There is still time to submit nominations for the eighth annual High Plains Book Awards. Nominations will be accepted through March 13, 2015.  For information on how to nominate a book, go to highplainsbookawards.org. More than 90 nominations have already been sent in, with books originating from small regional presses and major national publishers.
 
Nominations are open for the books published for the first time in 2014 in these categories:  Best Fiction; Best Nonfiction; Best Poetry; Best First Book; Best Woman Writer; Best Art & Photography; Best Short Stories, Best Culinary, Best Young Adult, Best Children's Book and Best Medicine & Science Book. Winners receive a $500 prize.
 
All nominated books are read and evaluated by community readers in the first round of the selection process.  Finalist books in each category are judged by published writers with connections to the High Plains region.
 
Winners will be announced at an awards banquet on Saturday, October 3, 2015, at the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings, Montana. The Awards Banquet is a signature event held in conjunction with the 13th annual High Plains BookFest. Authors interested in participating in the 2015 BookFest should contact the Writer's Voice director Corby Skinner corby@skinnerbenoit.com.