New York — McSweeney’s, the publishing house where Hudson once worked, has created a $10,000 literary prize named after the late author, editor and podcaster Gabe Hudson.
The first winner, Ayanna Mathis’ “The Unsettled,” was announced Thursday, which would have been Hudson’s 53rd birthday. He died last year from complications of undiagnosed diabetes. Hudson published two books, the short story collection “Dear Mr. President” and the novel “Gork the Teenage Dragon,” and was widely respected for supporting other writers.
“As the inaugural recipient of this prestigious award, it is the honor of a lifetime to be part of Gabe’s legacy of generosity, literary community, and artistic excellence,” Mathis said in a statement.
The award, which honors the second best novel of the previous year, is decided by a four-person jury led by novelist Akil Sharma. Hudson’s mother, Sanchia Semere, provided funding for the award.
“My son Gabe wanted to be a writer from an early age. He was an avid reader, friends with many in the writers’ community, and a friend to many who sought his writing advice,” Semeret said in a statement. “I remember Gabe submitting stories to McSweeney’s early on, and the thrill he felt when McSweeney’s published a story. I can’t think of a better way to continue Gabe’s name than by having McSweeney’s establish the Gabe Hudson Award to honor a writer whose second book exemplifies the humor, satire, and generosity of spirit for which Gabe was known.”
The Hudson Award runners-up are Justin Torres’ “Blackout,” Nana Kwame Adjaye-Brenya’s “Chain Gang All-Stars” and Hilary Wright’s “Terrace Stories.”
