Katie Bartlett, Author

The Secret of Cape Mare – Ready for Transit!

Do you have a finished, unpublished picture book or MG / YA manuscript?   Then this contest is for you!

The NAESP Foundation (National Association of Elementary School Principals) is holding its annual Children’s Book of the Year Contest.  Deadline for entries is March 15, 2013.  Winners are announced on May 4th, 2013, which is a pretty quick turn around for contests like this.  What’s great about this contest is that the NAESP has teamed up with Charlesbridge Publishing (Boston, MA) who will offer each of the two winners (one for picture book and one for MG / YA chapter book) a publishing contract.  The downside to this contest is the entry fee ($45 for the first submission, $25 for each subsequent submission); however, the contest is with a reputable organization, it is linked to one of the strongest independent children’s publishers, and you get to submit your full manuscript.  Decisions are made on the full body of your work – not a pitch or synopsis or a few sample pages – as is the case with most contests.  Definitely a plus!

The NAESP has this to say about the contest on their website:

The National Children’s Book of the Year Award Contest is open to anyone who is interested in being a published children’s book author.  Last year, we received more than 1,000 entries in the contest and saw some really great manuscripts!  If you would like more information about the National Book Award Contest, call the NAESP Foundation at 800-386-2377 or download an entry form here.

I wish you the best of luck!