Published Book Contest

Contest is open to San Diego County residents whose books were first published in 2008 and/or bear a 2008 copyright. More than one title by the same author may be submitted, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form, waiver, and entry fee. Ghostwritten books are eligible, if the ghostwriter is disclosed. Contest is limited to first editions of books and to later editions that include at least 25% new material.

Published book categories include fiction, nonfiction, young adult fiction, young adult nonfiction, children’s fiction, and children’s nonfiction.

Final determination of subcategories will be made by the contest chairs after all entries have been received. The contest chairs reserve the right to combine subcategories when too few entries have been submitted in a particular category.

Entry Fee: $25. Deadline: February 7, 2009.

Unpublished Poetry Chapbook Contest

The poetry contest is open to all poets who currently live in San Diego County and who have never had a book of poems published. A chapbook is a ten-page, 12-point font, collection of poems by one writer.

All entrants shall submit three copies of their manuscript. The writer’s name should not appear anywhere on the work except on the cover page. A cover page including the title of the work, the writer’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if available) should accompany each submitted manuscript.

More than one chapbook by the same author may be submitted, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form, waiver, and submission fee.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: February 7, 2009.

Unpublished Short Story Contest

Manuscripts submitted to the Short Story Contest may be up to 7,500 words and must be original and unpublished. The title of the work should appear in the top corner of each page and the pages should be numbered.

All entrants shall submit three copies of their manuscript. The writer’s name should not appear anywhere on the work except on the cover page. A cover page including the title of the work, the word count, the writer’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if available) should accompany each submitted manuscript.

Writers may submit more than one story, but a separate entry fee must accompany each submission.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: February 7, 2009.

Unpublished Novel Contest

Entrants may not have published a novel previously, and the work may not be ghostwritten. All entrants shall submit three copies of the first 30 pages of a completed manuscript plus three copies of a one-page synopsis of the entire work. The entrant’s name shall appear only on the title page and nowhere else on the rest of the manuscript.

To be notified of receipt of entry, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your submission.

Up to five finalists will be selected. Each finalist will be asked to send three copies of the complete manuscript within one week of notification. One winner and two finalists will be honored at the SDBAA awards ceremony.

Entry Fee: $15, Deadline: February 7, 2009.

Unpublished Memoir Contest

Entrants may not have published a memoir previously, and the work may not be ghostwritten.

All entrants shall submit three copies of the first 30 pages of a completed manuscript plus three copies of a one-page synopsis of the entire work. The entrant’s name shall appear only on the title page and nowhere else on the rest of the manuscript.

To be notified of receipt of entry, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your submission.

Up to five finalists will be selected. Each finalist will be asked to send three copies of the complete manuscript within one week of notification. One winner and two finalists will be honored at the SDBAA awards ceremony.

Entry Fee: $15, Deadline: February 7, 2009.

Theodor S. Geisel Award

Presented to the best book published in the contest year by a San Diego County author. All books entered in the Published Books contest are eligible for the Theodor S. Geisel Award. A trophy and a monetary prize will be presented to the winning author at the Fourteenth  Annual San Diego Book Awards ceremony.

Entry Checklist:

• Completed entry form for each work submitted.
• $25 entry fee for each published book, $15 entry fee for each unpublished novel or memoir, $10 entry fee for each short story or poetry chapbook manuscript submitted.
• Three copies of each work submitted.

Mail entries in all categories to:

San Diego Book Awards
P.O. Box 501943
San Diego, CA 92150-1943