SQN - Sine Qua Non - Issue Two - Journal - Page 134
SINE QUA NON
Heron Barks, Singing in the Dark: A Global Anthology of Poetry Under Lockdown, Berfrois, The Bombay Literary Magazine, Rattle, The Punch Magazine, Poetry At Sangam,
The Adirondack Review, and many others. She has authored the poetry collections Peripheries (Cyberhex 2015), Pointillism (Copper Coin 2017), Date Palms (City Press 2017),
Open Zero (Yoda Press 2021), and Shehnaz, a biography (Penguin Random House 2019).
Bark Archipelago ( Weavers Press, San Francisco & Red River India 2023) is her 昀椀fth
collection of poetry. She can be found online at www.sophianaz.com
Creative Prose
First Prize Winner—Creative Prose
Based in Toronto, Christine Estima (she/her) has written for The New York Times, New
York Daily News, The Observer, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Walrus,
VICE, Chatelaine, Maisonneuve Magazine, and many, many more. Her debut collection
The Syrian Ladies Benevolent Society (House of Anansi Press) was named one of the Best
Books of 2023 by the CBC. Her debut novel Letters to Kafka (House of Anansi Press)
was on the 2025 Most Anticipated Lists of the CBC, Indigo, Book Riot, The Globe and
Mail, and The Toronto Star. It has been selected as a Heather's Pick at Indigo and was also
named one of the Best Books of 2025 by the CBC. Visit ChristineEstima.com for more.
Runner-Up—Creative Prose
Dylan Brody is an internationally acclaimed story-teller and award-winning 昀椀lm-maker,
with a history in stand-up comedy, a degree in theater, published novels and produced
plays and solo-shows, who has cobbled together a career in the literary and performing
arts that largely runs parallel to the Entertainment Industry. When he does crossover, it
is to much success. His latest 昀椀lm, You Are Here – a Dylan Brody Project has racked up
awards across the indie festival and awards circuit and has found streaming distribution
with Circuit Cinema, a platform dedicated to independent art 昀椀lms new and old. Learn
more about him at https://dylanbrody.com
Runner-Up—Creative Prose
A.C. Koch is a teacher, writer and musician whose work has been published in Analog,
Gulf Coast, Catamaran, Split/Lip, The Pinch and forthcoming in Fantasy & Science Fiction. After some years living and working overseas (France, South Korea, Mexico), he
resides in Denver, Colorado, working with language learners and writing 昀椀lm reviews
for Spectrum Culture. He recently completed the Regis Mile High MFA program and is
querying a novel-in-stories, Ask the Moon. As a moonlight gig, he sings and plays guitar
in the power-pop bands The Chef André Show and Firstimers.
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