Deadline: 17 December 2010
The Literary Awards Committee of the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) is now accepting submissions for the annual BCALA Literary Awards. The Committee will present three prizes of $500.00 each for adult books written by African American authors: a First Novelist Award, a Fiction Award and a Nonfiction Award. The First Novelist Award is given to recognize an outstanding work by a first time African American fiction writer. Honor Book citations are also awarded in fiction and nonfiction without any accompanying monetary remuneration. Additionally, an Outstanding Contribution to Publishing citation is provided to an author and/or publishing company for unique books that offer a positive depiction of African Americans.
First presented at the Second National Conference of African American Librarians in 1994, the BCALA Literary Awards acknowledge outstanding works of fiction and nonfiction for adult audiences by African American authors. Recipients of this award offer outstanding depictions of the cultural, historical or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora and embody the highest quality of writing style and research methodology, if applicable. Enclosed is a copy of the BCALA Literary Awards Criteria.
Books from small, large and specialty publishers are welcome for review consideration. Titles forwarded for review must be published between January 2010 and December 2010. Sets or multi-volume works are eligible. New editions of previously published works are eligible only if more than 30% of the total content is new or revised material. Inspirational and self-help books are ineligible.
Please send one copy of each title submitted to each member of the Literary Awards Committee as soon as possible after receiving this letter. I have enclosed a list of the members of the Committee and their addresses. Supply all available information regarding the submission, including promotional material, author biography and available news articles and reviews. Only finished, published books should be submitted; galleys (bound or unbound) are unacceptable.
The final submission date to each juror is December 17, 2010. Decisions will be made during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, CA in January 2011.The awards will be presented in New Orleans, LA during ALA’s Annual Conference in June, 2011. Publishers and authors will be advised of the Literary Award Committee’s decision in advance of the conference.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (919) 560-0114 (email: jwhite@durhamcountync.gov.
BCALA Literary Awards Criteria
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) presents three (3) $500.00 awards: one for adult fiction, one for nonfiction and one for a first novelist. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.
The Fiction Award recognizes depictions of sensitive and authentic personal experience either within the framework of contemporary literary standards and themes or which explore innovative literary formats.
The Nonfiction Award honors cultural, historical, political, or social criticism or academic and/or professional research which significantly advances the body of knowledge currently associated with the people and the legacy of the Black Diaspora. (Categories could include the humanities, science and technology, social and behavioral sciences and reference).
The First Novelist Award acknowledges outstanding achievement in writing and storytelling by a first time fiction writer.
The Outstanding Contribution to Publishing Citation recognizes the author and/or the publishing company (for their support and publication of) special and unique books that recognize the outstanding achievements and positive depiction of contributions of the people and legacy of the Black Diaspora.
Purpose: To encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and scholarly research including biographical, historical and social history treatments by African Americans.
Criteria:
1. Must portray some aspect of the African American experience past, present or future.
2. Must be written by an African American.
3. Must be published in the United States in the year preceding presentation of the award.
4. Must be an original work.
Joel W. White, Chair
BCALA Literary Awards Committee
Email: jwhite@durhamcountync.gov
Voice: (919) 560-0114 Fax: (919) 560-0137