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The Moth magazine's annual short story prize, judged by Wendy Erskine, has awarded Jeffrey-Michael Kane's 'The Shoulder' the first prize, Ava Sedgwick's 'Tomorrow' the second prize, and Patrick Eades' 'Octomum' the third prize. The winning stories showcase unique voices and compelling narratives, with the winners hailing from different countries and backgrounds.
The Moth magazine's annual short story prize, established in 2013, has announced its 2026 winners, chosen anonymously by judge Wendy Erskine. Erskine praised the winning stories for their unique voices and compelling narratives.
The first prize went to Jeffrey-Michael Kane for 'The Shoulder', a mesmerizing tale told in a tender and unhurried manner, with a beautiful toughness. Kane, an environmental attorney from New Orleans, is also the author of 'Quiet Brilliance: What Employers Miss About Neurodivergent Talent'. His prose has been published in numerous literary journals, and he has won several awards for his non-fiction and poetry. Ava Sedgwick's 'Tomorrow' was awarded the second prize for its humane and affecting exploration of love.
Sedgwick, a Cork-based writer with an MA in Creative Writing, has won several prizes and has been listed in numerous competitions. Patrick Eades' 'Octomum' took the third prize for its inventive and humorous take on loss. Eades, a physiotherapist and part-time stay-at-home dad from Sydney, has been runner-up in the Peter Carey Short Story Award and has work forthcoming in various literary magazines. Erskine also commended stories by ten other writers from various countries.
The Moth magazine offers several other literary prizes, including the Nature Writing Prize and the Poetry Prize, with upcoming deadlines and judges to be announced
The Moth Magazine Short Story Prize Wendy Erskine Jeffrey-Michael Kane Ava Sedgwick Patrick Eades