Submissions for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is now open

Entries will be accepted through Aug. 31 for the 14th annual Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, which honors outstanding literary work from rising African-American authors.

Information on criteria and entrance forms for the award, which includes a $15,000 cash prize, is available at ernestjgainesaward.org.

Presented by the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the award will honor outstanding fiction — novels or short-story collections — published in 2020. Galleys for 2020 publications are also accepted.

The Gaines Award winner is chosen annually by a panel of professional writers and academics. The award has found promising writers early in their careers.

The Ernest Gaines Award event will be held Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Manship Theatre in downtown Baton Rouge.

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