A Nelly Vee Journal Reflection
By Nelly Vee
Today, I am journaling about a meaningful accomplishment in Võ Thị Như Mai’s creative and literary journey. Her international recognition is a reminder of how a single voice can travel across cultures, carry lived experience, and find its place in a wider conversation.
Contributor · Co-Editor · International Literary Voice
About Võ Thị Như Mai
Võ Thị Như Mai (V.T.N.M.) is a Vietnamese-Australian poet, writer, journalist, contributor, and editor based in Perth, Australia. Her work brings poetry, journalism, cultural reflection, and human connection into conversation.
Võ Thị Như Mai has played an important role within KVI Network and Krafty Page ChronicleS. She is a documented published contributor to Issue 1 and Issue 2, served as Co-Editor for Issues 2 and 3, and continues to contribute literary, editorial, and cultural work across the KVI publishing ecosystem. She also participated in KVI’s 2025 “Incarcerated” writing project, helping strengthen the publication’s international literary reach and its commitment to bringing writers from different cultures into meaningful conversation.
Her contributions extend beyond individual pieces. Through her editorial support, published writing, and continued collaboration, Võ Thị Như Mai has helped shape the international character of Krafty Page ChronicleS and has become part of KVI’s ongoing effort to build a global creative and literary community.
KVI Network Recognition
The Lotus & Quill Award for Literary Excellence
Presented to Võ Thị Như Mai in recognition of her literary excellence, cultural contribution, poetic voice, and meaningful creative impact through Krafty Page ChronicleS and the broader literary arts community.
Original Submission Preserved
I am sharing the submitted article below in its original wording.
Accademia delle Arti e delle Scienze Filosofiche
AN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR VÕ THỊ NHƯ MAI
Among the international voices recognised in the tenth edition of the Premio Accademico Internazionale di Letteratura Contemporanea “Lucius Annaeus Seneca” is Vietnamese Australian writer and journalist Võ Thị Như Mai, based in Perth, Australia.
Võ Thị Như Mai received the distinction of Eccellenza Internazionale in Section F – Articolo Giornalistico (Journalistic Article) for her work “Una conversazione” (“A Conversation”).
Her recognition is particularly meaningful because Section F extends the scope of the Seneca Prize beyond literary genres traditionally associated with poetry and fiction. It celebrates journalistic and essayistic writing as forms of contemporary cultural dialogue, writing that can connect personal experience, social observation and broader questions of human life.
The recognition of Võ Thị Như Mai also highlights the genuinely international character of the 2026 edition. The competition brought together writers from Italy and numerous countries abroad, with awards spanning poetry, poetry collections, short fiction, journalism, published books, essays, philosophical reflection and student writing.
According to the 2026 results, the competition awarded 85 recognitions in Italy and 37 recognitions outside Italy, demonstrating the breadth of participation and the international network surrounding the Prize.
The international categories included Section S for residents abroad, Section SEP for published books of poetry by authors residing abroad, and Section SEN for published books of fiction by authors residing abroad. Together with the international distinctions awarded within other sections, these categories created a literary platform in which authors from different countries and linguistic traditions could meet through their work.
For Võ Thị Như Mai, the Eccellenza Internazionale distinction places Una conversazione within this wider intercultural landscape. Coming from Perth, Australia, her achievement represents not only individual literary recognition but also the contribution of the Vietnamese-Australian voice to an international European literary setting.
The Prize in Context
The 2026 Edition: A Broad International Literary Programme
The tenth edition of the Seneca Prize encompasses a remarkably broad spectrum of contemporary writing. Its principal sections include:
Section A — Poetry
Section B — Poetry Collection
Section C — Short Narrative
Section F — Journalistic Article
Section G — Published Book of Poetry
Section H — Published Book of Fiction
Section L — Published Essay / Scholarly Work
Section EM — Epistulae Morales, dedicated to philosophical reflection on a quotation by Seneca
Section Sp — Student Poetry
Section Sn — Student Narrative
Section S — Works by Residents Abroad
Section SEP — Published Books of Poetry by Residents Abroad
Section SEN — Published Books of Fiction by Authors Residing Abroad
This breadth reflects the fundamental philosophy of the award: literature is not confined to one form. Poetry, fiction, journalism, scholarship and philosophical reflection all contribute to the continuing conversation about humanity and society.
Australia · Italy · Literature Across Borders
From Perth to Bari
The recognition of Võ Thị Như Mai will culminate in the official award ceremony, scheduled for Saturday, 24 October 2026, at the Norman-Swabian Castle in Sannicandro di Bari, Italy.
The setting is fitting for an international literary celebration. Writers and recognised participants will come together in a historic Italian venue to celebrate works created across different countries, languages and cultural backgrounds.
For an author based in Perth, the journey to Bari represents more than a geographical distance. It symbolises the movement of literature across borders: from Australia to Italy, from the individual voice to the international literary community.
The Seneca Prize’s tenth edition thus becomes not merely a competition but a meeting place—one in which the contemporary world speaks through many languages and experiences while sharing a common commitment to literature, knowledge and thought.
Võ Thị Như Mai’s Eccellenza Internazionale for Una conversazione is a particularly fitting example of this mission. Her recognition connects the literary cultures of Australia, Vietnam and Italy, demonstrating how a single written work can become part of a much larger conversation.
In this sense, the spirit of Seneca remains remarkably contemporary: knowledge crosses borders, literature creates dialogue, and the written word continues to build connections between people who may live thousands of kilometres apart.
Documentation & Context
Verified Sources & Related Coverage
Official 2026 Seneca Prize Page
Primary source for the tenth edition, including the October 24, 2026 ceremony at the Castello Normanno-Svevo in Sannicandro di Bari and the official competition information.
Official 2026 Commission Results
The published results record Võ Thị Như Mai of Australia as receiving Eccellenza Internazionale in Section F — Articolo Giornalistico for “Una conversazione.”
Independent coverage of the 2026 competition, its national, international and student sections, institutional history, and October award ceremony.
August 2026 reporting on another recognized participant, providing independent context for the tenth edition and its award ceremony.
Independent reporting on the competition’s 2026 results and ceremony, adding broader context to the international literary event.
Detailed competition listing covering the tenth edition, including journalism, poetry, narrative, essays, international categories and judging information.
