The Florida Book Awards has kicked off its ninth annual competition with a call for entries in nine categories.
Established in 2006 and now the most comprehensive state book awards program in the nation, the contest recognizes and celebrates the year’s best books penned by full-time residents of the Sunshine State (with the exception of submissions to the Florida Nonfiction and Visual Arts categories, whose authors may live elsewhere).
The Florida Book Awards competition is coordinated through the Florida State University Libraries, with the support of partner organizations from across the state.
All entries must be received no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, 2014 (this is not a postmark deadline).
The contest categories include General Fiction, Young Adult Literature, Children’s Literature, Florida Nonfiction, Poetry, Popular Fiction, Visual Arts, Spanish Language Book and the recently added category for General Nonfiction. Entries, which can be submitted by anyone (e.g. publisher, author or literary agent), must have both a copyright date between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014, and an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).
Last year the Spanish language category was expanded to consider bilingual books. Bilingual submissions may include books that are published simultaneously in Spanish and English. Both the Spanish and English must be original works. Translations are not acceptable.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their books into competition any time after the competition is launched and as soon as possible after books are officially published.
Three-person juries— including members of co-sponsoring organizations, subject experts from the faculties of Florida colleges and universities, and previous Florida Book Award winners— will choose up to three finalists in each of nine categories. In each category, the jury may award one Gold, Silver and Bronze medal.
“Florida’s unique history coupled with fascinating natural and cultural landscapes provides a variety of rich resources for both resident and nonresident writers. The Florida Book Awards honors the best Florida literature and books about Florida,” said Florida State University Libraries Dean Julia Zimmerman.
Co-sponsors of the competition include humanities organizations from across the state such as the Florida Center for the Book; the State Library and Archives of Florida; the Florida Historical Society; the Florida Humanities Council; the Florida Literary Arts Coalition; the Florida Library Association; the Florida Association for Media in Education; the Center for Literature and Theatre @ Miami Dade College; the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America; Friends of FSU Libraries; the Florida Writers Association; the Florida Literacy Coalition; and “Just Read, Florida!”
The 2014 winners will be announced in early February 2015. All award winners will be recognized at a banquet and Gold Medal Award winners will be acknowledged in March 2015 at the Historic and Cultural Awards Ceremony sponsored by the state of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs.
Winning books and their authors will be showcased in the summer 2015 issue of FORUM, the statewide magazine of the Florida Humanities Council, and will be featured at book festivals and association conferences and on The Florida Channel throughout the year. In addition, copies of all award-winning books will be put on permanent public display in the Florida Governor’s Mansion library and in Florida State University’s Strozier Library.
For general information and the entry form, requirements, and more detailed instructions for the 2014 Florida Book Awards, visit http://floridabookawards.lib.fsu.edu.