The Eunice Williams Nonfiction Prize

The Eunice Williams Nonfiction Prize is an annual literary prize given by HerStry. Each year we invite a guest judge to review the entries and select three winners. Our 2026 guest judge was Mia Mercado, author of, She’s Nice Though & Weird but Normal. Mia read through the final short-listed essays and chose the three which stood out to her for their storytelling, structure, and overall narrative arc.

2026 Eunice Williams Nonfiction Prize Winners

First Place:
Beloved Ones

by Jody Held

Mia’s Comments:
I’m not sure how to do this essay justice in a little write-up, but I will say that I have cried every time I’ve read it. It broke my heart and held my hand. It’s a masterclass in writing gracefully and one of the most beautiful pieces of writing I’ve had the privilege to read. I’m so grateful it exists.

Second Place:
My Girlfriend

by Shnayjaah Valentine Jeanty

Mia’s Comments:
When writers talk about crafting an authentic voice, this is what they are trying to emulate. There are so many lines in this essay that made me go, damnit, that’s clever. ("Internal astronomy”! “A scalpel of a person”!) I look forward to reading anything and everything this author writes in the future. I'll recognize their voice before I even read the byline.

Third Place:
Star Seed Lion Cats

by Kim McVicker

Mia’s Comments:
I love writing that makes me fall in love with whatever and whoever the author loves, and I loved getting to know the women in this essay. The specificity is effortless and funny – every detailed observation is both purposeful and seamless among the broader strokes of the story. I will think of this piece every time I see a graffitied penis on the street <3