Deadline: 30 April 2012
The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence honors the legacy of one of America’s finest literary treasures and recognizes the work of a deserving fiction writer. The winner will receive a $10,000 award and present a reading from the work at the award ceremony in January 2013. Travel, accommodations, and meals will be provided.
Submissions to the Gaines Award will be accepted February 1, 2012 through April 30, 2012 for books published in 2011.
CRITERIA FOR SUBMISSION (2012 AWARD):
- Any work of fiction published in the U.S. during 2011.
- The writer must be African-American.
- The writer must be a U.S. citizen.
- The Gaines award accepts self-published books for judging under some circumstances. Self-published books must have substantial sales, be reviewed in well-known journals, or must be the choice of a major book club. Proof of sales, inclusion in book clubs, or published reviews must be submitted along with copies of the book. Without such documentation, self-published books will not be reviewed.
The Award, initiated by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation to honor Mr. Gaines, is designed to inspire and recognize rising African-American writers of excellence as they work to achieve the literary heights for which Ernest J. Gaines is known.
*The Judges reserve the right not to issue an award if they feel the selection pool lacks an acceptable candidate.
*The winning author must attend the award ceremony.
Please click here to download the submission form.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: for additional information, please email gainesaward@braf.org
For submissions: to enter a book for review, send the completed registration form and 10 copies of the book to: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, c/o The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, 402 N. Fourth Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Website: http://www.ernestjgainesaward.org