Julia McConnell wins 2022 Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize (Emerging)

June 9, 2022

Congratulations to Julia McConnell, whose manuscript Landlocked was selected by final judge Thomas Lynch as the winner of the 2022 Wheelbarrow Books Poetry Prize (Emerging). McConnell will receive a $1,000 prize and Landlocked will be published in 2023 by MSU Press.

Julia McConnell is a lesbian poet and librarian. Her chapbook, Against the Blue, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2016. Her publications include San Pedro River Review, Right Hand Pointing, Plainsongs, Screen Door Review, Lavender Review, and other journals. Originally from Oklahoma, Julia lives in Seattle with her Jack Russell Terrier, Molly Marlova Magdalena McConnell.

"The poet’s sense of place as central to both personal and public narrative strikes powerful chords with this reader," writes final judge Thomas Lynch, "as do the diction, images, management of whitespace and formal choices made in creating and assembling this powerful collection. Thank you for the opportunity to read this work in words and to welcome its maker into the standing army of essential if neglected poets.  "

Finalists for this twelfth round are En Caul by Rebekah Hewitt, The Fight by Jennifer Manthey, The Ground Never Lets Go by Liz Marlow, and They're Not Lying When They Tell You You'll Dream of the Dead by Mary Ardery.