High Plains Book Awards Nominations Open through March 14, 2014

Thursday Dec. 26th, 2013

Nominations for the eighth annual High Plains Book Awards open January 15, 2014.  Nominations will be accepted through March 14, 2014.  Information and nomination forms can be found at: http:// highplainsbookawards.org.

The Billings Public Library Board of Directors established the High Plains Book Awards in 2006o recognize regional authors and/or literary works which examine and reflect life on the High Plains.  The High Plains region includes Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
 
The 2013 Awards include two new categories, Best Medicine and Science Book and Best Children’s Book.  Nominated books must be published for the first time in 2013.  Other award categories include:  Best Fiction; Best NonfictionBest PoetryBest First Book; Best Woman Writer; Best Art & PhotographyBest Short Stories; Best Culinary and Best Young Adult.. Winners receive a $500 prize and invited to participate in the annual High Plains BookFest in October 2014.
All nominated books are read and evaluated by community readers.  Finalist books in each category will be announced in late May 2014.  Winners in each category will be determined by a panel of published writers with connections to the High Plains region. Winners will be announced at an Awards Banquet on October 25, 2014, in Billings, Montana. The Awards Banquet is held in conjunction with the annual High Plains BookFest.
Writers interested in participating in the 2014 High Plains BookFest should contact the YMCA Writer’s Voice director Corby Skinner via email: corby@skinnerbenoit.com.
Questions concerning the nominations process should be directed to:  DeeAnn Redman, Assistant Director, Billings Public Library, 510 North Broadway, Billings, MT  59101, email:  redmand@ci.billings.mt.us.