The Iowa Short Fiction Award has been presented annually since 1969. In 1988 the University of Iowa Press instituted the John Simmons Short Fiction Award—named after the first director of the Press—to complement the ongoing award series. Both national competitions are juried through the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Serious critical consideration is guaranteed by such final judges as Alison Lurie, Raymond Carver, Marilynne Robinson, James Salter, Kevin Brockmeier, and Ethan Canin.
Books by more recent award winners can be purchased from the University of Iowa Press.
Award Winners from 2000
Troublemakers, John McNally
Articles of Faith, Elizabeth Oness
Award Winners from 1999
Out of the Girls' Room and into the Night, Thisbe Nissen
House Fires, Nancy Reisman
Award Winners from 1998
The River of Lost Voices: Stories from Guatemala, Mark Brazaitis
Friendly Fire, Kathryn Chetkovich
Award Winners from 1997
Thank You for Being Concerned and Sensitive, Jim Henry
Within the Lighted City, Lisa Lenzo
Award Winners from 1996
Hints of His Mortality, David Borofka
Western Electric, Don Zancanella
Award Winners from 1995
May You Live in Interesting Times, Tereze Glück
Listening to Mozart, Charles Wyatt
Award Winners from 1994
The Good Doctor, Susan Onthank Mates
Igloo Among Palms, Rod Val Moore
Award Winners from 1993
Happiness, Ann Harleman
Where Love Leaves Us, Renée Manfredi
Macauley's Thumb, Lex Williford
Award Winners from 1992
My Body to You, Elizabeth Searle
Imaginary Men, Enid Shomer
Award Winners from 1991
The Ant Generator, Elizabeth Harris
Traps, Sondra Spatt Olsen
Award Winners from 1990
A Hole in the Language, Marly Swick
Award Winners from 1989
Lent: the Slow Fast, Starkey Flythe, Jr.
Line of Fall, Miles Wilson
Award Winners from 1988
The Long White, Sharon Dilworth
The Venus Tree, Michael Pritchett
Award Winners from 1987
Fruit of the Month, Abby Frucht
Star Game, Lucia Nevai
Award Winners from 1986
Eminent Domain, Dan O'Brien
Resurrectionists, Russell Working
Award Winners from 1985
Dancing in the Movies, Robert Boswell
Award Winners from 1984
Old Wives' Tales, Susan M. Dodd
Award Winners from 1983
Heart Failure, Ivy Goodman
Award Winners from 1982
Shiny Objects, Dianne Benedict
Award Winners from 1981
The Phototropic Woman, Annabel Thomas
Award Winners from 1980
Impossible Appetites : Nine Stories, James Fetler
Award Winners from 1979
Fly Away Home: Eighteen Short Stories, Mary Hedin
Award Winners from 1978
A Nest of Hooks, Lon Otto
Award Winners from 1977
The Women in the Mirror, Pat M. Carr
Award Winners from 1976
The Black Velvet Girl, C. E. Poverman
Award Winners from 1975
Harry Belten and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Barry Targan
Award Winners from 1974
After the First Death There Is No Other, Natalie L.M. Petesch
Award Winners from 1973
The Itinerary of Beggars, H. E. Francis
Award Winners from 1972
The Burning & Other Stories, Jack Cady
Award Winners from 1971
Old Morals, Small Continents, Darker Times, Philip F. O'Connor
Award Winners from 1970
The Beach Umbrella, Cyrus Colter