Nelson Poetry book Award

Created by Raymond and Margaret Nelson – Dr. Raymond Nelson and Margaret Nelson joined KAC in 1979. Both served in various offices, including state president, Raymond from 1984-1986, and Margaret Nelson from 1994-1995. The couple began awarding the Nelson Poetry Book Award in 2002. An award of $100.00 will be given each year to a Kansas poet according to the rules printed below.
Deadline: June 15, 2021

​Click here for the Kansas Authors Club Book Award submission form. Please submit a copy of this form with your entry.
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Guidelines for Submission:

  1. The contest is open to any Kansas Authors Club member. 
  2. The book must be a minimum of 50 pages in length. 
  3. The entry must have been published, issued in print, and available for public distribution within the two years prior to June 1, 2021. 
  4. This award is intended for a Kansas poet. Books including prose selections are not eligible. 
  5. No entry fee is required. 
  6. Two copies of the winning book will be donated. One to the KAC shelves at the Spencer Research Library at KU in Lawrence. The second to a Kansas library. 
  7. The winner will be notified by September 1, in order to allow time for banquet reservations. 
  8. The award will be presented to the winner at the 2021 Annual Convention and Writers Conference in Topeka, at the evening banquet on Saturday. If the winner is unable to attend, the award will be mailed. 
  9. Non-winners’ books will be available for pickup at the convention. 
  10. Mail two copies of your book and your completed form by June 15, 2021, to:
 
Nelson Poetry Book Award
c/o Tracy Million Simmons
PO Box 333
Emporia, KS 66801
 
Questions: Contact Tracy by email
620-794-9320​