JAMAICA’S Poet Laureate Lorna Goodison was among a distinguished group of writers announced by Yale University yesterday as the 2018 recipients of the Windham-Campbell Prizes.

The eight recipients, honoured for their literary achievement or promise, will receive a US$165,000 individual prize to support their writing.

“This wonderful award will allow me precious time and space to continue my writing,” said Goodison. “I am honoured, and I turn thanks on behalf of me and my people.”

Goodison’s books range from fiction, non-fiction to poetry, and include I Am Becoming My Mother; From Harvey River; Turn Thanks; To Us, All Flowers Are Roses; and Controlling the Silver. Goodison’s most recent, Collected Poems, was published by Carcanet last year.

The other recipients are: in drama, Lucas Hnath (United States) and Suzan-Lori Parks (United States); in non-fiction, Sarah Bakewell (United Kingdom) and Olivia Laing (United Kingdom); in fiction, John Keene (United States) and Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi (Uganda/United Kingdom); and in poetry, Lorna Goodison (Jamaica) and Cathy Park Hong (United States).

Established in 2013, the awards are among the world’s richest and prestigious literary prizes, and English language writers from anywhere in the world are eligible. Last year another Jamaican author, Erna Brodber, was also a recipient.

The 2018 prizes will be conferred September 12-14 during an international literary festival at Yale, where the prizes are based, introducing the recipients to new audiences.