We’re thrilled to introduce Sergio Muro, the new director of the Insider Prize, a contest for incarcerated writers in Texas. Sergio takes over from Adam Soto, who has grown the prize into something incredibly meaningful over the last three years, and who, luckily for us, will stay on at ASF as a senior editor. We are so grateful to Adam for his wonderful work and happy that he can now leave it in such capable new hands.
Sergio Muro is a fiction writer from Laredo, Texas. He is also on the essays team at The Rumpus. He lives in Austin and is working on a short story collection. Here’s a short Q&A to get to know a little bit more about Sergio:
What drew you to this position?
One of my earliest memories is writing letters to incarcerated family members. I was unaware of the circumstances at the time, so I had no preconceived narrative to interpret each exchange, only the voice on the page. I’m certain the experience shaped my identity as a reader and writer and what drew me to the role—an opportunity to honor a pivotal chapter in my life.
What’s one thing you want the Texas writing community—inside and outside prison walls—to know about you and what you’re bringing to this role?
I am grateful for Adam Soto’s guidance and strive to carry forward the same care and attention to the role. I also sincerely look forward to meeting writers on the page and reaching out to new voices from far-reaching communities.
Anything else you’d like to share:
Read widely—seek out translations, poetry, anything you can find that sparks intrigue and conversation—and long live the short form!