Skopje, 9 March 2025 (MIA) - "Forgiveness" by Kica Kolbe (Ili-ili), "The World I Have Chosen" by Kalina Maleska (Ili-ili) and "Both an Eyehole and a Peephole", Ognena Nikuljski, (Antolog) are the three novels shortlisted for the 26th Novel of the Year award, granted by the Slavko Janevski Foundation.

The decision was made by the panel of judges consisting of: Lidija Dimkovska (last year's laureate and jury president), Maja Bojadzievska, Gjoko Zdraveski, Andrej Al-Asadi, and Katerina Bogojeva (representative of the Foundation).

Novel of the Year contest organizers have received 43 entries published in 2024, according to a press release from the Slavko Janevski Foundation.

The winner will be announced at a press conference on March 14.

Komercijalna Banka and the Ministry of Culture are sponsoring the annual award, which consists of a statuette, a plaque, and Mden 150,000.

Between 1999 and 2017, the Novel of the Year award was given by Utrinski vesnik. After the newspaper’s demise, Slavko Janevski Foundation took over the book contest.

Photo: Panel of judges