James Baker Hall Book Award Details by year and genre
Submission Window
May 1 – June 30, 2024
No submission fee
Author Qualification
Emerging, over 18 years
Kentucky author*
Manuscript
Poetry collection of at least 50 pages Previously unpublished
Award Announcement
September 2024
Winner and 3 Finalists
Award Presentation
October 4, 2024
Judge
Submission Window
April 1 – June 30, 2025
No submission fee
Author Qualification
Open to all Kentucky authors over 18 years
Manuscript
Short Story Collection Previously unpublished
Award Announcement
October 2025
Winner and 3 Finalists
Award Presentation
November 1, 2025
Kentucky Book Fair, Lexington
Publication
Spring, 2026
Book Launch
May 2026 Venue: TBA
KYOTR Series
June – November 2026
Award Package
$3,000 honorarium, Accents publication contract, KYOTR series ground expense
* Terms
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
Judge
Richard Taylor
Submission Window
April 1 – June 30
Author Qualification
Kentucky author*, over 18 years of age
Manuscript
Full-length work of Creative Nonfiction
Award Announcement
Fall
Award Presentation
November
Winner and 3 Finalists
Publication
Spring, 2027
Book Launch
May 2027 Venue: TBA
KYOTR Series
June – November 2027
* Terms
Kentucky author is someone who lives in Kentucky, has lived in Kentucky, has strong ties to Kentucky or whose work features a prominent Kentucky or regional Appalachian theme.
Judge
TBD
Submission Window
TBD
Author Qualification
TBD, over 18 years
Kentucky author*
Manuscript
TBD
Award Announcement
TBD
Award Presentation
TBD
Judge
TBD
Submission Window
TBD
Author Qualification
TBD, over 18 years
Kentucky author*
Manuscript
TBD
Award Announcement
TBD
Award Presentation
TBD
James Baker Hall
Book Award Results
The 2024 James Baker Hall Book Award for Poetry was awarded to:
Wesley Houp
Strung Out Along the Endless Branch
The 2025 James Baker Hall Book Award for Short Story Collection was awarded to:
Wille Davis
Honeysuckle Season
The 2026 James Baker Hall Book Award for Creative Nonfiction was awarded to:
Author:
Titled:
The 2027 James Baker Hall Book Award for Poetry was awarded to:
Author:
Titled:
