River Paw Press is pleased to announce Nicole Yurcaba, author of Hutsulka, as the recipient of its 2026 Author of the Year Award.
The Ukrainian-American poet is recognized for her poetry collection Hutsulka, its critical reception, her sustained engagement with readers and literary communities, and her contributions to the book’s overall performance and growing readership.
Hutsulka, a finalist for the 2025 Silent River Poetry Prize, was published by River Paw Press in 2026. The collection explores ancestral memory, cultural identity, personal relationships, and the continuing impact of the war in Ukraine.
The 2026 Author of the Year Award recognizes Yurcaba’s accomplishments in bringing her work to a wider readership through literary events, public readings, book signings, critical engagement, and her ongoing commitment to connecting her literature with readers.
Bringing Hutsulka to Readers Across Borders
Throughout 2026, Yurcaba actively introduced Hutsulka to readers across the United States and internationally. Her literary engagements included a book launch at Wordplay Bookstore in Wardensville, West Virginia; readings and signings at Bridgewater College in Virginia and the Western Maryland Independent Literature Festival in Frostburg, Maryland; and appearances at bookstores and cultural venues throughout the region.
Her international activities included book signings at the John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh, Northern Ireland, and literary outreach at the Aegean Arts Circle on Andros Island, Greece. These engagements have helped expand the collection’s visibility beyond its initial readership, generating interest in Hutsulka across different literary communities.
In addition to these events, Hutsulka received critical attention through reviews by Olga Livshin in The Arts Fuse and Stephen Komarnyckyj in European Literature Network. Together with Yurcaba’s extensive literary outreach, this critical reception has contributed to the book’s growing recognition and demand among readers of contemporary poetry.
Yurcaba’s literary engagement continues beyond these accomplishments. She is scheduled to present Hutsulka during her writing residency at Château d’Orquevaux in France in December 2026, where she also plans to share signed copies of the book. She is also scheduled for a reading at Frostburg State University’s Center for Literary Arts in April 2027.
About the Author of the Year Recognition
Through its Author of the Year recognition, River Paw Press acknowledges the overall performance of a published work and the author’s dedication to bringing literature to readers. Yurcaba’s sustained literary outreach, the critical reception of Hutsulka, and her commitment to engaging with diverse literary communities distinguish her accomplishments in 2026.
As the recipient of the River Paw Press 2026 Author of the Year Award, Nicole Yurcaba will receive a complimentary gift set of selected award-winning books from River Paw Press and a special feature in Life and Legends magazine.
River Paw Press congratulates Nicole Yurcaba on this recognition and celebrates her contributions to contemporary poetry and the literary community.
Celebrating the Recognition: A Special Offer on Hutsulka
In celebration of Nicole Yurcaba’s recognition as the River Paw Press 2026 Author of the Year, River Paw Press is pleased to offer Hutsulka at a special price of just $16, with free shipping within the United States through the holiday season. If you haven’t reserved your copy yet, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so. To learn more about the book or order your copy, CLICK HERE.
About River Paw Press
River Paw Press is an independent literary publishing imprint of Silent River and a member of the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP). The press is dedicated to publishing poetry and literary works by authors from around the world, fostering cultural and literary exchange internationally and building connections with literary communities across borders.
Website: riverpawpress.com
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