Congratulations to Jill Sisson Quinn, whose essay “Big Night” (NER 36.1) was selected by Jonathan Franzen and Robert Atwan for Best American Essays 2016!

We’re also thrilled to see “Permutations of X” (35.4) by Kelly Grey Carlisle and “I’m Searching for a Home for Unwed Girls” (36.3) by Ursula Hegi listed among the “Notable Essays and Literary Nonfiction of 2015.”

As Franzen says in his introduction, “Writing or reading an essay isn’t the only way to stop and ask yourself who you really are and what your life might mean, but it is one good way.” Read on.