, "In Bryan Washington’s ‘Lot,’ Stories Reveal Houston’s Hidden Borders". The New York Times, May 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Bird, Tyson (2020-09-24). "Writer Bryan Washington Brings Another Side of Houston to Life". Texas Highways. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  4. ^ a b c Wolf, Brandon (2020-10-27). "Bryan Washington's New Novel Highlights LGBTQ Life in Houston". OutSmart Magazine. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  5. ^ a b "Bryan Washington | Rice University Department of English".
  6. ^ Colin Grant, "Lot by Bryan Washington review – tough but tender stories". The Guardian, August 7, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Johnson, Chevel (January 30, 2020). "Houston writer Bryan Washington to receive Gaines Award". Associated Press. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Flood, Alison (2020-05-14). "Bryan Washington's 'kickass' short stories win £30,000 Dylan Thomas prize". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ a b Vanderhoof, Erin (2020-06-01). "EXCLUSIVE: The Winners of the 32nd Annual Lambda Literary Awards". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: 'Lot' author Bryan Washington previews romantic debut novel 'Memorial'". EW.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  11. ^ "Bryan Washington". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2023-08-02.
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Fleming, Mike Jr (October 13, 2020). "A24 Wins Hot Novel 'Memorial' By Bryan Washington For TV Division". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "Announcing the Finalists for the 36th Annual Lambda Literary Awards". them. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  14. ^ "Aspen Institute Announces the Longlist for the 2020 Aspen Words Literary Prize". The Aspen Institute. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  15. ^ "The Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction". The Publishing Triangle. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  16. ^ "Young Lions Award List of Winners and Finalists". The New York Public Library. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
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