Call for Submissions: Deadline November 1, 2022
2023 Dartmouth Book Awards (including the Margaret and John Savage First Book Awards)
The Dartmouth Book Awards were established in 1988 by former Mayor of Dartmouth, Dr. John Savage, with the financial support of corporations and businesses in the community. The intent was to celebrate works of Nova Scotian fiction and non-fiction. In 2003, an additional award was created: the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Fiction. In 2017, the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Non-Fiction was created to recognize an outstanding first book of non-fiction.
The Dartmouth Book Awards Steering Committee is pleased to offer four prizes of $2,500, one to each of the winners of the following four awards:
- Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction: Given for an outstanding fiction book by a Nova Scotia author published in the preceding year. Submission Form
- Writing for Change Award (formerly Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction): Given for an outstanding non-fiction book by a Nova Scotia author published in the preceding year that inspires others, challenges the status quo, and celebrates and shares the stories of Recognized Groups (see definition below). Submission Form
- Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Fiction: Given to an outstanding debut book of fiction by a Nova Scotia author published in the preceding year that has contributed to the understanding of Nova Scotia and its peoples. Submission Form
- Margaret and John Savage First Book Award for Non-fiction: Given to an outstanding debut book of non-fiction by a Nova Scotia author published in the preceding year that has contributed to the understanding of Nova Scotia and its peoples. Submission Form
The Dartmouth Book Awards Steering Committee believes in diversity and inclusion. It encourages submissions from all writers, including Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, racially visible persons and 2SLGBTQ+ persons (collectively, “Recognized Groups”). The Committee will seek out jury members that include members of Recognized Groups.
Publishers or authors with eligible titles are asked to submit four (4) copies along with a completed submission form. The entry fee (non-refundable) is $20.00 per title (cheques made payable to the Dartmouth Book Awards). The Committee will consider waiving the fee when the cost is deemed a barrier to entry.
Please read the following eligibility criteria before submitting titles:
- Books published between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2023 (re-issues of earlier publications are not eligible).
- Books written by a Nova Scotian or an individual who has been resident of Nova Scotia for at least two years.
- Accepted genres include, among others, fiction, drama, history, memoir, biography, and
- Books must contain a minimum of 40 percent text.
- Books must be 49 pages or more and available for sale.
- Self-published books are accepted as long as they have been professionally produced and meetall other criteria.
- Anthologies are not eligible.
- Children’s books are not eligible. Children’s books can be submitted to the Ann Connor BrimerAward Committee. For further information, go to https://writers.ns.ca/programs-awards/atlantic-book-awards/ann-connor-brimer-award/.
- Books written for older teens (16+) will be accepted.
- Collections of poetry are not eligible. Poetry submissions can be submitted to the J. M.Abraham Atlantic Poetry Award and/or the Maxine Tynes Nova Scotia Poetry Award. Go to https://writers.ns.ca/programs-awards/atlantic-book-awards/ for links to the submission information for these two awards.
- The Steering Committee reserves the right to reject submitted titles. Rejected titles will not be returned.
- The submission fee of $35.00 per title must accompany entries and is non-refundable. Cheques should be made payable to the Dartmouth Book Awards.
- Books must be submitted no later than November 1, 2022.
For more information contact:
Dartmouth Book Awards Steering Committee
dartmouthbookawards@gmail.com
www.dartmouthbookawards.ca
The deadline for receipt is Tuesday, November 1, 2022. A community-based jury will choose the finalists. The shortlisted titles will be announced in March 2023. Winners of the awards will be announced at the Nova Scotia Book Awards ceremony in June 2023.