Florida Book Awards is now accepting entries

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  The Florida Book Awards has kicked off its seventh 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 contest categories include:
General Fiction
Young Adult Literature
Children’s Literature
Florida Nonfiction
Poetry
Popular Fiction
Visual Arts
Spanish-Language Book
General Nonfiction
Entries, which can be submitted by anyone (e.g. publisher, author, or literary agent), must have both an original publication date between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2012 and an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

All entries must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, December 1, 2012 (this is not a postmark deadline).

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.

The Florida Book Awards competition is coordinated through the Florida State University Libraries, with the support of book lovers from across the state.   New Co-Directors Andrew Frank and Lisa Tendrich Frank are enthusiastic about their involvement with the Florida Book Awards.  “In its seven years, the program has honored many of the Sunshine State’s best authors.  It is already the nation’s most comprehensive state-wide program and with the addition of a new category the program promises to bring more distinction to our talent-rich state.”

For general information and the entry form, requirements, and more detailed instructions for the 2012 Florida Book Awards, visit http://floridabookawards.lib.fsu.edu.