Introducing The First Annual Permafrost Book Prize in Poetry

The Permafrost Book Prize in Poetry offers publication of a book length collection of poems, $1000, and distribution through University of Alaska Press.

The final judge for this contest will be Heid E. Erdich.

 

Heid E. Erdrich is author of four poetry collections, most recently Cell Traffic: New and Selected Poems from University of Arizona Press. A member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibway, Heid Erdrich grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota. She earned degrees from Dartmouth College and The Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars. A recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board fellowships, awards from The Loft Literary Center, the Archibald Bush Foundation and elsewhere, Heid Erdrich has four times been nominated for the Minnesota Book Award which she won in 2009 for her book National Monuments from Michigan State University Press.

http://heiderdrich.com/

 Elgibility

The Permafrost Book Prize in Poetry welcomes manuscripts from any writer, including non-US citizens, writing in English. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but we ask that you notify us immediately if your manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere. No past or present editorial staff members of Permafrost or the University of Alaska Press or current faculty or student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be eligible for the prize.

When to Send

The deadline for submitting is Nov. 15, 2013.

 Manuscripts

We prefer that manuscripts are at least 50 pages long.

All entries will be read anonymously. The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript. Please include two cover pages: one listing only the title of the manuscript, and the other listing the author’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. An acknowledgements page listing the publication history of individual poems may be included, if desired.
For hard copy submissions, please do not bind manuscripts with anything other than a binder clip or rubber band. Please include a self-addressed postage-paid postcard for confirmation of manuscript receipt. Please use a standard postcard—small index cards will not be accepted by the U.S. Postal Service. No manuscripts will be returned. All manuscripts that do not win will be recycled.

 

Hard copy submissions may be sent to:

Permafrost, Poetry Book Prize
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Department of English
P.O. Box 755720
Fairbanks, AK 99775-0640

 

Electronic submissions may be submitted by clicking here:http://permafrostmag.submishmash.com

Entry Fee

Contest entry fee is $20.

Notification

Winners will be notified by April 15, 2014.

Criteria and Code of Ethics

The criteria for choosing final manuscripts will be the best work submitted.

As a member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), thePermafrost book prize contest carefully follows the CLMP guide for ethical contests by providing clear contest guidelines and a published transparency of process. The series will ensure that all manuscripts are submitted to judges and reviewers anonymously to avoid conflicts of interest.

Selection Process

The Book Series Coordinator will track all manuscripts and prepare to send them to initial screeners who will read and rank manuscripts. During the first two years, the Coordinator duties will be shared by the Permafrost Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor. The initial screeners may consist of UAF graduate students, adjuncts, faculty, and appropriate community writers including UAF MFA graduates. Screeners will provide a list of top three choices and three alternatives. The top three from each reader in each genre will then be read by the Series Editorial Staff (comprised of Book Series Coordinators, Series Editors, Permafrost Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor and PermafrostFaculty Advisor) and narrowed to between 6-12 manuscripts. These manuscripts will then be forwarded to 2 advisory board members in each genre, who will comment on each manuscript and award ten points as they see fit. These comments and the finalists will then be forwarded to final judge.

For questions, email editor@permafrostmag.com