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.