Skopje, 11 February 2025 (МIA) — Zharko Kujundzhiski's short story collection "The Storyteller" (Antolog, 2024) is the winner of the Macedonian Writers Association's annual Stale Popov Best Fiction Award and Ivan Dzheparoski's "Dedications and Praises" (Dijalog, 2024) is the winner of the Aco Shopov Best Poetry Book Award, MWA president Zhivko Grozdanoski told a press conference Tuesday.

Kujundzhiski's latest book beat 10 other entries in the contest, according to the panel of judges Liljana Pandeva, Petar Andonovski and Blazhe Minevski.

That Dzheparoski's was the best poetry book of 2024 was decided by Katica Kjulavkova, Gordana Mihailova Boshnakoska and Vlada Uroshevikj.

The Vancho Nikoleski Best Children's Book Award winner is "Kisses in the Sky" by Ivan Antonovski (Svetulka, 2024). The winner was chosen by Biljana S. Crvenkovska, Mito Spasevski and Aleksandra Velinova.

The Bridge Award, given to the best book written in one of the languages of the country's ethnic communities, will be awarded to Gordana Jovikj Stojkovska for "Once Upon a Time There Was This House" by (Slovo ljubve, 2024). The winner was chosen by Seida Beganovikj, Tihomir Janchovski and Lejla Sherif Emin.

The Dimitar Mitrev Critical Essay Collection Award will be given to "Literary Monuments" by Natasha Avramovska (Macedonian Literature Institute, 2024). The winner was chosen by Lidija Kapushevska Drakuleska, Sande Stojchevski and Dejan Trajkoski.

According to MWA's president, the judges met five times to decide the winners. "They summed up the points, chose the finalists, and then we had five meetings at the MWA to discuss them," Grozdanoski said.

Kjulavkova, who chaired the panel deciding the best poetry book of 2024, said she didn't know who the other judges would be. "It came as a surprise when I met the other two members," she said.

"We had the same opinion on most of the titles and authors," she added.

Kapushevska-Drakulevska said the panel of judges deciding the best essay collection book also had a straightforward task. 

"I had the same experience. Since there were fewer entries for the Dimitar Mitrev Award, we made the shortlist in the first round," she said. 

"After our discussion, we made the decision unanimously." 

Crvenkovska said the Vancho Nikoleski Award winner was the children's book that received the most votes. "The three finalists immediately surfaced and we all voted for them," she said. "The winning book had the most votes."
 

The literary awards ceremony will be held on Feb. 13, the MWA's 78th anniversary. mr/