Democracy 250 Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing

Call for Submissions

The Atlantic Book Awards Society is seeking nominations for a $2,000 prize to honour an outstanding work of non-fiction that promotes awareness of, and appreciation for, an aspect of the history of the Atlantic Provinces.

Publishers with eligible titles are asked to submit four copies along with a completed submission form and a $10 submission fee per title. Cheques are to be made payable to Atlantic Book Awards Society.
Please read the eligibility criteria before submitting titles.

Deadline for submissions is 4:00 p.m., Monday, November 14, 2011.

A panel of judges will select three finalists. Finalists will be announced in early March 2012 and the winner will be announced during the Atlantic Book Awards and Festival. For all finalists, some travel assistance will be available to facilitate participation in Book Festival events and attendance at the awards ceremony.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Non-fiction titles dealing with some aspect of Atlantic Canadian history (social, political, economic, cultural, etc.)

2. Books published in Canada in 2011 for the first time (re-issues or translations of earlier publications are not eligible). Books written by more than one person are eligible, but the $2,000 prize money must be split among multiple authors.

3. Authors must be either native or resident Atlantic Canadians. "Native" is defined as having been born and lived for a substantial portion of their lives in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island (or a combination of these provinces). "Resident" is defined as being a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and having lived in the region for at least 24 months preceding the entry deadline.

4. Diaries, textbooks, edited collections of essays and books of documents are not eligible.

5. Books that have been already awarded, or shortlisted for, other prizes are eligible.

6. Books must contain a minimum of 40% text.

7. Books must be 50 pages or more and available for sale throughout Atlantic Canada via a recognized commercial distributor.

8. Children's books are not eligible. Any children's submissions should be sent to the Ann Connor Brimer Award Committee. For further information about the Ann Connor Brimer Award, please contact Matthew McCarthy at 902-490-5792 or by e-mail at mccarthm@halifax.ca.

9. The judging committee reserves the right to accept or reject submitted titles. Rejected titles will not be returned.

Selection Criteria

1. Significance and originality of the work in relation to Atlantic Canadian history
2. The quality of the research
3. The style and organization
4. Writing that achieves excellence without sacrificing popular appeal

For more information contact:
Heather MacKenzie
Halifax Public Libraries
60 Alderney Drive
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4P8
Tel: 902-490-5991
Fax: 902-490-5889
E-mail: mackenh@halifaxpubliclibraries.ca