Vermont Humanities is proud to present the Vermont Book Awards, an annual celebration of outstanding literature by Vermont authors, in partnership with Vermont Department of Libraries.
Nominations for 2024 Vermont Book Awards
Nominations are now open for books of excellent literary merit published by Vermont authors in 2024. To be eligible, the author must live in Vermont more than half the year. Self-published books are not eligible.
Nominated books are read by a team of judges looking for literary excellence as they pick finalists and then choose winners in each of four categories: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and children’s literature. The winners will be revealed at the Vermont Book Awards celebration in Spring 2025.
WHAT ARE THE VERMONT BOOK AWARDS?
Established in 2014 by Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Awards are literary prizes that honor work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrate the long tradition of literature in the state.
WHAT BOOKS ARE ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible for the award, a book must be written by a Vermont writer and published between January 1 and December 31 of the year prior to the award. A “Vermont writer” is a writer who lives in Vermont for more than half the year. Self-published books are not eligible, nor are anthologies containing work written by multiple authors.
WHO NOMINATES BOOKS?
- Independent Booksellers of Vermont
- Vermont librarians
- Publishers
- The general public (for a limited time)
Please nominate books in one of four categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Children’s Literature, and Poetry. Graphic literature should be entered into the appropriate category; for example, a graphic memoir should be entered as Creative Nonfiction.
WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
Each year, the Vermont Book Awards leadership team selects a panel of judges made up of Vermont writers, booksellers, librarians, educators, and other passionate supporters of literature in Vermont.
HOW ARE THE FINALISTS AND THE WINNERS CHOSEN?
The rotating judging panel will read the nominated books and select finalists from each category before deciding on winners. The winners are revealed at a spring celebration.
WHAT DO THE WINNERS RECIEVE?
The winners of the Vermont Book Awards receive a prize of $1,000 and an art object trophy crafted by a Vermont Artist. Art is commissioned each year thanks to a gift from the Vermont Arts Council.
