The Texas Institute of Letters has named its distinguished judges for its literary contests, which are now open for submissions. Judges will select finalists and winners in thirteen categories for the best works published in 2023. Winners will be awarded a total of more than $27,000 at the TIL’s annual meeting, to be held on May 3-4, 2024 in The Woodlands, Texas.
To submit works for award consideration:
- Complete online contest entry form and pay entry fee ($20 for book awards / $10 for short story & short nonfiction awards): Online contest entry form
- Submissions of works must be mailed to the appropriate judging committee members. Addresses are listed below. Since there are three members for each committee, you will need to send a copy of the work to each judge. Include a brief note inside each copy of the book or clipped to the article that identifies the contest that you are entering.
- Authors or their representatives should not have any contact with judges other than to submit work to each judge.
- A book can only be entered in one category.
- Submissions must be postmarked no later than Friday, January 5, 2024.
- All works entered must be published in a print format during 2023, with the exception of the Cattarulla and Shrake awards. Works for the Cattarulla and Shrake awards must be published in print OR digital format during 2023. Unpublished manuscripts and online publications will not be considered. Submissions for the Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation of a Book are for books published in 2022 or 2023.
- To be considered, an entry must be the first published version of the work.
- A person or publisher may enter only one work per author per contest category for the writing contests; a person or publisher may enter only one work per translator for the translation contest. In other words, a publisher may enter different works by different authors in one category but cannot submit more than one book by the same author or translator in one category. *The only exception to the ‘one work per author per contest category’ rule is the Shrake Award for Short Nonfiction: “This prize is for the best article or essay appearing in newspapers, journals, or magazines. Multiple articles by a single author may be submitted — with a total not exceeding 10,000 words, as long as those articles are parts of a series or by a columnist.”
- The Cattarulla and Shrake awards allow for the submission of works that have been published in print OR digital formats during 2023. Eligible digital publications should be: refereed and edited journals with an acceptance/rejection policy (not self-publishing); stand-alone digital publications (e.g. Narrative Magazine) or online publications of established print magazines or newspapers (e.g. Atlantic Monthly); and digital publications with a discernible publication date. The digital publication of the short story or short nonfiction should be the first published version of the work. Special submission instructions: print the digital entry, with URL at the top of first page, and submit work to judges by regular mail.
CONTEST CATEGORIES AND JUDGES
Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction ($5,000)
- Rudy Ruiz (Chair), 2417 N. Main Avenue, San Antonio TX 78212
- Terry Shames, 20 Ketch St. #1; Marina del Rey, CA 90292
- Rebecca Balcarcel, 3133 Meadow Wood Ln.; Bedford, TX 76021
Sergio Troncoso Award for Best Work of First Fiction ($4,000)
- Jeff Sartain (Chair), 4156 Juniata Street; St. Louis, MO 63116
- Ramona Reeves, PO Box 150067; Austin, TX 78715
- Christopher Carmona, 321 N. Smith St.; San Antonio, TX 78207
Carr P. Collins Award for Best Book of Non-fiction ($4,000)
- Cynthia Leal Massey (Chair), 10547 Rocking M Trail; Helotes, TX 78023
- Kendra Allen, 12130 Alamo Ranch Pkwy, Apt. 4201; San Antonio, TX 78253
- Michael Mooney, 1236 Tiana St.; Anna, TX 75409
Ramirez Award for Most Significant Scholarly Book ($2,500)
- Mary Jo O'Rear (Chair), 3946 Kingston; Corpus Christi, TX 78415
- Sam W. Haynes, Center for Greater Southwestern Studies Box 19497, University of Texas at Arlington; Arlington, TX 76019
- Craig Goodman, 3007 N. Ben Wilson; Victoria, TX 77901
Burdine C. Johnson Award for Best Book of Poetry ($1,250)
- Jenny Browne (Chair), Dept. of English, Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place; San Antonio, TX 78212
- Jasminne Mendez, 11742 N. Michael Cir; Houston, TX 77071
- Hayan Charara, 5157 Eagle Rock Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90041
Texas Institute of Letters Award For Best First Book Of Poetry ($1,000)
- Jenny Browne (Chair), Dept. of English, Trinity University, 1 Trinity Place; San Antonio, TX 78212
- Jasminne Mendez, 11742 N. Michael Cir; Houston, TX 77071
- Hayan Charara, 5157 Eagle Rock Blvd.; Los Angeles, CA 90041
Edwin “Bud” Shrake Award for Short Nonfiction ($1,000) This prize is for the best article or essay appearing in newspapers, journals, or magazines. Multiple articles by a single author may be submitted as one entry — with a total not exceeding 10,000 words, as long as those articles are parts of a series or by a columnist.
- Gus Bova (Chair), PO Box 180664.; Austin, TX 78718
- Helen Thompson, 223 N. Guadalupe St. #631.; Santa Fe, NM 87501
- Robert Moore, 711 Blanchard Ave., El Paso, TX 79902
Kay Cattarulla Award for Best Short Story ($1,000)
- Rubén Degollado (Chair), 29697 S. Kansas City Road; La Feria, TX 78559
- Sindya Bhanoo, Moreland Hall, 2550 SW Jefferson Way; Corvallis, OR 97331
- Kari Ann Holt, c/o Diana Lopez, 4510 Grand Lake Dr.; Corpus Christi, TX 78413
Jean Flynn Award for Best Young Adult Book ($1,000)
- Araceli Manriquez (Chair), 333 W Cevallos #1244; San Antonio, TX 78204
- Alex Temblador, c/o Diana Lopez, 4510 Grand Lake Dr.; Corpus Christi, TX 78413
- Adrianna Cuevas, PO Box 1747.; Kyle, TX 78640
Brigid Erin Flynn Award for Best Picture Book ($1,000)
- René Colato Laínez (Chair), 8824 Nagle Ave.; Arleta, CA 91331
- Suzette Benish, c/o Diana Lopez, 4510 Grand Lake Dr.; Corpus Christi, TX 78413
- Monica Brown, Box 6032, Northern Arizona University, Department of English; Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
Deirdre Siobhan FlynnBass Award for Best Middle Grade Book ($1,000)
- René Colato Laínez (Chair), 8824 Nagle Ave.; Arleta, CA 91331
- Suzette Benish, c/o Diana Lopez, 4510 Grand Lake Dr.; Corpus Christi, TX 78413
- Monica Brown, Box 6032, Northern Arizona University, Department of English; Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6032
Soeurette Diehl Fraser Award for Best Translation of a Book ($1,000) Given biennially. Books published in 2022 and 2023 are eligible for consideration.
- Charles Alcorn (Chair), 1021 S. 10th Avenue; Edinburg, TX 78539
- Sheila Black, Emerson Mill Avenue, 101 W 5th St. Apt. 1650; Tempe, AZ 85281
- David Samuel Levinson, 85 W. White Willow Circle.; Spring, TX 77381
The Texas Institute of Letters is a non-profit established in 1936 to promote interest in Texas literature and to recognize literary achievement. The TIL’s elected membership consists of the state’s most recognized and serious writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, journalism, and scholarship.
The concepts of diversity and affirmative action guide the policies and programs of the Texas Institute of Letters. Our goal is to provide equal opportunity and representation to all distinguished writers without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. To truly reflect the population and the experience of all peoples living in Texas, we seek and value the benefits of diversity in membership, awardees, and administration.
