The Etruscan Prize

The Etruscan Prize is awarded each year to a member of the Wilkes Creative Writing student community who submits one page of any genre (prose, script, poetry or play) that sings. Since 2010, Etruscan Press has awarded a Wilkes University Creative Writing graduate student for their writing excellence.

Dahlia Fisher of Solon, Ohio was awarded the Etruscan Prize during the Wilkes University Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program residency. The Etruscan Prize is awarded each year to a member of the Wilkes Creative Writing student community who submits one page of any genre (prose, script, poetry or play) that sings. This is the 14th consecutive year Etruscan Press awarded a Wilkes University Creative Writing graduate student for their writing excellence.

Fisher’s submission, “Stella Still Standing,” was the prize winner. This was the sixth year the Etruscan Prize was awarded for a work of fiction. Prize recipients from prior years were awarded for works of fiction, memoir, and poetry. Fisher is pursuing her Master of Arts at the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Wilkes University faculty member J. Michael Lennon served as Fisher’s mentor.

Etruscan author Sheryl St. Germain judged the award. St. Germain commented about Fisher’s submission: “¢Stella Standing Still’ is remarkable, first of all, for the unbroken lyricism that propels each sentence forward. The author creates a rhythmic flow that mimics that of conversation, yet also evokes a literary tone that puts one in mind of a Flannery O’Conner tale. The economy of expression and the subtlety of the story’s imagery suggest a writer of some literary sophistication. The character of the narrator, a young girl in the difficult situation of being under the care of an addict, is sketched in such a way that she is absolutely unforgettable. Her voice rings genuine, and draws the reader in to want to know more about her life and situation. In addition to the powerful yet restrained lyricism of this piece, the author articulates an original insight near the end that is also deeply moving.”

St Germain is a poet and essayist whose work has received numerous awards. Her most recent book, a poetry collection, The Small Door of Your Death, was published by Autumn House Press in 2018. Former Director of the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing at Chatham University, she is co-founder of the Words Without Walls program. For more information see sherylstgermain.com.

Previous Recipients of The Etruscan Prize

2024 Etruscan Prize recipient Sarah Lyons

2021: Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady; 2021 Etruscan Prize recipient John Cornelius of Nesopeck, Pa.; and Etruscan Press Production Editor Pamela Turchin at the June 25, 2021 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony. (Photo credit: Kirsten Peters)

2019: Etruscan Press Executive Editor Robert Mooney; Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady; 2019 Etruscan Prize recipient Iris Ouelette of Pittston, Pa.; and Etruscan Press Managing Editor Bill Schneider at the June 21, 2019 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony. (Photo credit: Shawn Hatten)

2018: Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady, 2019 Etruscan Prize recipient Sarah Bedford of Hunlock Creek, Pa., and Etruscan Press Executive Editor Robert Mooney at the June 22, 2018 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony. (Photo credit: Shawn Hatten)

2017: Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady, 2017 Etruscan Prize recipient Ronnie Stephens of The Colony, Texas, and Etruscan Press Executive Editor Robert Mooney at the June 23, 2017 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony. (Photo credit: Shawn Hatten)

2016: Etruscan Press Production Editor Heather Taylor, 2016 Etruscan Prize recipient Jeremiah Blue of Phoenix, Ariz., and Etruscan Press Managing Editor Bill Schneider at the July 8, 2016 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony at Mesa Center for Higher Educat​​ion in Mesa, Ariz. (Photo credit: Carol White)

2015: Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady and 2015 Etruscan Prize recipient Vanessa Taylor of Rosedale, NY at June 27, 2015 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony at Wilkes University (Photo credit: Shawn Hatten)

2014: Etruscan Press Executive Director Phil Brady, 2014 Etruscan Prize recipient Ahrend Torrey of Baton Rouge, LA, and Etruscan Executive Editor Robert Mooney at June 21, 2014 Wilkes Graduate Creative Writing Program ceremony at Wilkes University (Photo credit: Shawn Hatten)