TU BOOKS, the middle grade and young adult imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS, award-winning publisher of children’s books, announced the fourth New Visions Award a few months ago. The award will be given for a middle grade or young adult novel by a writer of color. Established in 2012, the NEW VISIONS AWARD encourages writers of color to submit their work to a publisher that takes pride in nurturing new talent. Winning submissions include Ink and Ashes by Valynne Maetani, published in 2015 and the recipient of an honor citation from the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association Award for Literature, and The Amaterasu Project by Axie Oh, due for publication in 2017.

Eligibility:

1. The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, and who have not previously had a middle grade or young adult novel published.
2. Writers who have published work in other venues such as children’s magazines or picture books, or adult fiction or nonfiction, are eligible. Only unagented manuscripts will be accepted.
3. Work that has been published in its entirety in any format (including online and self publishing as well as other countries) is not eligible.
4.  Manuscripts previously submitted for this award or to TU BOOKS will not be considered.

Submissions will be accepted through October 31, 2016. Since the window is closing, y’all better scoot on over here for complete guidelines!

As always, good luck!

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.