WHAT IS THE VERMONT BOOK AWARD?
Established in 2014 by Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Award is a literary prize that honors work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrates the long tradition of literature in the state.
WHAT BOOKS ARE ELIGIBLE?
In order to be eligible for the award, a book must be written by a Vermont writer and published between January 1 and December 31 of the year prior to the award. A “Vermont writer” is a writer who lives in Vermont for at least half the year. Self-published books are not eligible for the 2022 book award, nor are books written by staff and trustees of VCFA, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and Vermont Humanities. Anthologies containing work written by multiple authors are also not eligible.
WHO NOMINATES BOOKS?
A committee of librarians and independent booksellers of Vermont nominates books in three categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry. Writing for children and young adults should be entered in the appropriate category; for instance, a middle grade novel should be entered as Fiction, and a book of poems for young adults should be entered as Poetry. Graphic literature should also be entered into the appropriate category; for example, a graphic memoir should be entered as Creative Nonfiction.
Publishers may also nominate books. Nominations will be open to the public this winter.
If you’re an independent bookseller, librarian, or publisher, you can nominate books as soon as nominations are open via the form linked here.
WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
Each year, the Vermont Book Award leadership team selects a panel of judges made up of Vermont writers, teachers, librarians, and passionate supporters of literature in Vermont.
HOW ARE THE FINALISTS AND THE WINNER CHOSEN?
The judging panel reads the nominated books and selects finalists from each category before deciding on winners. The winners will be revealed at a spring celebration hosted by Vermont Humanities.
The Vermont Book Awards is a night celebrating Vermont writers, publishers, and readers. The 2021 awards will be announced at the celebration on Saturday, April 30, at 7 pm on the VCFA campus in Montpelier. Prizes will be awarded for the best poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction books published by Vermont authors in 2021. A dessert reception with cash bar will be followed by a brief program featuring the winning authors and perhaps some surprise guests!
To make the evening even more special, Vermont Humanities will announce the Vermont Reads 2022 choice during the event. The Vermont Book Awards are hosted by the Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and Vermont Humanities.
WHAT DOES THE AWARD ENTAIL?
The winners of the Vermont Book Award receive a prize of $1,000. The winners are announced at a celebration hosted by Vermont Humanities in the spring.
Vermont Book Award Coordinator
Miciah Bay Gault
[email protected]
