5th Place "Gossip" by Kaushika Suresh

Upon arriving at prestigious Briarswood College, Jayashri, a first generation Indian-American student, finds herself involved with The Eight, the school’s infamous secret society. Gossip is a novel about girls, and all the secrets they hold. What is gossip but the first form of fiction?

"It’s Jayashri Muraliskrishnan and no, she will not pronounce it. No, she does not like wearing saris and no, you will never hear the sound of Salangai bells on her feet because no, she will never learn Bharatanatyam."

Bio: Kaushika Suresh is an Indian-American writer. They are the non-fiction editor for Black Warrior Review and their work has appeared Joyland, The Master’s Review, and Roxane Gay’s Emerging Writers Series. They are currently at work on a novel about gossip, girls, and existing between cultures. @kaushikasuresh