“The Trouble with the Dog” by Stefan Bindley-Taylor was awarded the 2024 BCLF Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writer’s Prize. This category was judged by Lauren Francis-Sharma, Desmond Hall and Wandeka Gayle.
From the judges: ‘It is, at first, an exploration of a twisting familial relationship that embodies the hopes and expectations that live between perception and actuality. But with a sure hand, “The Trouble with the Dog” takes us through the perspectives of an uncle and his niece grappling with loss in different ways. The story, not just a psychological study, also presents their struggles with a directness, a wry humor, and without overt sentimentality yet still offers an emotional resonance and tenderness that guides the reader through the silences between generations, the silence that threatens to stifle intimacy between people committed to loving one another. This short tale shows us another way.’