Literanista
February 21, 2007
News via Criticas:
New Literary Award to Honor Spanish-language Literature
By María Elena Cruz — February 15, 2007Grupo Planeta and Casa de América have announced the formation of a new literary prize, the Premio Iberoamericano Planeta Casa de América de Narrativa. The contest is open to unpublished, Spanish-language works; this year’s deadline is set for March 15. Winners will be announced every year on April 23 in a different Spanish-speaking country; this year’s winners will be revealed in Bogotá, Colombia—named 2007 Book Capital of the World by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The first place winner and finalist will receive US$200,000 and US$50,000, respectively. Submissions will be accepted at all of Planeta’s offices (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Perú, Portugal, Spain, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela).
Casa de América is a Spanish consortium that serves as a forum for ideas and debates concerning cultural, economic, political, scientific, and technological matters of Spain and Latin America.
Latino Literacy Now Announces 9th Latino Book Awards
Nominations for the International Latino Book Awards for books published in 2006 are now open. The results of the 58 categories the award comprises will be announced during BookExpo America 2007, which will take place this June at the Javits Center in New York City. The purpose of this award, organized by Latino Literacy Now, is to recognize the positive contributions made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide. Thanks to the rise in nominations of literary works from different parts of the American continent and Spain, the award’s name was changed in 2006 to International Latino Book Awards. Nominations will be open until March 16. For more information go to http://www.lbff.us/sponsors/press-room/latinobook/index.htm.
Contest via Academy of American Poets:
In anticipation of National Poetry Month 2007, The Academy of American Poets is looking for America’s biggest poetry fans: people who demonstrate a passion for poetry that goes beyond the usual.
We’ll select America’s biggest poetry fans to receive prize packages including poetry books, CDs, t-shirts and tote bags. In addition, selected fans will have their submissions and profiles posted on Poets.org. We’re hoping to choose one winner for each of the most popular poets on Poets.org:
Emily Dickinson
Walt Whitman
Langston Hughes
William Carlos Williams
Sylvia Plath
Pablo Neruda
William Shakespeare
Dylan Thomas
E. E. Cummings
Robert Frost
W.H. Auden
You don’t see your favorite poet on the list? You can still enter. Write to us about your favorite poet. In addition to those above, we’ll select a fan of one other poet listed on Poets.org. Click here for a full list of eligible poets. (Note: you can’t vote for yourself.)
How to Enter
Email a short essay to ebleakney@poets.org by March 15, 2007 describing in 250 words or less why you (or you and a friend—or, if you are a teacher, you and your class) are the number one fan or fans of the poet you have chosen.
We’re looking for the most compelling and creative entries and welcome the use of supporting materials such as photographs or videos after you have submitted your essay. Just mention you would like to submit supporting material in your email and an invitation to post on our flickr.com or youtube.com group pages will be emailed to you.
The Mosaic Virus by Carlos, T. Mock
