BRATTLEBORO — Sundog Poetry Center has announced an inaugural book award for a first or second poetry manuscript, a contest open to all Vermont-based poets.
Green Writers Press, of Brattleboro, will design and print the winning book and distribute it nationwide.
The final judge is Vermont poet laureate and award-winning poet Mary Ruefle of Bennington.
In 2014, poets Tamra Higgins and Mary Jane Dickerson founded the Sundog Poetry Center, a nonprofit whose mission is to promote poetry for the enrichment of people's cultural lives: to support Vermont poets in their development through workshops, readings, and publication; and to cultivate in Vermont audiences of all ages a love and appreciation of this art form through a variety of poetry programming.
The poetry center is committed to publishing work by Vermont authors and has had a long-term partnership with Green Writers Press, run by Dede Cummings.
A sample of past titles published through this partnership includes the poetry collection The Hatcheck Girl by Tony Whedon; the anthology Vermont Poets and Their Craft, edited by Neil Shepard and Higgins; and an anthology of poems about music, Turn It Up!: Music in Poetry from Jazz to Hip-Hop, edited by Stephen Cramer.
Submissions of manuscripts will close Oct. 31. A cash prize of $500 will be awarded along with 50 copies of the final book.
Sundog Poetry will provide assistance with promotion through a featured book launch and readings throughout the state.
Manuscripts should be between 48 and 64 pages. Proof of Vermont residency will be requested, along with a $20 application fee online via Submittable.
For more information, visit sundogpoetry.org or email sundogpoetry@gmail.com.