Skopje, 15 August 2024 (MIA) — Seven unpublished poetry collections have made the shortlist for this year's Ante's Quill award, after a panel of judges consisting of Vesna Mojsova Chepishevska, Atina Cvetanoska and Zhorzh Popovski chose the best of the 12 poetry book manuscripts submitted to this year's contest.

The poetry books that made the shortlist are: "I Think I Heard a Child Somewhere" by Toni Popov, "Collected Remnants of the World" by Pepi Stamkov, "Sivka: Geometry of Pain" by Irena Babamova Stojcheva, "The Museum of Oblivion" by Sasho Dimoski, "A Caesarean Section of the Sky" by Daniela Andonovska Trajkovska, "Anatomy of Hidden Pain" by Sushtina, and "Where Shadows Are Born" by Agron Useini. 

Five debut poetry collections made the shortlist for Ante's Clock award, which is given to talented young poets writing in Macedonian, as an incentive for them to continue, organizers said. 

The books that were chosen to compete for the prize are Sofija Todoroska's "Birds Leave for the East", Iva Puovikj's "Elation", Martina Kostadinoska's "Leeches", Nino Naumovski's "Indigo Tears" and Stefan Spasovski's "Charcoal Fig Sap." 

The Ante's Quill and Ante's Clock awards are given by the Ante Popovski Association to promote poetry in Macedonian in honor of renowned Macedonian poet Ante Popovski. mr/