Award Announcement: Can I Have a Hug First? Wins Silver at the 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards

We’re proud to share some excellent news from the awards circuit. Can I Have a Hug First? has been awarded Silver (2nd Place) in the Short Story/Anthology category at the 2026 Feathered Quill Book Awards.

The Feathered Quill Book Awards continue to grow in both reach and rigor, and this year’s competition included over 200 entries across categories. To be recognized at this level among such a strong and diverse field is no small thing.

At Unsolicited Press, we believe deeply in the power of short forms and collections that trust readers to sit with complexity, tenderness, and ambiguity. Can I Have a Hug First? does exactly that, and we’re thrilled to see it honored for its craft and emotional resonance.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this book into the world. We’re grateful to the Feathered Quill Book Awards judges for this recognition, and even more grateful to readers who continue to seek out and support literary work that takes risks.

Stay tuned for more updates and celebrations ahead.