ACWW is proud to announce that the winner of the 2025 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award is Samantha Jade MacPherson for her manuscript PONY, with Chyx Xyng named as the runner-up for the manuscript Letter A.
Samantha MacPherson's "Pony" captivated the judges with its imaginative storytelling, emotional depth, and evocative exploration of identity and belonging. MacPherson’s ability to craft compelling characters and vivid settings makes PONY a standout work. Interspersed with vignettes of Pony’s deceased mother’s point of view, the stories follow her through childhood, adolescence, and early motherhood to cover pivotal moments in her life.
Chyx Xyng’s "Letter A" earned runner-up honours. With its innovative narrative and striking use of language, Xyng’s composite novel comprises seven interwoven stories that explore gender dysphoria, forbidden love, and the acceptance of difference.
The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award was created to continue Jim Wong-Chu’s legacy of supporting emerging voices in the literary community. Jim’s impact on Vancouver’s literary and cultural scene was immeasurable, and this award honours his spirit of identity, creativity, and community-building.
Quote from the Award Committee
“We were deeply impressed by Samantha MacPherson, whose work showcases immense talent and creativity. MacPherson captures a unique voice and demonstrates a command of language that promises a bright future in the literary world. The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award seeks to give space to new voices like hers, and we are proud to see these promising writers recognized.”Biography of Samantha Jade MacPherson
Samantha Jade Macpherson is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she studied fiction as a Patterson Fellow. She also holds a BFA in writing with a minor in environmental studies from the University of Victoria. Her writing has appeared in The Kenyon Review, The Fiddlehead, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Ricepaper Magazine. She was the winner of the 2018 Malahat Review Novella Prize, as well as the Jack Hodgins Founders’ Award for Fiction. In 2019, she was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Journey Prize. Her novel's manuscript, PONY, explores her biracial identity, self-estrangement, and maternal absence, as well as a collection of short stories. Samantha can be found at www.samanthajademacpherson.com.
About the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award
The Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, established in honour of the late Jim Wong-Chu, an influential writer, poet, and community leader, celebrates the exceptional talents of emerging writers who contribute fresh voices and diverse perspectives to the literary landscape. This prestigious award recognizes the outstanding work of writers beginning to make their mark in the literary world, supporting their journey and fostering their development.
The publisher will include an acknowledgement of the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writer Award in the finished book and on press releases and advertisements. Should a successful contract be concluded, the ACWW will help promote the book.
The jury consisted of Tariq Malik, an award-winning writer; Dr. Trevor Carolan, author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Fraser Valley; and Marlene Enns, editorial consultant and past board member of the ACWW.
For more information about the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, please visit http://www.asiancanadianwriters.ca/p/emerging-writers-award.html
The publisher will include an acknowledgement of the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writer Award in the finished book and on press releases and advertisements. Should a successful contract be concluded, the ACWW will help promote the book.
The jury consisted of Tariq Malik, an award-winning writer; Dr. Trevor Carolan, author and Professor Emeritus at the University of Fraser Valley; and Marlene Enns, editorial consultant and past board member of the ACWW.
For more information about the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, please visit http://www.asiancanadianwriters.ca/p/emerging-writers-award.html