The deadline for submission of titles has passed. No further entries will be accepted. Next contest deadline: Judges must receive books, bound galleys, or bound manuscripts no later than August 15, 2008. Review the contest guidelines In honor of William Faulkner, we highlight his book, Collected Stories, which won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1951, by revisiting an essay from the National Book Awards archive. Written by former NBF executive director Neil Baldwin, the feature looks closely at the person behind the book. More Photos (l to r):Andre Dubus III, Mark Bowden, Stephen King and Sara Zarr. Illuminating the ways the experience of reading can inform -- and even transform -- the act of writing is one of the primary goals of every outreach program sponsored by the National Book Foundation. In this updated feature, some of our nation's most distinguished writers explain the book that changed their lives and why. More VIDEO of NBA Acceptance Speeches   IMAGES from: The 2007 NBA Ceremony 2007 NBA Finalist Reading The Teen Press Conference Download a full list of National Book Award Winners and Finalists (1950 to present) (PDF format) 2007 Finalists list with links to author interviews

John Updike described Maxwell’s writing voice as “one of the wisest and kindest in American fiction.” Join the National Book Awards and some of Maxwell’s most prominent friends and admirers in celebrating his centenary year with a lively evening of discussion and reminiscence. Featuring Christopher Carduff, Benjamin Cheever, Edward Hirsch, Daniel Menaker and Stewart O’Nan Part of Madison Square Park Conservancy’s free series of summer readings by notable authors in historic Madison Square Park. Thursday, July 31, 6:30pm More A feature highlighting individuals and organizations that use innovative methods to encourage people to read good books. This month we acknowledge: Entertainment Weekly's 100 Best Book of the Last 25 Years, published in its June 27 and July 4, 2008 issue. The National Book Critics Circle's Good Reads List. The list was created in the fall of 2007 and is assembled by polling the 825 members of the National Book Critics Circle and former finalists and winners of the NBCC book awards. In addition, events are held in 15 cities to discuss the list. Images from ew.com and bookcriticscircle.blogspot.com. Now available for your listening pleasure: Revisit the 2007 National Book Awards (VIDEO) Readings and indepth conversations with celebrated authors including: Shalom Auslander Peter Carey Deborah Eisenberg Jonathan Franzen Pete Hamill Paul Muldoon Francine Prose George Saunders Gary Shteyngart