How to win a literary prize

Faroese poet Vónbjørt Vang recently won the Nordic Council Literature Prize for her powerful literary explorations of language and belonging. South African Dyondzo Kwinika won the first DALRO Can Themba Short Story Merit Award, a prize in honour of Can Themba, who became a great writer despite the obstacles he faced during apartheid. The two new winners meet to talk about what a literary prize actually does – for their writing, their self-confidence, and their outlook on the future.

 But Vang and Kwinika not only share the experience of winning an award, they also have more in common: Both write in what are considered niche genres – poetry and short stories – and both write about parent-child relationships. The two meet media manager, editor and author Kjersti Løken Stavrum for a conversation about life as an author, writing about close relationships, and the value of winning a literary prize.

 The conversation will be held in English.