Excitement mounts for Guyana Prize finalists
July 15 2026
Writers shortlisted for the 2025 Guyana Prize for Literature are expressing gratitude, excitement and optimism as they await this year’s awards, with several describing the recognition as a major milestone in their literary careers.
Among those shortlisted are Canada-based Guyanese author Rawat Deonandan, debut novelist Jasmaine Payne, U.S.-based writer Somnauth Narine, poets Maggie Harris and Makeda Braithwaite, and playwright Mosa Telford.
Rawat Deonandan hopes for second Guyana Prize
Canada-based Guyanese writer Rawat Deonandan is hoping his short story collection, Memories of Flowers, earns him a second Guyana Prize.
His anthology Sweet Like Saltwater won the Best First Book of Fiction prize in 2000.
“I am genuinely overwhelmed (to be shortlisted again). Guyana is a country on the move and is expressing itself on the world stage with renewed energy.
> “The revitalization of the Guyana Prize is an expression of that vigour and I am sincerely grateful to be given the opportunity to be part of this energetic renewal.
“The evolution of Guyanese expression these past few decades has been wondrous to behold. Exciting new voices have emerged, both locally and internationally. They have such interesting and weighty things to say. At my advancing age, to still be counted among those voices is high praise indeed.”
While acknowledging the strength of this year’s competition, Deonandan said winning would reaffirm his commitment to fiction writing.
“It would mean everything tome (to win). To be blunt, I do not expect it to happen; the competition is stiff. But if by some celestial intervention, my work was chosen, it would signal to me that my particular brand of artistry is still relevant and vibrant, and I would take it as license to further deepen my commitment to literary writing, something upon which my eye has lost some focus in recent years.”
He also reflected on the recent loss of both parents and how being shortlisted has renewed his connection to Guyana.
“I’ve recently lost both of my parents; and it was my parents who served as my cultural anchor to Guyana. Their absence has left me floundering to reconnect to my birth-land and to find a way to connect my young son there, as well. Being part of Guyana’s current cultural expression would greatly help me in that quest.”
Deonandan said the shortlisted collection includes stories dating back to 1993 and admitted he struggled with returning to fiction after years devoted to nonfiction writing.
“The hardest part was finding the courage to re-enter the world of professional fiction writing.”
He is currently completing another nonfiction book while also working on a speculative fiction novella.
Jasmaine Payne grateful for national recognition
Debut novelist Jasmaine Payne’s psychological thriller LEECH has also earned a place on the shortlist.
The independently published novel has already received several international accolades, including second place at the 2026 BookFest Awards and finalist positions in the 2025 Literary Global Book Awards and the 2025 Page Turner Awards.
“Simply put, I feel thankful (for making the Guyana Prize For Literature shortlist.”
She described national recognition as one of the highest honours an artist can receive.
“I’ve really enjoyed every step of my publishing journey and, receiving national recognition for your art is one of the biggest honours an artist can receive.
“I approached this opportunity very humbly because I am a debut author. I have every wish to win, as anyone entering would, but no expectations because I know the competition is usually very stiff.”
Payne revealed that LEECH took 12 years to complete.
“LEECH took 12 years from conception to publication so it has definitely been my greatest accomplishment.”
She is currently working on a sequel and researching a third psychological thriller.
Somnauth Narine pleased with latest nomination
U.S.-based author Somnauth Narine said he is “justifiably pleased” that his novel Ripples From A Broken Soul has been shortlisted.
Originally written as a movie script in 2021, the project was converted into a novel after filming plans were abandoned.
“Mahadeo Shivraj had started filming in 2023, but the project was aborted. I converted the movie script into a full-fledged novel in 2024-25. The writing process took about nine months.”
A retired engineer and teacher, Narine said he has been writing since the early 1970s and has produced radio stories, plays, movie scripts and novels.
His previous novel, Rage From The Backwater, placed second in the Best Book of Fiction category at the 2023 Guyana Prize.
Poetry finalists reflect on literary journeys
Two-time Guyana Prize winner Maggie Harris has once again been shortlisted for her poetry collection I Sing To The Greenhearts.
The UK-based Guyanese writer previously won Best First Book of Poetry in 2000 for Limbolands and Best Book of Poetry in 2014 for Sixty Years Of Loving.
“I can’t tell you how honoured I am to be shortlisted.”
She said the recognition is especially meaningful given the challenges she faced in getting published.
“As a writer who started late in life at age 39, I am extremely grateful for my work to be thought as accomplished enough to be listed, particularly in view of the excellent younger writers coming up.”
Harris said the shortlisted collection reflects her continuing engagement with Guyana’s history, colonialism, displacement, race, gender and the environment.
Meanwhile, Makeda Braithwaite is hoping to add another Guyana Prize title to her growing list of achievements.
Already a two-time finalist, Braithwaite’s latest poetry collection *Mud Psalms* has earned her another shortlist spot.
“I am excited, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”
“Winning would be tremendous, incredibly self-affirming.”
She credited constant practice, workshops and daily writing for helping develop her craft.
# Mosa Telford eyes third Guyana Prize title
Playwright Mosa Telford is also among this year’s finalists with The Bell And The Bones.
Telford won the Guyana Prize’s top Drama award in 2012 for Sauda and placed second in the drama category in 2022.
“I feel honoured as always to be shortlisted.”
She explained that the idea for her latest play had been developing for several years.
“I had the idea for ‘The Bell And The Bones’ for about three years. I wrote the concept, developed the characters and left it alone for two years, then developed the treatment early last year. I then worked on the script for about six months.”
Telford said she continues to draw inspiration from the works of Guyanese playwrights Harold Bascom and Paloma Mohamed as she pursues a third Guyana Prize title.
