While I work on constructing the rest of this site, I thought it couldn’t hurt to let you know about a new award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The deadline for submission is November 15, 2012. Here’s what SCBWI has to say about it:
On-The-Verge Emerging Voices Award
The SCBWI established the On-The-Verge Emerging Voices Award in 2012 with funding from Martin and Sue Schmitt of the 455 Foundation. The grant was created to foster the emergence of diverse voices in children’s books.
The grant will be given to two writers or illustrators who are from an ethnic and/or cultural background that is traditionally under-represented in children’s literature in America.
You can find more information on the SCBWI website. If this award doesn’t apply to you, check out the links on the left-hand side of the page for others.
Also, due to Hurricane Sandy’s interference with the deadline for the Tu Books (Lee and Low) New Visions Award, the postmark deadline has been moved back until November 14, 2012. You can see the complete eligibility on the Lee and Low website, and here’s a snippet:
TU BOOKS, the fantasy, science fiction, and mystery imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS, award-winning publisher of children’s books, is pleased to announce the first annual NEW VISIONS AWARD. The NEW VISIONS AWARD will be given for a middle grade or young adult fantasy, science fiction, or mystery novel by a writer of color. The Award winner receives a cash grant of $1000 and our standard publication contract, including our basic advance and royalties for a first time author. An Honor Award winner will receive a cash grant of $500.
Both of these contest have free entry, which makes them doubly awesome. (At least a few contests with paid entry are scams, but that deserves a post of its own.) SCBWI and Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low, are legitimate. If you’re entering, best wishes!