The anthology Beyond the Glittering World earned a 2026 American Book Award. This collection includes 22 pieces from Indigenous female, two-spirit, and marginalized gender writers. Published by the Utah-based Torrey House Press, the book centers on dreams and reimagined futures for Indigenous people.
Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, one of the editors and a member of the Navajo Nation, stated the award validates that Indigenous futures matter. She edited the work alongside poet Kinsale Drake and speculative fiction author Darcie Little Badger. The trio curated these stories to highlight perspectives often ignored in mainstream literature.
Torrey House Press co-founders Kirsten Johanna Allen and Will Neville-Rehbehn expressed pride in the project. The publisher founded their house 16 years ago to bridge the gap in Western storytelling by focusing on Indigenous voices. This award recognizes their success in expanding that original mission.
The American Book Award recognizes outstanding literary achievement without restrictions. The Before Columbus Foundation selected 16 winners this year, placing this Utah project among notable past winners like Toni Morrison and bell hooks. This achievement comes during a difficult climate for Indigenous authors facing censorship in the state of Utah.