Sort of. It’s all a bit of guesstimation and so on. Here is the relevant passage from this New York Times piece:
Accurately predicting who will win the Pulitzer is nearly impossible. But publishers, critics and booksellers named some contenders who might make up a shortlist, including “Arcadia” by Lauren Groff; “The Orphan Master’s Son” by Adam Johnson; “May We Be Forgiven” by A. M. Homes; “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank” by Mr. Englander; “Magnificence” by Lydia Millet; and “Telegraph Avenue” by Michael Chabon.
Others suggested “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich, which won a National Book Award in October; and the books that were finalists for the same award: “A Hologram for the King” by Mr. Eggers; “The Yellow Birds” by Kevin Powers; “This Is How You Lose Her” by Mr. Diaz; and especially “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” by Ben Fountain. That book has emerged as a favorite for its beautifully sculptured sentences, sweeping ambition and big American themes, all qualities that the Pulitzer board tends to reward.
