To be eligible in the Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry categories, an entry must be:

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• a published book of literary merit with an ISBN (International Standard Book Number)

• a minimum of forty-eight (48) bound pages

• published within the calendar year of 2022

• written by an author who lives and/or works* in the Greater Hamilton Area (including: Ancaster, Dundas, Flamborough, Glanbrook, Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Waterdown) or the Six Nations of the Grand River.

• single-authored or co-authored (maximum two (2) authors, provided that one author meets the requirement of living and/or working in the GHA. For Anthologies/books by more than two authors published in 2022, please contact coordinator@hamiltonartscouncil.ca for an assessment of eligibility.

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*the applicant's work contributes to the artistic landscape of the Greater Hamilton Area

 

At least one author must have an Artist/Creative account, accompanied by a visible public profile, on The Arty Crowd (www.theartycrowd.ca). The Arty Crowd is free for Artists/Creatives of any practice.

 

All of the above criteria apply for submissions to be considered for the Kerry Schooley Book Award, with the exception that the author/co-authors may or may not be current residents of the GHA or Six Nations of the Grand River, but will have lived and/or worked* here for a portion of their life.

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All of the above criteria apply for submissions to be considered for the Children's Book Award, with the exception that books must be intended for readers up to age 12, and can be shorter than forty-eight (48) bound pages.

 

Ineligible entries include:

• translations

• ghostwritten books

• manuscripts

• textbooks, catalogues, cookbooks, reference books, academic publications, technical manuals, self-help books

• reprints or re-publications of titles originally published at an earlier date

• books submitted by elected representatives of the Greater Hamilton Area

• books submitted by Hamilton Arts Council staff and volunteers

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Submission of Entries

• deadline for submissions is August 20, 2023. Late submissions will not be eligible for consideration

• submissions are to be dropped off or postmarked on the deadline date or earlier to: 240 Edgemont Street South, Hamilton, ON L8K 2J2

• submissions must include four (4) copies of the submitted book in a single category, with an additional three (3) copies per subsequent category (for example, two (2) categories equates to seven (7) books). Submitted books will not be returned

• submissions must be accompanied by an online application (found below)

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Please note, that in order for each category to be awarded, a minimum of three (3) eligible submissions per category must be received. If this minimum is not reached, submissions received will be forwarded for consideration in the following year’s program.

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If you choose to submit a digital copy of your book, please email one (1) .PDF of your book to coordinator@hamiltonartscouncil.ca. This submission must also be accompanied by an online application (found below).

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A short-list of finalists will be announced in November 2023, with the recipients being announced at the Hamilton Literary Awards Ceremony in December 2023. Details of the Awards Ceremony will be shared at a later date.

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HAC reserves the right to exclude any book from consideration.