Rowley ’94 Named Finalist for Thurber Prize; WLP’s Walker a Semifinalist

Steven Rowley ’94 was in the middle of writing The Guncle Abroad when he learned he’d won The 2023 Thurber Prize for American Humor for The Guncle.

He was immediately concerned. “How could a sequel ever live up to the tremendous success of the first book, and how would it ever be as funny?” said Rowley.

He needn’t have worried. This week, Rowley was named one of three finalists for the 2026 Thurber Prize for his sequel The Guncle Abroad.

He said some writing days he didn’t feel the least bit funny, or felt like he was chasing jokes at the expense of the novel. Being named a finalist again gave Rowley an enormous vote of confidence.

“Humor after all is a mode of engagement with the truth. I try to write characters that are so recognizably human, that they can’t help but make a reader laugh,” said Rowley. “I’m grateful to Emerson College for first helping me find my voice.”

In addition to The Guncle and The Guncle Abroad, Rowley is the New York Times best-selling author of Lily and the Octopus, a Washington Post Notable Book of 2016; The Editor, named by NPR as one of the Best Books of 2019; The Celebrants, a TODAY Show Read With Jenna Book Club pick; and The Dogs of Venice, which was a USA Today bestseller.

Also among the seven semifinalists for this year’s Thurber Prize was Writing, Literature & Publishing Distinguisher Professor Jerald Walker for his book Magically Black and Other Essays. The book was previously longlisted for the 2025 Massachusetts Book Award, and was named a finalist for both the 2025 New England Book Award and the 2025 PEN Diamonstein/Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay.

“James Thurber is one of my all-time favorite writers, which makes being considered for this award extra special,” Walker said.  

The winner will be announced at the 2026 Thurber Prize for American Humor Award Show on May 7 in Columbus, Ohio.