Please note that the
following guidelines are posted for informational
purposes only.
The
National Book Awards Entry Form submission deadline
has passed. We are not accepting any forms postmarked
after June 15. Thanks to all who participated.
The deadline for guidelines
will be June 15, 2009.
Books submitted for the award
must be received by the judges on or before August
17, 2009.
Books must be submitted by
the publisher. Guidelines will only be mailed
out to the publisher.
The Finalists are scheduled
to be announced on October 14, 2009.
If you are a U.S. publisher
and would like to receive a copy of the 2009 National
Book Award Entry Form and Guidelines, please contact
the Foundation at (212) 685-0261 or email Katie McDonough
at kmcdonough@nationalbook.org
and provide your postal address.
Guidelines cannot be downloaded
or printed from this website and are not available
via email.
Books not accompanied by
proper documentation will not be considered.
PRIZES
A. There are four panels of five judges each for Fiction,
Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People's Literature, each
including a Chairperson,
chosen by the National Book Foundation.
B. The Foundation will announce a Finalist short-list
of the five outstanding books
submitted in each category of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry,
and Young People's Literature on October 14, 2009.
C. One Winner in each genre receives $10,000 for the
best book chosen in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and
Young People's Literature.
D. Sixteen short-list prizes of $1,000 each will be
awarded to the Finalists.
ELIGIBLE BOOKS & E-BOOKS
A. Full-length books of fiction and general nonfiction
are eligible. Collections of short
stories and collections of essays by one author are
eligible. Collected and selected poems by one author
are eligible. All books must be published in the United
States.
B. eBooks are considered for the National Book Award
in conjunction with traditionally printed books.
eBooks are not considered as a separate category; they
are considered within the four existing Award categories.
Judging will be based on literary merit only.
Full-length eBooks of fiction and general nonfiction
are eligible. eBook collections of short stories and
e-book collections of poetry by one author are eligible.
All eBooks must be published in the United States.
All eligible eBooks must have been
published only in electronic form during the eligibility
year; eBooks published
simultaneously or previously in printed form are not
eligible. (However, if an eBook is
published simultaneously as a traditionally printed
book during the eligibility year, the printed book is,
of course, eligible for submission following our general
guidelines.)
Each eBook submission must include: information detailing
where the book(s) is available for download (or a disc
/ cd copy of the book) and a printed and bound, 8 1/2
x 11 inch copy of the book, including publication date
information. E-books not submitted with both availability
information and a printed copy will not be considered.
C. Authors must be U.S. citizens.
D. Books scheduled for publication between December
1, 2008 and November 30, 2009 are eligible.
E. Works by authors who are living at the commencement
of the eligibility year (Dec. 1) may be submitted to
the National Book Awards competition.
F. An English translation of a book originally written
in another language is not eligible.
G. Anthologies containing work written by multiple
authors are not eligible.
H. Collections and/or retellings of folk-tales, myths,
and fairy-tales are not eligible.
I. A reprint of a book published in a previous award
year is not eligible.
J. In the event of a dispute as to eligibility, the
Foundation will decide whether a book is eligible, and
its decision will be binding.
K. No entry will be ineligible because its author has
previously won the National Book Award, or any other
award.
L. Self-published books and e-books are eligible, provided
that the author/publisher also publishes titles by other
authors. Note: the Foundation may request
the publisher's catalog as proof of multiple publications.
M. Books published through self-publishing services
are ineligible.
ENTRY OF BOOKS ("The
Sooner the Better")
A. Any United States publisher may enter books with
scheduled publication dates between December 1, 2008
and November 30, 2009. These may be submitted as finished
copies, if available. Proofs, bound galleys, and bound
manuscripts are also acceptable.
B. Entry forms must be postmarked no later than June
15, 2009. Judges must receive books, bound galleys,
or bound manuscripts no later than August 17, 2009.
Publishers who are aware that books, bound galleys,
or bound manuscripts will only be available after July
31 should note this on the entry form. Publishers are
urged to send books, bound galleys, or bound manuscripts
AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
Books, bound galleys, or bound manuscripts should be
sent as soon as they are available directly to the appropriate
judges listed on the front of this form. In addition,
one copy of each submitted title must be sent to the
National Book Foundation office.
C. There is a $125 entry fee for each title submitted.
Publishers will receive an invoice from the Foundation
office after the entry form has been received and accepted.
Please do not send your entry fee until you have been
invoiced.
Any books entered for the Awards process by the publishers
that are subsequently determined to be ineligible shall
still be subject to the stated entry fee of $125 per
title.
D. The Chairpersons of each panel may "call in"
titles, through the Foundation office, that have not
been submitted by publishers. Publishers are then asked
by the Foundation to submit these titles for consideration.
Publishers may submit at their own discretion. The $125
fee will apply to the call-in title.
E. The Entry Form requires the signature of the Head
of House. Each publishing house must also designate
one person to coordinate all National Book Award-related
matters with the Foundation throughout the awards process.
F. Each author must be made aware of and consent to
the entry of his/her book for the National Book Awards.
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF THE AWARDS
An eligible book that is entered shall not qualify
for the National Book Award unless its publisher agrees:
A. To contribute $1,000 toward a promotion campaign
if the book becomes a shortlisted Finalist.
B. To inform authors of entered books that, if nominated,
they must be present at the National Book Awards Ceremony
and at related events in New York City prior to the
ceremony.
The traditional Finalists' Reading will be held at
The New School on Tuesday evening, November 17, 2009.
The 58th National Book Awards Ceremony will be held
on Wednesday, November 18, 2009, in New York City.
C. To cover all travel and accommodation costs for
nominated authors, and to provide them with seats at
the Awards Ceremony.
D. To purchase from the National Book Foundation, when
appropriate, medallions to be affixed to the covers
of Finalist and Winning books. The Foundation will also
license the medallion image artwork for reproduction
on the covers of Finalist and Winning books. Please
contact the Foundation offices for details about pricing
and licensing.
E. To inform authors that, if nominated, they must
agree to participate in the Foundation's Website-related
publicity, including on-line "chats" with
readers across the country.
PLEASE NOTE:
Return Entry Form to:
The National Book Foundation
2009 National Book Awards
95 Madison Avenue, Suite 709
New York, N.Y. 10016
Phone (212) 685-0261
Fax (212) 213-6570
PLEASE NOTE:
- Postmark deadline for Entry Form is June 15, 2009.
- Books must be sent under separate cover ASAP and
no later than August 17.
- Mail all books, bound galleys, and/or bound manuscripts
directly to the judges in the appropriate genres listed
on the first page of this form.
- One copy of each title entered is to be mailed
to the Foundation offices as listed above.
- Please mark prominently on parcel: 2009 National
Book Awards Material
ALL BOOKS MUST BE
SHIPPED BY
THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE,
FIRST CLASS MAIL
Publisher and author agree that the decision of
the National Book Foundation and/or the judges will
be final as to all matters, including eligibility, timeliness
of submissions, and compliance with these Entry Rules
and the Awards.
The National Book Foundation shall have the permanent
right in any and all media throughout the world to use
and exploit all radio, television, merchandising, promotional,
and publicity rights that publisher and author may have
in connection with their participation in the National
Book Awards competition without further consent or payment.
Publisher and author also release any claim either might
have by virtue of their respective participation in
the National Book Awards competition, for use of their
respective photographs, names, likenesses, voice, or
appearances in connection with the National Book Awards
Program; and each consents to the permanent right of
the National Book Foundation to publish or broadcast
the author's acceptance speech without further consent
or payment. |