In conjunction with the annual Northern Colorado Writers Conference, NCW hosts the Top of the Mountain Book Award for three book-length categories:

Dates of submission: October 15, 2012 to March 1, 2013

Finalists and winners will be announced on April 26, 2013 during dinner at the NCW 8th Annual Writers Conference. Attendance at the conference is not required. (Option to attend the dinner only is available.)

First Place: Framed certificate and $100

Honorable Mentions: $25

Please note: Each category will require at least 8 entrants in order to support an award in the given category. If less than 8 are submitted, all entries and entrant fees will be returned.

FICTION — The contest is open to unpublished novel-length fiction of any genre. No self-published, electronically published, or screenplays. (MS does not need to be completed.)

CREATIVE/NARRATIVE NONFICTION and NONFICTION — The contests are open to unpublished book-length creative/narrative nonfiction and nonfiction. No self-published, electronically published, or screenplays. (MS does not need to be completed.)

Judges are experienced critiquers and authors. Each entry will be evaluated by two judges, using a standardized score sheet. Judges’ decisions are final. 

Finalists will be notified by email or telephone on or around April 1, 2013

For the submission requirements and fees, formatting rules, judging criteria, and more, please visit the Top of the Mountain Book Award page at the Northern Colorado Writers website.