Jerry Neren of Bloomington said it took him 20 years to write "Once Upon a Time in Vietnam," his narrative in verse. This month, his manuscript won the Pearl Poetry Prize, a significant honor that rewards the winner with $1,000 and publication.
Neren has published his poetry widely, but this will be his first book. He has been a board member at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis and a recipient of its Mentor Series and International Residency competition awards.
The Pearl Prize was established in 1999 by Pearl Magazine, and previous winners include Debra Marquart and Kim Roberts. This year's judge was Christopher Buckley.
