Candice Iloh

Nigerian-American poet

Candice Iloh is a queer, first-generation Nigerian-American[1] writer, poet, educator and dancer. Their debut novel, Every Body Looking, was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature[2][3] and Michael L. Printz Award honor book.[4]

## Personal life[edit]

Iloh graduated from Howard University,[5] where they studied public relations.[6][7] In 2017, they received a Master of Fine Arts from Lesley University,[1][5] where they studied Writing for Young People and Poetry.[8][9] They completed residencies at VONA, The Home School via Lambda Literary, and the Rhode Island Writer's Colony.[10]

Iloh's mother, Debrah, struggled with addiction throughout Iloh's life.[11] She ultimately died of stomach cancer in 2018.[11]

Iloh uses they/them pronouns.[12] They presently live in Philadelphia.[13]

## Career[edit]

At a poet, Iloh has performed nationally, including the Nuyorican Poets Café in New York City, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, and the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. They have also advanced to the final rounds in the following competitions: Graffiti DC Slam, Beltway Poetry Slam, and 11th Hour Poetry Slam.

Iloh's poetry has been published by Blackberry Magazine, Blavity, Fjords Review, For Harriet, TheGrio, Insight Magazine, and the Lambda Literary Foundation.

Iloh created a one-person show, Ada: On Stage, which debuted in 2018 at Hi-ARTS.[14]

Iloh served as the Managing Editor of Quiet Lunch Magazine.[15]

They have also worked as an educator and coach with Voices UnBroken, Split This Rock, and the American Poetry Museum. Through their work, Iloh has mentored young people in public school classrooms, athletic programs, detention centers, and youth shelters.[13]

## Awards and honors[edit]

In 2013, Iloh received a fellowship from Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation to work with Ruth Forman.[1][8]

In 2016, they received the Lambda Literary Home School Fellowship,[8] during which they studied under Cathy Park Hong. They were also attended the Rhode Island Writers Colony under the Artistic Direction of Jason Reynolds.[16]

Later, they were a Writer-in-Residence at the Bronx Academy of Letters.[13]

Awards for Iloh's writing  Year  | Title  | Award  | Result  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2020  | Every Body Looking | National Book Award for Young People's Literature | Finalist  | [17][3][18]
2021  | Every Body Looking | Michael L. Printz Award | Honor  | [4]
2021  | Every Body Looking | Rise: A Feminist Book Project | Top 10  | [19][20]

## Publications[edit]

Iloh's poetry has been published by Blackberry Magazine, Blavity, Fjords Review, For Harriet, TheGrio, Insight Magazine, and the Lambda Literary Foundation.

### Books[edit]

* Break Fast From Her Skin (2014)
* In The Breakbeats Poets, Volume 2: Black Girl Magic Anthology (2018) ISBN 9781608468577
* Every Body Looking (2020) ISBN 9780525556206
* Break This House (2022) ISBN 9780525556237
* Salt the Water (2023)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Candice Iloh". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
2. ^ Grady, Constance (2020-10-06). "Here are the finalists for the 2020 National Book Awards". Vox. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
3. ^ a b Westmoore, Jean (23 October 2020). "Books in Brief: Every Body Looking; When Stars Are Scattered; If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
4. ^ a b "Printz Award". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
5. ^ a b "Candice Iloh | Penguin Random House". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
6. ^ Willaims-Murray, Mercia (2007-01-29). "Campus Elevators Prove Vertically Challenged". The Hilltop. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
7. ^ Tolson, Jr., Ronald (2009-11-17). "New Motorola Droid Predicted to Rival Apple iPhone". The Hilltop. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
8. ^ a b c "Writer Candice Iloh is the Recipient of Lambda Literary Home School Fellowship". Lambda Literary. 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
9. ^ "Mining art from discomfort". Lesley University. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
10. ^ Baptiste, Tracey (2 February 2021). "Day 2: Candice Iloh". The Brown Bookshelf. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
11. ^ a b Iloh, Candice (2022-05-06). "The Complex Grief of Losing a Mother You Already Mourned". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
12. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2022-05-22). "Q&A: Candice Iloh, Author of 'Break This House'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
13. ^ a b c "About". CANDICE ILOH. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
14. ^ "Candice Iloh (they/she)". The Author Village. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
15. ^ ""beliefs." by Candice Iloh". Lambda Literary. 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
16. ^ "WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE". Rhode Island Writers Colony. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
17. ^ Grady, Constance (2020-10-06). "Here are the finalists for the 2020 National Book Awards". Vox. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
18. ^ "Awards: National Book Award Finalists". Shelf Awareness. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
19. ^ Chapman, Monica (2021-04-20). "2021 Rise Book Project presents Top Ten feminist books for young readers". American Library Association. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
20. ^ Rise: A Feminist Book Project: 2021. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2022-09-16 - via Booklist.

## External links[edit]

* Official website