Thank you to everyone who attended and supported our 2024 Literary Debutante Ball. We had a wonderful time cheering on our debut writers and we hope you did too. Details about this past event are below. You can go here to see the photos. We look forward to seeing you all in 2025!

The Literary Debutante Ball is a benefit that celebrates One Story, and salutes the publication of our literary debutantes’ first books. 

Now in its 14th year, the Literary Debutante Ball features cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live music and dancing. The highlight of this annual fundraiser is the formal “presentation” of One Story authors who have published their first books in the past year. The authors are escorted by one or more of their mentors:  fellow authors, friends, and/or editors who have helped make their first books possible.

The ball is a joyous event that brings together all the different members of the One Story community: writers, readers, students, supporters, staff and fans.

Our 2024 Debutantes

• ’Pemi Aguda, Ghostroots, author of OS issue #277, “Breastmilk”
• Puloma Ghosh, Mouth, author of OS issue #282, “K”
• Uche Okonkwo, A Kind of Madness, author of OS issue #248, “Our Belgian Wife”
• Shannon Sanders, Company, author of OS issue #263, “The Everest Society”

Our 2024 Distinguished Alum: Alice McDermott

In addition to the Literary Debutantes, we’re also honoring a past One Story writer who has gone on to make a significant contribution to literature and the literary community. The 2024 Distinguished Alum is Alice McDermott, author of One Story Issue #280, “Post.” Alice McDermott is the author of nine novels, all published by FSG, including Charming Billy, winner of the National Book Award, and That Night, At Weddings and Wakes, and After This, which were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She is also the author of the essay collection What About the Baby?: Some Thoughts on the Art of Fiction. Her stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, and other publications. She lives outside Washington, DC.

You can still make a difference

If you can’t join us in person, but would like to support One Story, please use the button below to give a one-time donation today.

All proceeds from the Ball will benefit One Story Inc., an award-winning, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit committed to supporting the art form of the short story and the authors who write them—through publication, education, community, and mentorship.

Go here to see the complete album of pictures from our 2023 Literary Debutante Ball!

All photo credits: Miria Lumina

Covid Protocols

Masks are welcomed, but optional. Guests can take advantage of Roulette’s balcony seating, where masks will be requested, and where social distancing can be more easily maintained.