Announcing the 2024 J.F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction Finalists

Dappled Things is delighted to announce the 2024 J. F. Powers Prize for Short Fiction finalists. These stories, selected by our editorial board from nearly four hundred submissions, will move on to the next round of consideration, competing for cash prizes and publication in the print edition of Dappled Things.

We are grateful to all who submitted their best short stories to this year’s contest. Once again, you collectively have proven that Catholic fiction is alive and well. Please keep writing—the world needs your voice.

The 2024 J.F. Powers Prize Shortlist

In alphabetical order by author:

Dustin Hoffman, “One Waffle, Extra Whipped Cream”
Phillip Hurst, “The Sundowner”
Beth Felker Jones, “All the bullets are silver”
Jake La Botz, “Diggy”
David Norling, “Agua Caliente”
Olakunle Ologunro, “Children of God”
Lucas Smith, “Compline”
Brian Sutton, “Confession”
Angela Townsend, “Above the Canopy”
Lucy Zhang, “Angel Culling”

Congratulations to all our finalists!

Learn more about the J.F. Powers Prize and its past winners here.