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ANTIGUAN AND BARBUDA AUTHOR JOANNE HILLHOUSE SHORTLISTED FOR 2025 COMMONWEALTH SHORT STORY PRIZE
Joanne C. Hillhouse has become the first writer from Antigua and Barbuda to be shortlisted for the prestigious Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Her story, Jumbie Pond, earned a place among 25 selected works from around the world in what is considered the most global literary competition.
Jumbie Pond delves into generational trauma, unhealed wounds, and family relationships—offering a powerful glimpse into the legacy of the past. Hillhouse’s inclusion marks a historic moment for Antigua and Barbuda and highlights the region’s growing influence in global literature.
This year’s competition attracted a record-breaking 7,920 entries from 54 of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. The 2025 shortlist features writers from 18 countries across Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Notably, this is the first time that authors from both Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Lucia have been shortlisted.
The Caribbean shortlist includes Hillhouse (Antigua and Barbuda), Kellie Magnus (Jamaica), Subraj Singh (Guyana), and Jessie Mayers (Saint Lucia). Their stories cover themes ranging from parental pride and buried secrets to spectral hauntings and complex family bonds.
Chair of the Judges, Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko of Fiji, described the shortlisted works as “relevant, vibrant, and essential reading,” applauding the power of short fiction to move, provoke, and transform.
The regional winners will be announced on 14 May, with the overall winner revealed on 25 June 2025. All shortlisted stories will be published by adda, the Commonwealth Foundation’s online magazine, with regional winners also featured in the literary publication Granta.
Dr. Anne T. Gallagher AO, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, praised the diversity and talent reflected in the 2025 shortlist, calling it “a powerful reminder of the creative energy that unites us as a Commonwealth of people.”
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize continues to be a career-launching platform for emerging and established voices alike. For Hillhouse, whose literary work has long spotlighted Antiguan and Caribbean culture, the recognition is not only personal—it’s a national milestone.
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Congrats my girl!!!
This is so well-deserved!
So proud of Joanne!
I’ve been following her work for years, and this is so well-earned!
So proud of her!