NEW YORK, N.Y. – National Book Award winner Phil Klay and the author of Oprah Winfrey’s latest book club pick, Cynthia Bond, are among the nominees on the longlist of awards handed out by the PEN American Center.

The literary and human rights organization announced finalists Tuesday in nine categories ranging from biography to sports writing to poetry in translation. Roughly 10 authors were picked for each category. Shortlists of five per category will be announced April 15 and winners on May 13.

Klay’s story collection “Redeployment” and Bond’s novel “Ruby” are among the contenders for the most lucrative honour, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for debut fiction, for which the winner receives $25,000.

Nominees in other categories include Leslie Jamison’s “The Empathy Exams” and Charles D’Ambrosio’s “Loitering” for best essays, Elizabeth Kolbert’s “The Sixth Extinction” for science writing and Naomi Klein’s “This Changes Everything” for nonfiction that illuminates “important contemporary issues.” Claudia Rankine’s hybrid of verse and prose “Citizen,” winner last week of the National Book Critics Circle prize for poetry, is a finalist for best book by an “author of colour,” with other nominees including the novels “An Untamed State” by Roxane Gay and “A Brief History of Seven Killings” by Marlon James.

During 2015, PEN will award nearly $150,000 to writers and translators through a combination of prizes, fellowships and grants.

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Online:

http://www.pen.org/2015-pen-literary-awards-longlist