Children’s book entries sought for N.M. women writers contest

An outstanding New Mexican writer will be honored for her work in children’s literature next spring when her book receives the prestigious Zia Award.

New Mexican women writers are invited to submit their books for consideration for the award, given each year by New Mexico Press Women at the annual spring conference. To be eligible to receive the award, selected winners must read at the award luncheon during the 2011 conference in Las Cruces on Saturday, April 9.

The 2011 Zia Award will be given to the author of an outstanding book in children’s literature published in 2008, 2009 or 2010. The contest is open to all subgenres within children’s and youth literature.

Submissions can be made by the author or by someone else on behalf of the author, such as a publisher. Membership in New Mexico Press Women is not required, but the writer must be a woman who lives in or has a strong connection to New Mexico. The book may be published anywhere.

To submit for consideration for the Zia Book Award, send a brief cover letter including complete contact information, the author’s biography (including her connection to New Mexico) and a description of the book, a copy of the book and a check for the $10 entry fee payable to New Mexico Press Women to:

Sari Krosinsky
Zia Book Award Chair
315 Terrace Street SE
Albuquerque, N.M. 87106

Entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, Jan. 14, 2011.

Book entries are considered a donation to the organization and are not returned. The books will be part of the silent auction held at the spring conference to raise scholarship funds.

For more information on the contest, send correspondence to the address listed above or e-mail michal_kro@hotmail.com.

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The Zia Award was started in 1953 to honor an outstanding woman in New Mexico media. Each year the award rotates to one of three categories: nonfiction, fiction and children’s literature. To accommodate this schedule, a book published in the last three years is eligible.

New Mexico Press Women is an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women and exists to provide professional development, networking and First Amendment rights protection to professional journalists and communicators. For more information, visit NewMexicoPressWomen.org.