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Guidelines for MassBooks

Overview

The Massachusetts Book Awards (the MassBooks) celebrate the vitality of the contemporary community of the book in Massachusetts. Each fall, important works of Massachusetts fiction, nonfiction, poetry & children's literature published in the previous year are honored in a ceremony and promoted in libraries through the Commonwealth. One award winner and two honors books are named in each category.

Award Categories

Fiction

Full-length novels & collections of short stories by a single author are eligible. Collaborations are eligible if both (all) authors are current residents of Massachusetts. Works must be original. Translations and/or retellings of fairy- or folk-tales are not eligible.

Nonfiction

Full-length works of general nonfiction and collections of essays by a single author are eligible. Anthologies are considered if ALL authors are Massachusetts-based or if the book presents a Massachusetts theme. At present, the MassBooks do not review advice, self-help, or how-to books but welcome single copies of books in these categories for inclusion in the Massachusetts Book Census.

Poetry

Collections of poetry by a single, living author are eligible. A collection may consist entirely of new poems or of a selection of work from throughout a writer's career. Chapbooks are eligible. Anthologies are eligible if ALL poets are current residents of Massachusetts or if the book presents a Massachusetts theme.

Children's Literature

Picture, middle-reader, and young-adult books of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are eligible. Guidelines for topic, collaboration, and originality are the same as those for adult books.

The Judges

Each category has its own three-member judging panel with representation from author, library, academic, an/or public humanities communities. The decisions of the panels are final.

Massachusetts Book Medal

The Massachusetts Book Medal is awarded each year at the MassBook ceremony. The Medal recognizes a person or organization who has made an outstanding contribution to the Massachusetts community of the book. The awards committee does not accept formal application for this award. However, the Massachusetts Center for the Book welcomes recommendations which the committee will take into consideration as it deliberates.

Promotion of Award Winners

MassBook award winners and honors writers are promoted through a reading promotion program that is launched during a fall awards ceremony. Discussion guides for all titles are created for and hosted at the web site of the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Authors are encouraged to partner with Commonwealth libraries during the award year to promote their work through book talks and signings. The Center assists in these arrangements. All award and honor books are deposited in Special Collections in the Massachusetts State Library.

General Eligibility Guidelines

• Books must have been written by authors currently residing in Massachusetts or must present themes of particular and specific importance to the Commonwealth if their authors are not residents.
• Any individual, organization, or company may enter a book in any appropriate category.
• Anthologies or collaboration are eligible if ALL authors are Massachusetts-based or if the entire collection presents a Massachusetts theme.
• Retellings of folktales, myths, or legends and updates of previous editions of books are not eligible.
• Self-published books are eligible IF they issue from a house that also publishes work by other authors.
• Writers must be living at the time their books are submitted for consideration. Part-time residents of Massachusetts are eligible; temporary residents are not eligible.
• Books must have been copyrighted in their original format during the calendar year, January 1 to December 31, preceding the awards. See Entry Form for details.
• An author may be recognized for more than one book per year. Books by authors who have previously won a MassBook award are eligible.
• The Massachusetts Center for the Book and the MassBook judges resolve all questions about eligibility; their decisions are binding.

Submitting a Book

1. Complete an Entry Form for each title submitted. Make copies or download web versions of the form from the MCB web site.
2. Send the form and FOUR copies of the book to the following shipping address:
   
   Massachusetts Center for the Book
   c/o Hampshire College Post Office
   893 West Street
   Amherst, MA 01002
   413.559.5678
   
   
3. Books and completed entry forms must be received by the annual stated deadline (see Entry Form).
4. Books may be submitted by authors, agents, publishers, or other authorized representatives of the book. Authors must consent to the submission and agree to the terms of the program.
5. Judges may also call for submissions. These books also must be received by the deadline.
6. The Entry Form requires the signature of an authorized representative for the book. This person will be the contact during the entire award process. Please update MCB should contact information change during the awards program.
7. MCB will respond to email requests for confirmation of receipt of books and entry forms but otherwise cannot send out acknowledgements. All submissions will be listed in the annual Massachusetts Book Census, which is posted to the MCB web site.
8. All books become property of the MassBook Awards program. By entering this contest, the applicant agrees to give the Massachusetts Center for the Book permission to use the book cover, excerpts from the text, and publicity notices for the entered book in any promotion of the Awards.
9. No entry fee is required.