The Vermont Book Award is now housed at the Vermont Department of Libraries. Supported by a new partnership between Vermont College of Fine Arts, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and Vermont Humanities, the Vermont Book Award is an annual prize for outstanding literature by a Vermont author.
Please contact Miciah Gault (miciah.gault@vcfa.edu) with any questions regarding the Vermont Book Award.
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 (currently, only books published in 2022 are being considered.) 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.
Nominations are now being accepted at: https://vthumanities.wufoo.com/forms/vermont-book-award-nomination
- 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.