Skopje, 7 February 2023 (MIA) — Zoran Pejkovski’s latest poetry collection, "Pretty Women” (PNV Publications, 2022), is the winner of the Aco Shopov Award given annually by the Macedonian Writers Association to the best book of poetry published in the previous year.

Also shortlisted for the 2022 award were Suzana V. Spasovska’s "Caduceus and Lyre" and Ivica Chelikovikj’s "Gilded Crucifixion." The jury for the award included Mersiha Ismajloska and Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, chairman Zoran Anchevski said at a press conference Tuesday.

Sixteen books had been submitted to the annual poetry contest. “Pretty Women” won the award because of its “striking poetic images embedded in the spheres of love, eroticism, and sensuality.”

“A warm lyrical composition flows throughout the book, recalling not only classical and traditional verse but also verse that meets the norms of modern poetics,” Anchevski said.

Congratulating Pejkovski on winning the Aco Shopov Award, MWA president Hristo Petreski said “he must have dreamed of getting this award” before reading a letter of thanks from the author, who did not attend the press conference. 

The awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 13, at MWA’s 76th anniversary celebration.

At the event, literary critic Sonja Stojmenska Elzeser will receive the 2022 Dimitar Mitrev Award; chidren's author Eli Makazlieva will receive the 2022 Vancho Nikoleski Award; and novelist Venko Andonovski will receive the 2022 Stale Popov Award. mr/