Women authors of children’s and youth books who have a significant connection to New Mexico are encouraged to enter the New Mexico Press Women’s Zia Book Award contest to select the outstanding book for children or young adults.
The award given each year by the New Mexican Press Women at their annual spring conference. Entries are considered on a rotating three-year cycle. Adult nonfiction books will be eligible in 2024, and adult fiction books will be considered in 2025.
The 2023 Zia Award will be given to an outstanding children’s and young adult book published in 2020, 2021 or 2022. Two categories will be considered: books for children from birth to 12 and young adult books for ages 13-18.
Submissions can be made by the author or someone else on behalf of the author, such as a publisher. Membership in New Mexico Press Women is not required (although it provides a discounted entry fee). However, the writer must be a woman who lives in or has a strong connection to New Mexico. The book may be published anywhere.
To be eligible to receive the award, the selected finalists must be available to read at the annual award luncheon during the 2023 conference, March 10, at the Isleta Resort, Albuquerque, NM.
To submit for consideration for the Zia Book Award, pay the entry fee (see below**) and send:
1. A brief cover letter including complete contact information, author’s biography (including connection to New Mexico), and a brief description of the book. Indicate if the book is to be considered for the children’s or young adult Zia award.
2. Three physical copies of the books (or email one copy of the e-book)
To:
Patricia Hodapp (ziabookaward@gmail.com)
Zia Book Award Chair
2204 Calle Cacique
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Entries must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
**Pay the entry fee ($30 for non-members; $25 for members until December 31; thereafter $35 for members and $50 for non-members); you may also join New Mexico Press Women at the time you enter but membership is not required for eligibility. You may pay on the website: https://nmpresswomen.fwscart.com, or you may send a check payable to NMPW to:
Loretta Hall
NMPW Treasurer
3219 El Toboso Dr NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104