Presbyterian Writers Guild seeks Best First Book nominations

Biennial award to be presented at end-of-summer celebration

by Presbyterian Writers Guild | Special to Presbyterian News Service

Photo by Toa Heftiba via Unsplash

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Writers Guild (PWG) is accepting nominations now for its 2022 Best First Book Award, honoring the best first book by a Presbyterian author published during the calendar years of 2020–2021.

The award — sponsored by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation in partnership with the PWG — is given biennially and will be presented in late August after the 225th General Assembly. A specific date and time will be available later on the PWG website.

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2022.

The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation Best First Book Award was established in 1996 by the Guild and the estate of the late James W. Angell, a prolific and respected Presbyterian writer, as a means to recognize and encourage new writers.

Books may be of any type: fiction, nonfiction, theological, how-to, photos with commentary, poetry, etc.

Entries may be submitted by the authors or by others on their behalf. Three copies of the book and a brief statement attesting to the author’s current active membership in a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation or presbytery should be sent to the First Book Award Committee, c/o Jerry Van Marter, 2220 Woodbourne Ave., Louisville, KY 40205.

The book needs to be the author’s first book and has to have a publication date in 2020 or 2021. Include an email address if the sender wishes to be notified that the books were received. The three copies of the book cannot be returned.

Questions about the award or entry process may be directed to Jerry Van Marter by email at jerryvanmarter@gmail.com or by phone at 502-565-6757.

Previous Best First Book Award winners are listed here.


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