WHAT ARE THE VERMONT BOOK AWARDS?
Established in 2014 by Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Awards are literary prizes that honor work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrate 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 Awards 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 WINNERS 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 celebration honors Vermont writers and readers. The 2022 awards will be announced at the Vermont Book Awards celebration this spring. Prizes will be awarded for the best poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and children’s literature published by Vermont authors in 2022.
WHAT DO THE AWARDS ENTAIL?
The winners of the Vermont Book Awards receive a prize of $1,000. The winners are announced at a celebration hosted by Vermont Humanities in the spring.
Vermont Book Awards Coordinator
Miciah Bay Gault
[email protected]
