The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library opened nominations for the 26th annual Minnesota Book Awards August 1.
Eight categories recognize and celebrate the best in Minnesota literature: Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.
Authors, publishers, and agents are eligible to nominate a book by completing the nomination form online and submitting five non-returnable copies of the book, plus a $45 nomination fee. Nomination forms and the eligibility and entry guidelines are available here or by calling (651) 366-6497. Nominations close at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013. To be eligible, a book must be written by a current Minnesota resident and be published in 2013.
Finalists in the eight categories will be announced on January 25, 2014. Winners will be announced at the 26th annual Minnesota Books Awards gala on Saturday, April 5, 2014, at the Historic Union Depot in downtown Saint Paul. Ticket information for the celebration will be available in early 2014.
Additionally, nominations are currently open for the biennial Hognander Minnesota History Award which recognizes an author for the most outstanding scholarly work on a topic of Minnesota history. Nominations for books with an original publication date of 2012 or 2013 will remain open through November 15, 2013. An author does not need to be a Minnesota resident to be eligible for this particular award. A book by a Minnesota author is eligible even if it has been nominated for and/or won another Minnesota Book Award.
Nominations for the annual Minnesota Book Artist Award, sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group and presented with Minnesota Center for Book Arts, will open Friday, August 16, 2013, and will be accepted through the deadline of Tuesday, October 15, 2013. This award recognizes an artist or collaborative group for excellence in artistic work and significant contributions to Minnesota’s book arts community.
Finally, nominations for the Kay Sexton Award, established to honor long-standing dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading, and literary activity in the state, will open September 16, 2013.