The Vermont Book Award, created in 2015, is housed at the Vermont Department of Libraries. Supported by a partnership between Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and Vermont Humanities, the Award is an annual prize for outstanding literature by a Vermont author.
Nominations for 2023 Vermont Book Award
Nominations are now open for books of excellent literary merit published by Vermont authors in 2023. To be eligible, the author must live in Vermont more than half the year. Self-published books are not eligible. Books are initially nominated by booksellers of Vermont, Vermont librarians, and by publishers anywhere. Nominations open to the general Vermont public later this year. Nominated books are read by a team of judges looking for literary excellence as they pick finalists and then winners. The winners of the Vermont Book Award will be revealed at a celebration in May 2024 hosted by Vermont Humanities and on the Vermont College of Fine Arts campus in Montpelier.
2022 Vermont Book Award Celebration
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA), Vermont Humanities, and Vermont Department of Libraries hosted the 2022 Vermont Book Award celebration. About 120 Vermont authors, book sellers, librarians, and friends of literature attended the dessert reception at VCFA’s Alumnx Hall.
“In a country that suffers from loneliness, books are often life affirming companions,” Leslie Ward, president of Vermont College of Fine Arts, said in her welcoming remarks at the celebration. “We gather tonight to celebrate the writers of our great state because we owe them our deepest gratitude for the work they do and the gifts they offer to us. And because community is what sustains writers,” Ward said.
Last year’s Vermont Book Award winners — Alison Bechdel, Melanie Finn, and Shanta Lee Gander — and author M.T. Anderson announced this year’s winners. A panel of judges composed of writers, readers, editors, librarians and booksellers of Vermont chose the winners from among 14 finalists. This year’s winners:
- For Children's Literature: Zoë Tilley Poster for The Night Wild
- For Creative Non-Fiction: Kathryn Davis for Aurelia Aurelia
- For Fiction: Caren Beilin for Revenge of the Scapegoat
- For Poetry: Bianca Stone for What Is Otherwise Infinite
Vermont Book Award 2023 Press Release
This year's finalists:
Creative Nonfiction
· Nancy Marie Brown for Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland's Elves Can Save the Earth
· Kathryn Davis for Aurelia, Aurélia
· Peter Orner for Still No Word from You: Notes in the Margin
Fiction
· Caren Beilin for Revenge of the Scapegoat
· Ann Dávila Cardinal for The Storyteller’s Death
· Louise Glück for Marigold and Rose
· Erin Stalcup for Keen
Poetry
· Rage Hezekiah for Yearn
· Carol Potter for What Happens Next Is Anyone's Guess
· Bianca Stone for What Is Otherwise Infinite
Children’s Literature
· Margot Harrison for We Made it All Up (young adult)
· Jo Knowles for Meant to Be (middle grade)
· Zoë Tilley Poster for The Night Wild (picture book)
· Leda Schubert for Firsts and Lasts: The Changing Seasons (picture book)
Vermont Book Award FAQ
- What is the Vermont Book Award?
Established in 2015 by Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Book Award is a literary prize that honors work of outstanding literary merit by Vermont authors and celebrates the long tradition of literature in the state.
- What books are eligible?
In order 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 (books published in 2022 were considered for this year's award.) A “Vermont writer” is a writer who lives in Vermont for at least half the year. Self-published books are not eligible for the Book Award, nor are books written by staff of VCFA, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and Vermont Humanities. Anthologies containing work written by multiple authors are also not eligible.
- Who nominates books?
A committee of librarians and independent booksellers of Vermont nominates books in three categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Children's Literature. Graphic literature should also 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 Award leadership team selects a panel of judges made up of Vermont writers, teachers, librarians, and passionate supporters of literature in Vermont. Staff members and trustees of leadership team organizations are not included in this independent panel of judges.
- How are the finalists and the winner chosen?
A committee of librarians and independent booksellers of Vermont nominates books in four categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, and Children's Literature.
- What does the award entail?
The Winners of the Vermont Book Award receive a prize of $1,000. The winners are announced at a celebration hosted by Vermont Humanities in the spring.
- Where can a list of previous year's finalists and winners be found?
Find a listing of all Vermont Book Award finalists and winners on the Vermont College of Fine Arts awards celebration page.
For More Information
Please contact Miciah Gault (miciah.gault@vcfa.edu) Vermont Book Awards Coordinator with any questions regarding the Award.