Friday, June 3, 2022
7:30 pm–10:30 pm
6:30 pm–7:30pm
Roulette
509 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
The Literary Debutante Ball is a benefit that celebrates One Story, and salutes the publication of our literary debutantes’ first books. This year it is also One Story’s 20th Birthday Party.
Now it its 12th 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.
General Tickets
Our 2022 Debutantes
- Aamina Ahmad, The Return of Faraz Ali, author of OS #259, “The Red One Who Rocks”
- Lydia Conklin, Rainbow Rainbow, author of OS #285, “Sunny Talks”
- Kate Folk, Out There, author of OS #235, “Pups”
- Omer Friedlander, The Man Who Sold Air in the Holy Land, author of OS #287, “The Miniaturist”
- Michelle Hart, We Do What We Do in the Dark, author of OTS #29, “Spit”
- Arinze Ifeakandu, God’s Children Are Little Broken Things, author of OS #256, “The Dreamer’s Litany”
- Gwen E. Kirby, Shit Cassandra Saw, author of OS #240, “Mt. Adams at Mar Vista”
Sponsorship Level Tickets
Leigh Newman
2022 Distinguished Alum
In addition to the Literary Debutantes, we’re also honoring a past One Story author who has gone on to make a significant contribution to literature and the literary community. The 2022 Distinguished Alum is Leigh Newman, who published with One Story in 2005. Leigh Newman is the author of One Story issue #52, “Listening for Marianne.” Her collection Nobody Gets Out Alive was released by Scribner in April 2022 and includes stories that have appeared in the Paris Review, Harper’s, Best American Short Stories 2020, Tin House, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and Electric Literature. Her memoir about growing up in Alaska, Still Points North (Dial, 2013) was a finalist for the National Book Critic Circle’s John Leonard prize and her story “Howl Palace” was awarded both a Pushcart prize and an American Society of Magazine Editors’ fiction prize. In 2020, she received the Paris Review’s Terry Southern Prize for “humor, wit, and sprezzatura.” She teaches at New York University, serves as an editor-at-large at Catapult Books and as the editor-in-chief of Zibby Books.
Can't Make the Ball?
You can still make a difference
If you can’t join us in person, but would like to support One Story as we celebrate our 20th birthday, 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.
2022 Sponsors & Funders
Marquis Sponsors
Debbie & Mark Attanasio
Barbara Blount
Jane and Bert Emke
The John S. Hilson Family Foundation
David A. Karpa
Oliver & Maxima Kramer
The Raich Family
Kevin Reymond
The Talve-Goodman Family
Champion Sponsors
Luminary Sponsors
Sarah Burnes
Helen & Lex Haris
Dani Shapiro & Michael Maren
Paul Vidich and Linda Stein
Andy Ward
One Story Literary Debutante Ball Memories
Covid Protocols
We are monitoring the Covid situation. For now these are our planned Covid protocols:
All guests will be required to show proof of vaccination and ID at the door. Food and drink will be served on the main floor. 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.